Tourism’s share of isle
By Russ Lynch
economy down in ’98
Star-BulletinTourism will contribute $9.4 billion to the Hawaii economy this year, 27.8 percent of the state gross product, according to a new report.
Assuming Hawaii's main tourist markets make their expected economic recovery, tourism will deliver $18.2 billion in the year 2010, says the study by the World Travel & Tourism Council and an economic study organization, the WEFA Group.
Tourism continues to grow and is still Hawaii leading industry and its best hope for the future, the report says.
However, it is forecast to slip this year below its historic 32.2 percent of gross state product, the value of all goods and services produced in the state.
The industry is providing 179,950 jobs in the islands this year and will employ 185,820 next year and 191,700 in 2000.
By 2010, the tourism-related job count should rise to 233,160, 37.8 percent of the civilian work force or one out of every 2.6 jobs.
"Right now, jobs creation in our industry comes more easily than in others because the under-utilized physical plant already exists," said Richard Kelley, chairman of Outrigger Hotels & Resorts, one of 60 local private-sector sponsors of the study.
"There is less investment required to create jobs in travel and tourism than in other sectors of the economy, such as manufacturing," Kelley said.
The average tourism job pays $36,429 a year, the study reported.
The last WTTC/WEFA study of Hawaii tourism was three years ago.
Another part of the study, made public earlier this year, concluded that the new Hawaii Convention Center will make a profit of $3.4 million this year, climbing to $11.2 million in 2003, as taxes generated by conventions more than offset the state's operating expenses and debt service.
