HI HCR231

Requests the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) to conduct an updated Sustainable Tourism Project in partnership with the Office of State Planning and Hawaii Tourism Authority to assess tourism's impacts on Hawaii's economy, environment, infrastructure, and socio-cultural factors.

Notes that visitor expenditures reached $18 billion in 2018 (20% of Hawaii's GDP) with 9.95 million tourists visiting and projections of 10.67 million by 2022, while resident sentiment shows 40% perceive tourism as causing traffic, high costs of living, overcrowding, and environmental damage.

Emphasizes that no comprehensive tourism impact study has been conducted since 2005, despite visitor numbers increasing by 2.45 million in the intervening 14 years.

Requests DBEDT to consider engaging the University of Hawaii in the project and to submit annual reports to the legislature 20 days before each Regular Session until completion, followed by a final report with recommendations.

Directs certified copies of the resolution to be transmitted to the Chairperson of DBEDT, the Director of the Office of State Planning, and the President of the Hawaii Tourism Authority.