H.B. 2458 - Summary

• Requires the Hawaii Tourism Authority to update the statewide tourism strategic plan every five years and fund county visitor industry strategic plans updated every three years

• County visitor industry strategic plans must involve collaboration with stakeholders, address strengths/weaknesses/opportunities/threats, and establish goals and strategic priorities

• Allocates a portion of transient accommodations tax revenues to a sub-account in the tourism special fund to support statewide and county visitor industry strategic plan updates and implementation

• Establishes one full-time equivalent visitor industry planner position in the Hawaii Tourism Authority to administer and assist counties in updating and implementing each county visitor industry strategic plan

• Requires the Hawaii Tourism Authority to submit annual reports to the legislature summarizing county plan priorities, implementation progress, and recommendations