HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0675.378 2022-2024GVW()
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From: Rob Lee
Sent: Sunday, June 30, 2024 8:10 PM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Please oppose Bills 121, 122 &123
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These bills will hurt farmers and other local people who need the extra income of renting their
property.
The Travel Technology Association and Hawaii economic consultant Kloninger &_51rrts` -"
released the results of a study they conducted on the economic impact short-term
vacation rentals have on both Maui's economy, and their impact throughout the
state. The report estimates vacation rentals provide housing for one third of our visitors, and jobs for
66,000 people statewide. These vacation rental guests are responsible for almost $1 billion in State
and County taxes and $11 billion in economic output.
Eradicating vacation rentals will not provide more long-term housing, but without jobs some of the
66,000 employed people will still have to move away when you legislate away their jobs.
The Island of Hawaii and Kauai top the state in terms of percentage increase in hotel
rates. Daily room rates in April 2019 were $260 and $267 respectively, while April
2024 data shows rates have increased more than 60% to $442 and $432.
(Source: Has Hawaii become too expensive?
htt sJlwww.sf ate.com/hawaii/article/hawaii-hotel-rates-risin-19532069. h on June 26, 2024)
The average mainland family can not afford these sky high hotel room rates which
means without STVR those tourists will be spending their dollars in Mexico or some
place other than Hawaii.
According to the The Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development
and Tourism (DBEDT), May 2024, Hawaii saw 763,260 less visitors,
marking a significant 4.8% decrease from May 2023. Visitor spending
also declined, dropping 4.0% to $1.62 billion. If you pass these three bills
the Council is dooming our tourism economic driver which will result in
higher unemployment and less prosperity in Hawaii.
If the goal is to build more housing for locals, then the council should be working to remove the
bureaucratic regulations the Council has put in place that unnecessarily increase the construction
costs of every new housing unit.
comm. 5. 3
Ref. To:
f Ref. Date 8 2024
By the way I do not own any STVRs but do not believe the government should dictate how a property
owner uses their property.
Best regards,
Robert Lee
75-6060 Kuakini Highway Apt 1-23
Kailua-Kona, HI 96740