John de Fries, a frustrated CEO of the Hawaii Tourism Authority issued a late Friday statement after the legislature cut funding for HTA. Hawaii Tourism Authority is the State-run agency under the Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism. (DBET)The Hawaii State Senate and House deferred a bill that could have repealed the Hawaii Tourism Authority and established an Office of Tourism and Destination Management within DBET. The deferral of this bill may be a killer for HTA, potentially leaving the agency and the Hawaii Convention Center without funding this year. We appreciate the Legislature’s appropriation to repair the Hawaiʻi Convention Center roof, and with adjustments to current contracts, we will have funds to keep the lights on and retain our staff of 22.

Source: Ethiopian News April 29, 2023 21:59 UTC