HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0755.017 2016-2018ISLAND 114,
�I! (i0
Ross Bimb
Executive Director
Ove of the 14AWAIIAN ISLANDS jrbirel.i@li,vc]).org
-W
TO:Hawai'i County Clerk
FR: Ross Birch, Executive Director
"map
SUBJECT: Written Testimony for Bill No. 110, Draft 2: Proposed Operating BuQet'
for Fiscal Year 2018 - 2019
DATE: May 21, 2018
Aloha,
This testimony is in reference to a ' specific area of the proposed County of Hawaii fiscal
budget for year 2018 - 2019. The section in reference is the reduction of tourism
marketing funding from the Research and Development department of $225,000 leaving
a balance of $325,000.
These funds have been set at $550,000 for the last 8 years plus and have been utilized to
support four main areas of tourism marketing specific to the island of Hawaii that are
not supported through any other state or private funded organization. Airlift Support,
Sustainable/Responsible Tourism, MCI (Meetings, Conventions, Incentives) Market
and International or Niche markets.
Each one of these major initiatives receives approximately 25% percent of the overall
budget each year. By dropping the budget by almost half we would have to cut back on
programs completely and look at only keeping the essential base marketing.
Of the $550,000 we can firmly commit that 100% of this funding is going into marketing.
Even though we have a 10% admin fee, we are able to reissue that funding as the overall
admin is covered by other contracts.
As a return on investment, the IHVB has seen at least a 10:1 return on any program by
way of direct cooperative or in-kind support from island tourism partners. In addition,
these funds have directly impacted the overall spend on the island to the level of $2.4B in
the calendar year 2017-18.
Please, strongly consider reinstating the original budgeted amount of $550,000 to the
tourism marketing line item.
Gwrn. No.
Ross
K
ISLINNI) OF TIANAAl'I VISITORS BLTY_,XU Ref. T�® V .. .......
Ref. DateMa 22 2018.-�"
68-1330MR11301.alli Drive:, SUitC 109A-Kohala Coast, Ila wail 96743
1.-808-885-16-55 goh-,iwaii.coiii/islatid-ofhziwaii #islandoff-lawaii @islandof1lawaii