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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0405.001 2010-2012DOMINIC YAGONG Council Chairperson Council District 1 Date: October 11, 2011 Hawai`i County Council County of Hawai`i 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawaii 96720 To: Members of the Hawai`i County Co > cil Fro ominic Yagong, Chairperson Email: dyagong@co.hawaii.hi.us Phone: (808) 961 -8264 Fax: (808) 961 -8912 Re: A Presentation on Eco Tourism on the October 18, 2011 on Environmental Management Attached please find a copy of the power point presentation which will be presented by Mr. David Gaynes on October 18, 2011, Committee on Environmental Management. Warmest Aloha! DY /bc Att. Serving the Interests of the People of Our Island Hawai`i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer Comm. No, 410 5./ Ref. To: A'e,ea w? EMC Ref. Dote OCT 1 R ?nti ECONOMIC EVELOPMENT PLAN or the Hamakua Coast and the Big Island of Hawaii y This Matters Nov 14, 2008 - Hawaii teens attempt suicide at nearly double the rate of American teens. - Blogspot ul 12, 2011 -- 12.8% of teens attempt suicide in Hawaii. That's double the national average. - City- Data.com Jul 15, 2010 - Hawaii has one of the highest rates of teen suicide in the country. - PBS hy? Lack of hope Lack of appreciation Lack of economic power ■ Parents don't own their own homes Land lost to outside investors No good jobs / training • Lack of participation in own 'fate' More of the same for the future oot Causes But we can change it. We must. Answers money is the problem .. . Then money is the solution. All we need is a new economic model. Use the same tools ... Differently. ''Summary This plan lays out a path for long -term economic, cultural and environmental sustainability on the Big Island of Hawaii. It looks to take advantage of opportunities within the three rapidly growing consumer markets known as "wellness travel ", "eco- tourism ", and "agri-tourism". Overview f this plan • Bring economic empowerment to native people on the Big Island Provide hi- paying jobs in local communities for wellness & cultural practitioners such as those who perform loinilomi, other kinds of healing, and guided journeys to sacred island spaces • Provide long -term financial feasibility to maintaining the Big Island in its pristine, green, soul- nurturing state Wellness Travel ... according to the Big Island Visitors Bureau (BIVB) can typically be defined as .. . "Travel for the purpose of enhancing one's well -being by using a holistic approach toward mind, body and spirit" includes a connection with the local and native culture and the sacred sites of the island emphasizes healthy island -grown foods and island -made products, eco- tourism experiences, and a full range of diverse and unique treatment styles and accommodations ... according to the BIVB can typically be defined as .. . "travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well -being of local people" 75% of US travelers concerned about the impact of their visit on the environment More than 1/2 claimed having learned about the culture, geography and customs in their destination of choice . according to the BIVB can typically be defined as .. . "Travel to an agricultural, horticultural, or agribusiness operation for enjoyment, education or actual involvement in the activities" Since 2003, over 100 million US adults have visited a rural destination, 90% for leisure purposes As of 2003, 187 Hawaiian farms already generated income from this niche travel market 'ound statistics (BIVB, etc) o Since 1995, visitors more than doubled (1.5 M +) • Avg visitor HHI $100K+ Portrait of Affluent Travelers 006 (HHI $150K +) said early 1/2 visited spa that ear cotourism growing 300% faster than standard tourism • Wellness fastest growing industry worldwide o Wellness travel fastest growing segment of tourism. o BIVB promotion of Spa / Wellness Q2 2008 o BIVB promotion of Eco- tourism Q3 2008 o Age 60+ fastest growing segment of US population a 12/12/2007 trade agreement with China expected to triple Chinese tourism to US o China has 10 of world's 12 most polluted cities o Hawaii closest US state 5 11-11—ar Hamakua has ... Thousands of acres of agricultural land Many places with nutrients depleted Spectacular views Flowing water Powerful mana o What is agriculture? o Cultivation of the land for purposes of providing basic sustenance o Can be for spirit as well as body o Each an important part of island reaching highest purpose �Iln�ss Zvif% LO%ZGL Offering Personal Healing Jos Cep Building the Bridge Wellness With Aloha(.com) as example Wellness packages assembled from local practitioners and accommodations Sold online to worldwide market No charge to practitioners y Company makes profit from travelers Value -add of assembly and management of practitioners Could not be done from the mainland Irectly to the Locals Income Distribution • Indigenous Provider Local Residence Other Local Support Company Local people, not foreign corporations, receive the lion's share ridge to the Future e• Plan honors and nurtures the natural spaces and culture of Hawaii Illustration: >At a basketball game, people stomp and shout ➢In a library, they whisper and disturb nothing /Display the Big Island as a library /Turn tourists into students of this way of life Preservation of land needed for wellness feeds economic development, economic viability will protect that land = the cycle for sustainability ❖ Economic development of local people shows the next generation the real -world value of culture o Something or .. wave ... And it won't be from the U.S. 10, 802,000 Chinese travelers visited the United States and the Department of Commerce estimates that every Chinese visitor spends an average of more than $6,000. As reported in the China Travel Trade Barometer, 92% of the surveyed tour operators project an increase in 2011 third - quarter bookings from China to the U.S. - Ch ticseTouristslnAmerica.com e increase of travelers served by tour operators in the NTA China Inbound Program essentially doubled and those visitors represent nearly $600 million in travel and spending on U.S. lodging, food, entertainment and shopping." r , - Lisa Simon, NTA president There is a huge, untapped potential to convince more affluent Chinese tourists to discover the US for leisure trips. - China Elite Focus Consequences If people here think Americans are insensitive .. . Tibet - Recent history shows us that the Chinese are not necessarily overly respectful in regards to the ea of preserving other people's cultures iat will happen here? /tt t 1 Why we need to act now to build the proper channels for the flood of people to come The Time Is Now Personal enrichment tourism becoming more and more popular Unrest / climate change in other places 1.5 million visitors last year just this island a Future from the Far East Native people willing • Becoming available Building trust venting the Pitch o Sint e not working • NatGeo / Travel Channel articles / shows on top 10 eco & cultural destinations - Hawai'i not there 2010 HTA interview - management "shocked" to discover mainland attitude towards Hawaii: 'Been there done that' I 7M+ Visitor Mountain = Re- Education AND p Opportunity • Promote cultural experiences as trip centerpieces • Talk Story at Eva Parker Woods - Mauna Lani • Peace Day Parade (Hawai'i is a special place to celebrate peace) • Other Festivals (Pu'ukohola Cultural , Keauhou Slack Key, etc) • Encourage Resort + Community Interaction Lokahi o Marketing: 'library of wisdom' not sun & sand Govt: New laws / Accelerated permit / Zoning • Change the definition of agriculture ■ Provided that the new development fits within strict guidelines, no permit is required at all to open a wellness center • Provided that the new development fits within strict guidelines, shift the burden of proof to the objectors BIVB promotes the Big Island as The Healing Island Government must actively support local practitioners in order to provide a stable and sustainable working environment -- or there can be no wellness industry rks - Ask Costa Rica Costa Rica used to be known principally as a producer of bananas and coffee. Now tourism is booming, with the number of visitors up from 780,000 in 1996, through 1 million in 1999, to 2.089 million foreign visitors in 2008, allowing the country to earn $2.144- billion in that year. Tourism now earns more than bananas and coffee combined. Belize - Reef Restoration/ Fish Protection Kenya - Nature Preserves We can reinvent ourselves just as they did. urar Empowerment Typical model for indigenous economic empowerment model means casinos Empowerment from the dark side ... plays on the weaknesses, laziness, corruption of people This model is empowerment through true Aloha ... Gently sharing the culture, wisdom and land of the indigenous Hawaiians rre nomic Sovereignty 0 17% of the total tourism to Hawaii from Japan South Korea - visa waiver since 2008, up 300% International visitors to U.S. +19% from 2010 Independence from the U.S. economically (if not legally & politically!) eamvvork o Moving Forward Now • Pool all local resources (websites, search engines, expertise, etc) • Private sector partnerships Vision Passion Entrepreneurial spirit Public sector emphasis Promotion / language Legalities • Spread the word (BeHawaiian.com) Community participation (TheHiddenHawaii.com) Take Action! Sustainability Model for Today & Tomorrow Traveler attracted from promotion of [government supported] ellness environment & services Wellness traveler seeking services & culture in healthful green spaces Big Island practitioner in wellness center on nurtured ag land Traveler leaves light footprint Tells others who have similar interests Specific clientele attracted