UH report: Gay marriage would add $217M to Hawaii economy
Honolulu resident Rob Hatch holds an American flag over a rainbow flag during a rally in support of the Supreme Court's rulings in the case against California's Proposition 8 and the ACLU's challenge to the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) on Wednesday
A new economic analysis from the University of Hawaii says legalizing gay marriage in the state would boost tourism by $217 million over the next three years.
The study from the university’s Economic Research Organization says that would boost state and local general excise tax revenues by more than $10 million from 2014 through 2016.
The study’s author, Prof. Sumner LaCroix, says two recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions affecting gay marriage give a clearer picture for Hawaii tourism.
LaCroix says most of the added visitor spending would come from couples from other U.S. states that have legalized gay marriage. He estimates $166 million would be spent on marriage ceremonies and honeymoons.
LaCroix says nearly 2,000 same-sex couples living in Hawaii could be married by the end of 2016.
