A bill to end the Hawaii Tourism Authority is advancing through the state legislature.
It would dissolve the HTA and replace it with a state-run tourism office.
The Senate Ways and Means Committee approved a bill that would sunset the HTA and establish a new Office of Tourism and Destination Management.
This would have an executive committee of nine members.
The bill calls for a tourism executive director that would be a state employee.
The bill also includes $64 million to repair the roof of the Hawaii Convention Center, ‘so we can attract conferences,’ said Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz.
