Community Meetings Planned to Update Public About Tourism Future

Officials look to network with the community and chart a new course for managing tourism, one that focuses on the stabilization, recovery and rebuilding of aging infrastructure for each island.

The Hawai‘i Tourism Authority and Kaua‘i Visitors Bureau invite the public to attend upcoming community meetings to learn about the plan and steps being taken to manage tourism and address visitor behaviors that adversely affect Kaua‘i.

Meetings are slated for 5-7 p.m. Aug. 16 at Royal Sonesta Kaua‘i Resort in Līhu‘e and 5-7 p.m. Aug. 17 at Church of the Pacific in Princeville. Advance registration is recommended by Friday, Aug. 12, as capacity is limited. To register, click here.

The initiatives are a result of input provided by the community in the 2021-23 Kaua‘i Destination Management Action Plan, which focuses on solutions to help rebuild, redefine and reset the direction of tourism throughout a three-year period. Actions are being implemented in collaboration with numerous community, industry and government partners.

They include educating visitors about mindful travel prior to and during their visit, supporting increased management and protection of the island’s natural resources, investing in the perpetuation of Hawaiian culture, supporting local businesses and managing hot spot locations.

According to HTA, in 2019, the Hawaiian Islands received a record 10.4 million visitors. While this brought in $17.75 billion in total visitor spending to the state, businesses generated $2.07 billion in taxes and supported 216,000 jobs statewide, sometimes impacting residents’ quality of life.

For more information, follow @HawaiiHTA on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, or contact HTA Public Affairs Officer T. Ilihia Gionson at ilihia.gionson@gohta.net or Anthology Group Senior Vice President Erin Khan at erin.khan@finnpartners.com.