(BIVN) – The Hawaii County Council Finance Committee on Tuesday was given an in-depth presentation by Ross Birch, Executive Director of the Island of Hawai`i Visitors Bureau, entitled Hawai`i Island Tourism Economic Projection, laying out the landscape of the island’s tourism economy.

Kohala councilman Tim Richards wanted to get the information from Birch first hand as the council is about to enter the budget approval season. Already, the council has been wrestling with a proposal to enact a general excise tax surcharge, which has been postponed, for now.

Birch’s presentation painted a positive outlook for the Big Island, as visitor arrivals, and spending, are up.