Legislature(2003 - 2004)
02/24/2003 05:25 PM House EDT
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,
INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND TOURISM
February 24, 2003
5:25 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Cheryll Heinze, Chair
Representative Lesil McGuire, Vice Chair
Representative Nancy Dahlstrom
Representative Vic Kohring
Representative Harry Crawford
Representative Sharon Cissna
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Pete Kott
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
OVERVIEW: TOURISM
- HEARD
HOUSE BILL NO. 95
"An Act relating to permits for aquatic farming of geoducks."
- BILL HEARING POSTPONED
TAPES
03-2, SIDE(S) A & B
CHAIR CHERYLL HEINZE convened the meeting of the House Special
Committee on Economic Development, International Trade and
Tourism at 5:25 p.m. Representatives Heinze, McGuire, Kohring,
Dahlstrom, and Crawford were present at the call to order.
Representative Cissna arrived as the meeting was in progress.
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION
LEN LAURANCE, independent consultant for the Alaska tourism
industry, was present by teleconference to discuss a
restructuring proposal for the Alaska tourism industry. He
provided a handout [titled "Alaska Tourism Promotion: A
Restructuring Proposal"] of the information he discussed. His
proposal revolved around the development of a new agency called
the Alaska Tourism Authority, which would incorporate some of
the agencies currently in force. This new organization would be
funded by a 2-percent tax on statewide transient accommodations.
This would be in addition to the current taxes on the industry.
BRUCE BUSTAMANTE, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO),
Anchorage Convention and Visitors Bureau (ACVB), spoke of the
need for increased funding of the tourism industry. He stated
the support of ACVB for the Alaska Travel Industry Association
(ATIA) and their mutual agreement on priorities for the
industry. He also mentioned the general community support in
Anchorage for a larger civic convention center. This issue will
again be on the ballot in April of 2004.
MARGY JOHNSON, Director, Division of International Trade and
Market Development, Department of Community & Economic
Development (DCED), provided a handout and discussed the
importance of tourism to Alaska, mentioning that tourism touches
all of Alaska's citizens. As director, Ms. Johnson is in charge
of ATIA and ASMI [Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute]. She has
seen overlap in some of the work of these two groups. To
increase inefficiency and decrease some cost, she hopes to
consolidate some of the functions of these two groups. Alaska
Host also comes under her purview. Last year this group trained
333 people. She plans to dramatically expand the numbers
trained and wants involvement at all levels of society to
encourage tourism to the state. She also noted that Alaska has
fallen far behind other states in numbers of tourists coming to
the state, now standing in 38th place. She attributes much of
the problem to lack of marketing.
RON PECK, President and Chief Executive Officer, Alaska Travel
Industry Association, provided an overview of tourism in Alaska.
He stated that tourism provides 36,000 jobs to Alaska and
generated income in the year 2000-2001 of $1.8 billion. He
noted that tourism is now the second largest private industry in
Alaska, second only to the oil industry. He described ATIA as a
combination of three groups: Alaska Visitors Bureau (AVA),
Alaska Tourism Marketing Council (ATMC), and DCED. ATIA is
responsible for publishing the "Alaska Vacation Planner," which
has worldwide distribution. ATIA also develops leads on
potential tourists for the state, which it provides to others,
such as the cruise industry, to help them develop mailing lists
and contacts. Mr. Peck emphasized the overall decline in
tourism in the state. All areas have seen a decrease, with the
exception of the cruise industry.
PAMELA LABOLLE, President, Alaska State Chamber of Commerce,
described tourism as a renewable resource and one of Alaska's
best resources. She expressed great concern that without
support, the tourism industry in Alaska will fall further behind
as tourists seek other destinations. The need for marketing is
urgent.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
There were no announcements.
COMMITTEE ACTION
The committee took no action.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Special Committee on Economic Development, International Trade
and Tourism meeting was adjourned at 6:36 p.m.
NOTE: The meeting was recorded and handwritten log notes were
taken. A copy of the tape(s) and log notes may be obtained by
contacting the House Records Office at State Capitol, Room 3,
Juneau, Alaska 99801 (mailing address), (907) 465-2214, and
after adjournment of the second session of the Twenty-Third
Alaska State Legislature this information may be obtained by
contacting the Legislative Reference Library at (907) 465-3808.
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