The future of the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority ( HTA ) is uncertain as two bills ( SB 1522 SD 2 and HB 1375 SD 2) propose to repeal HTA . A new brief by the University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization experts argue that neither measure would improve tourism governance. If passed in its current form, the senate bill would establish an Office of Tourism and Destination Management within the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism ( DBEDT ). It would be governed by a nine-member board of directors appointed by the governor and would essentially do what HTA is presently doing plus tourism research (which is currently housed in DBEDT ).

https://www.hawaii.edu/news/2023/04/10/future-of-hta-uhero-brief

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