Posted on: Tuesday, August 27, 2002
State's Web site to gather input for tourism study
By Katherine Nichols
Advertiser Staff Writer
| Contribute to study of tourism
• Web site: hawaiitourismstudy.com • The first round of public forums will be held on the following dates: Nov. 6 in Hilo; Nov. 7 in Kona; Nov. 12 on Lana'i; Nov. 13 on Moloka'i; Nov. 14 on O'ahu; Nov. 25 on Kaua'i; Nov. 26 on Maui. |
The state's sustainable tourism study is progressing with the launch of a Web site today in an effort to incorporate public opinion into the comprehensive report that may guide future decisions regarding visitors and infrastructure in Hawai'i.
Started last month, the $1.2 million analysis spearheaded by the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism will assess the environmental and economic impact that visitors have on the Islands.
The study originally was proposed 19 months ago, when Hawai'i's visitor count soared to a record 6.7 million visitors in 2000 and looked as though it would surpass 8 million by 2005.
After several delays, the state hired three Honolulu consulting firms to "provide a framework for analysis," according to Pearl Imada Iboshi, the state's chief economist.
Three elements will comprise the study. The first is an infrastructure assessment and environmental review. Additional data will be added to the initial report to create a model, or predictive analysis.
The new Web site, where people can e-mail suggestions and receive new information, will play an important role in the third portion: the public input and sociocultural component.
"It's basically open for all input," said Mark Want, director of public relations for the Department of Business and Economic Development. He said the state was committed to incorporating opinions and concerns from residents along the way and to avoid the "feeling of disenfranchisement" people may feel when informed of results without knowledge of the process.
John Knox, a socioeconomic research consultant leading the public input aspect of the study, said he would review the feedback, "try to make some sense of it, see what the common themes are ... and try to distill it into action recommendations."
Gathering information via the Web will supplement the state's public forums, scheduled for November on all islands. A second round of meetings will be held next summer.
