STATE BUDGET BILL HB300 APPROPRIATES $35 MILLION OPERATING BUDGET TO HTA
The State House of Representatives’ Committee on Finance today passed HB300 relating to the state’s biennium operating and capital improvement budget.
HB300 includes a $35 million appropriation to the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority – an appropriation for which we are grateful, but $40 million less than our budget request, which causes me extreme concern. This will cause significant across-the-board funding cuts that will impact HTA’s operations, destination management and visitor education programs we fund in our communities and in markets around the world, and the cultural events, festivals, and sporting events we support.
This is not a prudent approach especially given the anticipated softening of the global economy and its potential impact on Hawai‘i as forecasted by the Council on Revenues and University of Hawai‘i Economic Research Organization.
To continue our progress and implementation of our 2020-2025 Strategic Plan and Destination Management Action Plans, we requested an operating budget of $75 million for fiscal year 2023-2024 and $60 million for fiscal year 2024-2025 and beyond.
We will continue to work with our legislators to demonstrate the importance of having a well-funded, comprehensive program for destination management and visitor education to serve the people of Hawai‘i.
