02/12/1994 10:30 AM House ITT

                                                                               
                   HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON                                  
                  INTERNATIONAL TRADE & TOURISM                                
                        February 6, 1994                                       
                           10:30 a.m.                                          
                                                                               
  MEMBERS PRESENT                                                              
                                                                               
  Representative Jeannette James, Chair                                        
  Representative Joe Green                                                     
  Representative Cynthia Toohey                                                
                                                                               
  MEMBERS ABSENT                                                               
                                                                               
  Representative Terry Martin                                                  
  Representative Curt Menard                                                   
  Representative Jim Nordlund                                                  
  Representative Jerry Sanders                                                 
                                                                               
  COMMITTEE CALENDAR:     Briefing by Mary Pignalberi,                         
                          Department of Commerce and Economic                  
                          Development.                                         
                         "WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE DIVISION OF                  
                          TOURISM?"                                            
                                                                               
                                                                               
  WITNESS REGISTER                                                             
                                                                               
  MARY PIGNALBERI, Director                                                    
  Division of Tourism                                                          
  Department of Commerce and Economic Development                              
  PO Box 110800                                                                
  Juneau, AK  99811                                                            
  907-465-2500                                                                 
  POSITION STATEMENT:  Briefed the Committee on the                            
                       Role of the Division of Tourism                         
                                                                               
  ACTION NARRATIVE                                                             
                                                                               
  TAPE 94-01, SIDE A                                                           
  Number 000                                                                   
                                                                               
  CHAIR JEANNETTE JAMES called the meeting to order at 11:00                   
  a.m.  The committee approved her suggestion that future                      
  meetings not be held on a regular schedule, but only as                      
  needed.  She asked whether the committee wanted to meet with                 
  the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute between March 28 and                  
  April 1?  The answer was "Yes".                                              
                                                                               
  MARY PIGNALBERI, Director for Division of Tourism, discussed                 
  the role of her division in Alaska, based on her perspective                 
  of nineteen years with the Division.  She pointed out that                   
  the goals of the Division are stated in statute, and                         
  activities to implement these include Research in                            
  International and Domestic Markets, Visitor Services,                        
  Business Development and Assistance, and Product                             
  Development.                                                                 
                                                                               
  MS. PIGNALBERI agreed to research answers to several                         
  questions asked by the committee:                                            
                                                                               
  1.  Who hires employees in the Alaska Public Lands                           
  Information Centers:  Department of Natural Resources or the                 
  Federal Park Service?  Eight agencies cooperate, with some                   
  agencies making in-kind contributions and others making                      
  monetary contributions.  The Division of Tourism contributes                 
  $140,000 per year.                                                           
                                                                               
  2.  Is the Aurora Sky-Fire Lodge, near Fairbanks, at                         
  Chatanika?  The Division assisted in developing this                         
  business.                                                                    
                                                                               
  TAPE 94-01, SIDE B                                                           
  Number 000                                                                   
                                                                               
  3.  Who determines that overtime must be paid to employees                   
  who work at trade shows?  MS. PIGNALBERI stated she thought                  
  it was the Department of Administration.  REPRESENTATIVE                     
  JAMES said she might be able to create legislation making an                 
  exemption for the Division or allowing the Division to                       
  contract these services.                                                     
                                                                               
  4.  How can rural tourism be developed?  MS. PIGNALBERI said                 
  the Division is open to any feedback in this area.                           
  REPRESENTATIVE JAMES suggested holding two-day seminars to                   
  educate rural residents about tourism.  MS. PIGNALBERI                       
  replied this is being considered, but the problem is one of                  
  defining "rural".  REPRESENTATIVE TOOHEY noted the need to                   
  change the public's perception of rural waste disposal and                   
  toilet problems, which discourages rural tourism.                            
                                                                               
  5.  REPRESENTATIVE JAMES asked about the tourism industry                    
  providing money for highways, toilets, and other public                      
  facilities which tourists use, possibly through tourism                      
  licenses, taxes, or fees similar to those which other                        
  industries have to pay.  REPRESENTATIVE TOOHEY pointed out                   
  that this could be a problem for small businesses who                        
  couldn't afford such fees.                                                   
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE JAMES adjourned the meeting at 12:15 p.m.