Tourism is responsible for sustaining 200,000 jobs mainly in the service sector, with tourist spending averaging at £4bn per year.

Finally, the revenues that the casinos would generate, both in taxes and tourist spending, would be a godsend to the city's economy.

For example, tourism has rebounded, at least among American visitors, though the city's tourism board estimated last week that tourist spending fell by about $1 billion in 2001.

Overall, in 2010, £544 million was brought into the local economy through tourist spending.

France, for example, earns approximately £1.3bn per year from Chinese tourist spending; the UK earns £115m.

In its latest bulletin, the board said that tourist spending for the year also increased by 21.3 percent, to about $2.35 billion.

The fall of the dollar in 1985 also cut tourist spending.

Retail Leasing: An Increased Demand A strong local economy and the boost added by tourist spending has made retailers prosperous.

They generated $617 million in tourist spending and provided the city and state with $61.7 million in taxes.

But it ranks 13th in tourist spending.