For Immediate Release: June 3, 2004
DBEDT Release News 04-18

Honolulu - Two new report drafts have been posted to the Sustainable Tourism Project website (http://www.hawaiitourismstudy.com/index.htm) for public review and comment. The products include a draft of a Socio-Cultural and Public Input Summary Report and a survey report on Hawaii resident attitudes regarding tourism sustainability.

Public comments on these documents can be made through the website. For maximum consideration, comments should be submitted by June 15, 2004.

The sustainable tourism project is an effort by the Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism (DBEDT) and the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) to study the long-term impacts of tourism on the state and provide new information and analytical tools to better manage future development of the industry.

Prepared by the consulting firm of John Knox & Associates, the draft of the Socio-Cultural and Public Input Study Summary Report looks at tourism's impact in several areas of concern, including housing, crime and resort "spill over" effects.

The survey of resident sentiments about tourism growth and sustainability issues was conducted in the second half of 2003. The survey supplements an ongoing survey conducted by the HTA. Market Trends, Inc. conducted the survey, with the analysis and report prepared by John Knox & Associates.

The final major report under the project, an Economic and Environmental Modeling Study, is expected to be posted for review and comment in late May. For further information on the reports, contact Pearl Imada Iboshi at 586-2475, email pii@dbedt.hawaii.gov or Dr. John Knox at (808) 523-1352.

For more information, contact:
Dave Young
Communications
Phone: (808) 587-1212
Email: dyoung@dbedt.hawaii.gov