You asked how Connecticut's tourism and related businesses might be affected by a law permitting non-residents to enter into civil unions or same-sex marriages in Connecticut.

We could find no definitive answer. Robby Richardson from the Vermont Tourism Data Center reports that to the best of his knowledge, this issue has not been studied in Vermont, which is the only state that permits civil unions. Ken Richardson, who has officiated at over 200 civil union ceremonies at the Black Bear Inn in Bolton, Vermont, reports that out-of-state couples spend an average of $ 1,200 on the civil union package deals his establishment offers. This figure represents the inn's charge, and does not include expenditures for such other tourist-related activities as travel, souvenirs, and recreation.

The Office of Fiscal Analysis has estimated that if a civil union or same-sex marriage law is enacted, approximately 8,000 non-residents will come to Connecticut for ceremonies in the first year. Assuming that average expenditures will be similar to those reported above, the law would be expected to generate $ 9,600,000 in lodging and related expenditures (for the ceremonies themselves) in the first year.

However, a recent study from the Connecticut Center on Economic Analysis includes data on tourist spending patterns on other items, such

as gasoline, recreation, and retail goods. The table below, reproduced

from the report, shows the proportion of these expenditures associated with the type of accommodation used. The full report, which also includes an analysis of the impact of tourism on the state's revenue and per capita income, is online at http: //ccea. uconn. edu/Tourism%201999. pdf.

Source: Connecticut Center for Economic Analysis: "The Impact of Lodging-Based Tourism on the Connecticut Economy" (July 26, 2001)

SPL: tjo