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Working group hears UNLV professor: 'fun economy' now a major global industry, with implications for Hawaii tourism
Summary
A UNLV professor told the tourism and gaming working group that tourism, sports and entertainment now make up a large share of global spending and that careful, jurisdiction‑specific studies are needed to assess whether gaming will bring new visitors or merely shift local spending.
Beau, a professor with long experience studying tourism and gaming, told the tourism and gaming working group on Feb. 19 that the global "fun economy"—tourism, sports and entertainment—has grown to become a major economic force and that Hawaii must weigh cultural and local impacts when considering gaming or other new attractions. The presentation took place at Conference Room 430 of the State Capitol; the committee did not take votes.
Beau said tourism accounted for about 10% of global spending and that, when sports and entertainment are added, the combined "fun economy" reaches about 14% of global spending. "For the first time in the history of planet Earth, 10% of all the money spent on all the Earth was spent…
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