HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP EDC 006 06/10/1985 1984-1988 x � o
REPORT OF THE 111
COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
DATE: June 10, 1985
PLACE: Councilroom
TIME: 1:30 p.m.
Chairman and Members
Hawaii County Council
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
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Your Committee on Economic Development to which was referred
Communication No. 191, Personal Service Contracts reports as follows:
Tourism Promotion Program
Communication 191 is a letter from Committee on Economic Development
Chairwoman Lorraine Jitchaku, informing Mayor Dante K. Carpenter
that she has requested the Council to include in the FY 85-86 budget
ordinance a restriction prohibiting the Department of Research and
Development from renewing its personal service contracts until such
time as the Council reviews specific program requirements and
approves the contract renewals . It further requested that the
Director and Deputy Director of Research and Development be present
at this meeting of the Committee on Economic Development to assist
with the program review.
At its regularly scheduled meeting on June 5 , 1985 the Hawaii County
Council passed the FY 85-86 budget ordinance which included the
following restriction on the renewal of contracts in the Department
of Research and Development:
"Section 13. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT. No contractual positions
shall be renewed until program descriptions have been submitted
and approved by Council . "
Your Committee has reviewed the Tourism Promotion. program of the
Department of Research and Development to identify areas of concern
and to provide recommendation on program approval and renewal of the
personal service contracts requested by the Department to implement
this program in FY 85-86._
The Director of the Department of Research and Development appeared
before your Committee to request renewal of contracts for one (1)
Tourism Coordinator Travel Writers Program and one (1) Tourism
Coordinator Travel Agents Program for the period July 1 , 1985
through September 30, 1985 to implement this program while he
considers its possible redirection.
EDC REPORT N0 . 6
ADOPTED: JUN 19 1985
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EDC -6 2 June 10, 1985
The functions of the travel writers program include provision of a
wide range of professional services to the travel media, liaison and
direct media related assistance to the local visitor industry,
public relations support for local events and activities,
representation in the travel trade and consumer shows, and
assistance in planning local promotional , advertising and marketing
campaigns .
The functions of the travel agents program include maintenance and
dissemination of information and promotion materials , liaison with
local visitor industry sales and activity personnel, travel agents
orientation tours , representation in travel trade and consumer
shows, assistance in implementing local events and activities,
maintenance of organization list , and the local events and
activities listing.
Your Committee recognizes the importance of the visitor industry to
the island 's economy. It is the island 's most important economic
activity. It provides more jobs and generates more revenues than
any other economic activity. It also has tremendous growth
potential. Therefore, your Committee believes the County should
participate with industry representatives in tourism promotion.
However , your Committee does have the concerns listed below with the
County 's tourism promotion program.
1. The emphasis on travel writers needs to be reviewed for its
impact on the visitor industry.
2. There does not seem to be a guiding rationale for the
selection of travel shows for County participation. The level and
role of this participation needs to be examined due to increased
travel show participation by destination associations and individual
properties ..
3. The tourism promotion program does not report sufficient
program and financial detail .
4. Tourism promotion activities are developed and implemented
with insufficient input from, and coordination with, established
visitor industry groups , and associations and representatives .
5. Alternatives for County involvement in tourism promotion
such as contracting functions and funds to the Hawaii Island Chapter
of the Hawaii Visitor Bureau or other industry groups need to be
examined.
.
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EDC -6 3 June 10 , 1985
6. ' h ere_cloes not seem to be a recognized spokesperson for the
island 's visitor industry promotion effort. The Department does not
appear to have the person to fill this role.
7. There is overlap between the tourism coordinators. Any
duplication should be eliminated.
8 . How is monitoring and evaluating the "Other Hawaii" program
carried out? Is it effective? -
9 . What is being done to prepare the local industry to handle
the Japanese market?
Your Committee recommends approval of the FY 85-86 tourism promotion
program through September 30, 1985 and recommends that the
Department of Research and Development submita status report on the
Tourism promotion program to the County Council by August 31 , 1985 .
This report should include any redirection of program goals,
objectives and implementation, and identify the means by which the
program effectiveness will be evaluated. The report should also
include proposed staffing and an expenditure plan for total program
cost.
Your Committee further recommends renewal of the contract for one
(1 ) tourism coordinator travel writers program at $1 ,500 per month
from the period July 1, 1985 through September 30, 1985 and one (1)
tourism coordinator travel agents program at $1 ,425 per month for
the period July 1, 1985 through September 30, 1985 .
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411111
R' 1.INE R.' CHAKU, CHAIRWOMAN
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RUSSELL KOKUBUN, NICE CHAIRMAN JA • L. K. DAHLBERG, M BE
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FRANK DE LUZ, III, MEMBER MERLE/K. LAI, MEMBER
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