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.

Creates a nine-member board of directors for the office with representation from each county, hospitality, airline, retail, Hawaiian culture, and agriculture sectors.

Transfers all functions, duties, appropriations, and positions from the Hawaii Tourism Authority to the new office, which must implement county destination management action plans and integrate regenerative tourism and best practice destination management.

Appropriates $60,000,000 for fiscal years 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 for office operations ($4.1 million administrative costs, $18 million destination management, $37.9 million branding) and $64,000,000 for convention center rooftop terrace repairs.

Establishes convention center enterprise special fund ($11 million from transient accommodations tax) and tourism emergency special fund to maintain $5,000,000 balance for tourism-related emergencies.