Riches ahead on gay vows Same- sex marriage to aid economy
A GAY- led wedding recovery is expected to sweep through Townsville’s hospitality, entertainment, catering and financial sectors after Australia’s historic vote to support samesex marriage.
Some operators suggest it could provide up to a 50 per cent boost in trade as those who have been prevented from marrying take the chance to celebrate with family and friends.
Kings Home Style Cakes owner Lionel Dunwoodie said he had always been happy to make a cake for any occasion and did not know any cake maker who had a problem with serving same- sex couples.
“I think it is going to be a benefit for the economy,” Mr Dunwoodie said.
“The wedding cake side of it is probably going to go through the roof. Cake makers will benefit in a huge way.”
New Park Suit Hire and Menswear owner Ron McGinty said they would have to listen to their customers and provide the styles and fashions they wanted, but couldn’t see much change apart from a likely boom in demand.
“We’ll be really surprised if we don’t have a stampede on account of the law being changed,” Mr McGinty said.
White House Bridal Boutique operator Deni McClure agreed that it would likely provide a boost for business but tended to think dress makers and designers may have to provide a wider range of styles.
Magnetic Island marriage celebrant Bernadette Smith said she could see the island being a desirable destination for same- sex couples wanting to wed in outdoor settings.
She believed a law change would have widespread benefits for not just celebrants and same- sex couples but people working in the tourism and hospitality sector as well as wedding market suppliers.
“I imagine there will be a bit of a rush from the beginning for people wanting to get married legally,” she said.
But whether it would make a huge difference in the long term, she was unsure.
However, Rydges Southbank general manager Joel Day was in no doubt it would have a big impact given the experience of very large increases in weddings in other countries where same- sex marriage had been legalised.
He expected their wedding numbers to as much as double.
“It’s good for Townsville, good for my business and good for wedding suppliers,” he said.
Townsville Chamber of Commerce deputy president Michele Falconieri said studies suggested a change of legislation to allow marriage equality could be worth $ 1 billion to the Australian economy.