HI HB1375

Dissolves the Hawaii Tourism Authority and establishes a new Office of Tourism and Destination Management within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

Transfers all functions, duties, appropriations, and positions from the Hawaii Tourism Authority to the new office, which will be governed by a nine-member board including representatives from each county, hospitality, airline, retail, Hawaiian culture, and agriculture sectors.

Requires the office to implement county destination management action plans and establish three branches: tourism and marketing, convention center management, and destination management focused on regenerative tourism and best practice destination management.

Appropriates $60,000,000 for fiscal years 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 for office operations ($4.1M administrative, $18M destination management, $37.9M branding), and $28,500,000 biennially from the convention center enterprise special fund for facility operations and maintenance.

Appropriates $64,000,000 for fiscal year 2023-2024 for convention center rooftop terrace deck repairs and improvements.