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<br /> <br />Diane L. Ley <br />Harry Kim <br />Director <br />Mayor <br /> <br /> <br />Riley Saito <br />Deputy Director <br /> <br /> County of Hawai‘i <br /> DEPARTMENT OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT <br /> 25 Aupuni Street, Room 1301  Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720-4252 <br /> (808) 961-8366  Fax (808) 935-1205 <br /> E-mail: chresdev@hawaiicounty.gov <br /> <br />July 30, 2020 <br /> <br />News Release <br /> <br />Hawai‘i Island Communities and Visitor Industry Connect to Re-imagine <br />Tourism <br /> <br />The County of Hawai‘i has released the Hawai‘i Island Tourism Strategic Plan <br />2020-2025 (https://www.rd.hawaiicounty.gov/economic-development/tourism) . <br />This is a guiding document for the County to ensure Responsible Tourism, which <br />is respectful to communities, and natural and cultural resources. <br /> <br />To develop the Hawai‘i Island Tourism Strategic Plan, the County conducted <br />research and gathered input from over 400 representatives from the visitor <br />industry, community and public and private sectors to integrate a range of <br />perspectives on the future direction of tourism on Hawai‘i Island. <br /> <br />“If we are going to share with visitors, it must come from a place of abundance,” <br />said a community member from Hāmākua. An industry stakeholder also shared: <br />“Educating people before they get to the Island is important. People should know <br />quickly what to do and what not to do. They need to be a part of the solutions.” <br />The Plan fosters the concept idea that successful tourism starts with a high <br />quality of life for residents defined by Ola ka ‘Aina, Ola ke Kanaka (Healthy Land, <br />Healthy People), and sets it as the vision for the future. <br /> <br />The Plan incorporates recent sentiments of members of Hawai‘i Island <br />communities, visitor industry stakeholders, businesses and government officials <br />who will guide the County in achieving four goals related to Responsible Tourism, <br />Pono-Based Communication, Place-Based Communication, and Infrastructure. <br /> <br />For further information, contact Frecia Cevallos, Tourism Specialist, Department <br />of Research and Development at (808)961-8505 or <br />Frecia.cevallos@Hawai‘icounty.gov <br />Hawai`i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer <br />