HI HR49

Request the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to conduct a comprehensive study of the economic impact of the tourism and recreation sector of Hawaii's ocean economy.

Tourism and recreation accounts for approximately 91 percent of the State's ocean economy employment in coastal areas and contributes $6,000,000,000 to the State's ocean gross domestic product.

Study must include a survey identifying types of ocean recreation activities, annual visitor numbers and expenditures by activity type, and comparison between hotel/accommodation visitors and cruise ship passengers.

Survey must also identify annual aggregate revenues of ocean recreation businesses and revenues generated by each type of ocean recreation activity.

Department must engage stakeholders including county Chambers of Commerce, ocean recreation businesses, and activity booking agents to determine additional information for inclusion, and submit findings and recommendations to the Legislature no later than twenty days before the 2018 Regular Session convenes.