A University of Hawaiʻi study finds residents want the state to be more proactive in managing tourism in the islands. But the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority is already pursuing some of the issues and actions respondents mention.
UH's Public Policy Center conducted a survey earlier this year to gauge the feelings of residents towards tourism in the state.
Specifically, how it is being managed – and what they feel should be done going forward.
700 people across the state participated in the survey.
Colin Moore, the director of the UH Public Policy Center, said they initially asked participants about the state’s COVID protocols and economic recovery – then moved onto other tourism-related issues.
"We asked about the size of Hawaii tourism, and whether or not 10 million is too many, and 52% did prefer limiting the number of visitors," Moore said. "But when we explored that a little bit more with respondents, what we really found is that – the thing I’m most interested in – what might be termed 'hot spot' management. So, rather than just capping the number of visitors, simply better management of areas like Diamond Head, and ways to regulate that."
"It’s very clear that the public is not interested in just leaving the industry alone and letting market forces dictate what happens."Colin Moore, Director, University of Hawaiʻi Public Policy Center
Moore says participants also supported efforts to improve visitor education and attract responsible visitors.
The report also emphasizes that there is a strong consensus among residents that the state should play a bigger role in managing tourism.
However, the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority is enacting management plans across the state to address community concerns…including many raised by survey participants.
Moore said he believes not many residents know what the HTA does.
"What it does demonstrate is that people are largely in favor of these destination management strategies," Moore said. "So maybe the HTA could do a better job communicating what it’s doing, because I think a lot of people assume that it’s simply a tourism marketing agency, and that’s really not the case. So these destination management activities, and the action plans that HTA has embraced, really do have a lot of public support. I mean, it’s very clear that the public is not interested in just leaving the industry alone and letting market forces dictate what happens."
Despite criticisms from state lawmakers during the last legislative session, Moore says nearly half of participants would either preserve or strengthen HTA’s authority.
The legislature last month approved a measure that cuts HTA’s budget to zero – starting fiscal year 2023.
Moore says to effectively manage tourism – it would require consistent funding and effective coordination among all stakeholders.
He added that any restructuring of the agency would take time and careful analysis.
