HI SR79

Requests the University of Hawai'i at Manoa and Hawaii Tourism Authority to conduct an exploratory study on Hawaii's potential as a climatotherapy tourism destination for atopic disease patients from East Asia.

Study should evaluate Hawaii's facilities and environmental factors (clean air, light humidity, remote location) for treating atopic diseases including asthma, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, and atopic dermatitis.

Requires assessment of potential economic benefits from promoting climatotherapy tourism, given the global atopic dermatitis therapeutics market is projected to reach $942 million by 2017.

Study must examine cultural factors and needs associated with establishing a climatotherapy tourism market for atopic disease patients in Hawaii.

Requires written findings and policy recommendations to be submitted to the Legislature no later than twenty days before the start of the 2012 Regular Session.