By Staff Reports
(Kauai) – Stakeholders in both the private and public sectors recently updated the “Kaua‘i Tourism Strategic Plan”, which can be found on the county website at www.kauai.gov/OED.
The strategic plan serves as a guide to the visitor industry in its efforts to maintain economic, social and environmental balance on the Garden Isle. This balanced approach is reflected in the plan through goals, objectives, strategies and priorities.
The strategic plan also provides visitor industry statistics and points to the challenges and opportunities facing the Garden Isle such as the role of social media in how visitors access and share information as well as traffic and safety concerns.
The development of the strategic plan update was guided by a 20-member advisory group that met seven times between Sept. 2014 and June 2015.
Diane Zachary with Kaua‘i Planning and Action Alliance served as the facilitator with support from the Office of Economic Development.
Stakeholder input was gathered through a survey at the launch of the planning process and at a forum where the draft plan was presented and feedback was solicited.
Mayor Bernard Carvalho, Jr. expressed his appreciation for the work that went into the development of the strategic plan update.
“We appreciate the tremendous efforts of the advisory group and visitor industry stakeholders,” said the Mayor Carvalho. “The Kaua‘i Tourism Strategic Plan update will help to set the direction for Kaua‘i’s tourism industry over the next few years, and will be adapted to meet changing conditions as well as take advantage of new opportunities.”
He noted that the Office of Economic Development will work with the visitor industry on the implementation of the plan and hopes that the major objectives outlined in the plan can be accomplished over the next three years.
For more information, please contact Nalani Brun with the Office of Economic Development at nbrun@kauai.gov or 241-4946.