The International Council of Tourism Partners (ICTP) is pleased to announce the Hawaii State Senate has joined the alliance as a destination member. “The International Council of Tourism Partners is very pleased to have the Hawaii State Senate, under the leadership of Senator Suzanne Chun Oakland, join our organization,” said Juergen T. Steinmetz, Chairman of ICTP, “Hawaii is one of our homes for ICTP, and to have our home region join is very special for us. Our islands are the perfect example of a quality destination that demonstrates leadership in green growth.”

As a tourism state, the Hawaii State Senate is very aware of the need to support quality tourism and green growth. The very idea to promote tourism for Hawaii was attempted back in1892 by the Hawaii Bureau of Information, however, that effort did not take hold. But when Hawaii became a territory in 1898, it drew adventuresome travelers in a tourism boom around the turn of the century. Hotels blossomed, including Waikiki’s oldest surviving hostelry, the Moana Hotel, in 1901, and tourism has been a mainstay in the Aloha State ever since.

Hawaii Senator Suzanne Chun Oakland said: “I support the mission and goals of the International Council of Tourism Partners and its focus on green growth. Thank you to members of ICTP for your commitment to environmentally-sound development.”