02/06/2002 "Mardi Gras numbers plunge"

Mardi Gras numbers plunge
- AAP

The September 11 terrorist attacks and a cluttered social calendar have caused a plunge in the number of international visitors to Sydney's Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.

Gay and Lesbian Tourism Australia managing director Rob Wardell said international visitors to the event were expected to be down between 15 and 20 per cent this year.

He said one of the major reasons for the drop was September 11, especially in the United States market, and the worsening global economic slowdown.

Mr Wardell said many potential mardi gras visitors also decided to skip the annual event to attend the Gay Games in Sydney during November.

"The nervousness about travel in general that occurred after September 11 just reinforced the wish to defer their trip to the Gay Games rather than coming to mardi gras this year," Mr Wardell said.

"People have only so many holidays and so many disposable dollars."

The 23-day mardi gras festival, which will be launched at the Sydney Opera House on Friday, ranks with The Australian Grand Prix and The Melbourne Comedy Festival as a hallmark event.

The mardi gras injects more than $100 million into the economy and is the largest event of its kind in the world.

But Mr Wardell said that as well as a soft 2002 mardi gras, tourism operators expect the trend to continue in 2003.

Post mardi gras recovery parties in regional destinations around Australia are also set to be hit by the drop in international visitors.

Mr Wardell said there has been a recognition by other destinations of the importance of the gay and lesbian market.

He called for Australian tourism authorities to establish a more co-ordinated and aggressive approach to lure the pink dollar.

"There's now a lot of increased international competition for the gay and lesbian dollar," Mr Wardell said.

"There are only so many dollars and so many possibilities for people to have vacations and I think mardi gras is now battling an increasingly cluttered market."