"World Youth Day" is a week-long religious festival led by Pope Benedict XVI that starts July 15 in Sydney.
IBIS World senior industry analyst Ed Butler said the report did not suggest the 225,000 international pilgrims or clergy would be heading to brothels or strip clubs, but the event would also draw people from outside the church including tourists, support staff and media, and some of them would use the sex industry's services.
"Any major event will drive tourism, which is closely related to the sex industry… and World Youth Day will also bring out a certain number of non-religious people," Butler said. "Growth would be estimated to be greater, but the religious nature of the event is likely to have a dampening effect on growth rates, as many of the visitors may have moral anxieties relating to this particular industry's services."
Butler also said the pope's visit would give Sydney and Australia exposure in foreign markets, driving tourism growth after the event had finished.
Brothel madams who spoke to News.com.au expressed doubts that World Youth Day would be of benefit to their trade. World Youth Day organizers agreed.
“I’d be surprised if the sex industry gets a boost from a religious event,” a World Youth Day spokesman told News.com.au.
