Acadiana’s suffering economy may force some krewes and associations to cut back spending on the state’s second largest Mardi Gras celebration again this year.
Ben Berthelot, Lafayette’s Tourism President and CEO, tells KLFY-TV the Mardi Gras season has a $110 million economic impact on Lafayette Parish. However, the area’s local economy—suffering as the result of the downtown in the oil and gas sector—may likely impact how much krewes spend on the season this year, even if some revelers don’t realize it.
“The economy could affect the amount the krewes are spending. If you ride on a float you may spend a little less this year, there might be fewer floats. But at the end of the day, the average person isn’t going to be able to tell,” he says. “Fom a product standpoint, from what we sell, I’m very confident that we are going to deliver another great Mardi Gras.”
Lafayette Mardi Gras krewes spent about $3 million dollars in 2010 and their members spent about another $6.8 million, according to an economic study. But last year some parades were canceled due to lack of participation and funds.
