by: Juergen T Steinmetz |
Tourism and the military are the two biggest income earners for the economy in the State of Hawaii. This makes tourism everyone’s business, regardless if employed or not employed in this sector.
The goal of the first native Hawaii head of the tourism board, Jon de Fries, is to make Hawaii a better place where tourists don’t party but have respect for a culture that has been history for most residing in the state.
It seems to be overlooked that tourism is an essential business in the Aloha State. Many tourists will not visit Waikiki for the cultural experience but for the restaurants, nightclubs, shopping, and beaches.
In today’s age, it’s a shorter flight from Los Angeles to most Caribbean islands compared to Hawaii. Hawaii is an expensive destination with less to offer and an older, less luxurious infrastructure, but it’s a US domestic destination.
Traveling from Japan to Thailand or even Bali is shorter. Both destinations most likely have more to offer for today’s visitors.
The convention center in Honolulu remains empty most of the time. Still, all announcements at Honolulu International Airport are now in Hawaiian, a language no one speaks as a first language anymore.
Jon de Fries, the Hawaii Tourism Authority, is living a dream to re-invent culture and establish high-end travel, but this is far from the reality.
Hotel operators remain quiet, and no one ever responds to media requests. The situation is more than strange.
Outspoken Frank Haas, who worked with HTA many years ago as its marketing VP is now President of Marketing Management, Inc.
Frank Haas and his Marketing Management Inc is a member of the Hawaii-based World Tourism Network.
With James Mak, a Professor Emeritus from UH-Mānoa Economics and a Research Fellow at the University of Hawaii, Frank recently summarized the reality of the State-run Hawaii Tourism Authority and its future.
Hawaii may want to go the way the City of Sedona, Arizona, goes. Separate from the City/State regarding promoting and managing tourism.
This was first published by the Economic Research Organization.
Option one for the future of HTA
Two bills (Senate Bill SB 1522 SD2 and House Bill HB1375 SD3) propose to repeal the HTA, although they differ in the entity that would replace it. At issue is finding the most effective governance system for managing Destination Hawaii.
SB 1522 SD2 would establish an Office of Tourism and Destination Management [OTDM] within DBEDT (for administrative purposes) if passed. It would be governed by a nine-member (unpaid) Board of Directors appointed by the governor.
The board membership would include a member from each of the four counties residing in the respective counties and a member representing the hospitality industry.
This member represents the airline industry; a member represents the retail industry, a member with a background in Hawaiian culture, and a member with a background in agriculture.
Presumably, the county representatives are not county government executives acting in their official capacities.
It would essentially do what HTA is doing, plus tourism research currently housed in DBEDT.
It would have an executive director appointed by the OTDM Board of Directors, responsible for its day-to-day operations.
Funding for OTDM would come from the general fund, which is around $50 million for fiscal year 2023-2024 and the same sum for 2024-2025.
This means there will be no dedicated stream of revenues, such as the transient accommodation tax, that OTDM can count on.
Instead, it would have to fight for its funding yearly at the legislature.
Option Two for the Future of HTA
In the House of Representatives, HB No. 1375 SD2, if passed, it would replace HTA with a destination management agency (DMA) that’s attached to DBEDT for administrative purposes only.
Full article: Playing Russian Roulette with Hawaii Tourism
Copyright: eTurboNews – Travel Industry News – World Travel News
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