Impact Of Mardi Gras

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The economical dimension of globalisation had an immense positive impact on Mardi Gras and the city of New Orleans. In 1999, the tourism sector was responsible for 28.5% of all basic employment in New Orleans, and 10.55% of the total earnings(Gotham, 2001, p.1742, Table 2). Most of the tourism to New Orleans is built around the Mardi Gras event, as it is one of the biggest events in the entire United States of America. What originally started as a small festival, with locals selling their Mardi Gras products and services such as the traditional plastic beads and festival merchandise, now became a global multimillion dolar market. An important factor in that contributed to the economic boost of the festival that was achieved through globalisation …show more content…

An example of this progress towards an experience economy are the „PartyGras” packages that include certain Mardi Gras related items and instructions of how someone can organise a Mardi Gras themed party, ranging from children to adult parties. Multinational corporations have been involved in the Mardi Gras celebration since the 19th century, through the usage of Mardi Gras images and themes on their commercials and products such as the 1949 fall line of Keds tennis shoes bearing the name „Mardi Gras”. The participants that parade with floaters have taken advantage of the increasing interest of the multinational corporations, by being sponsored by these corporations.. Major corporations such as Coca Cola,Bacardi Rum, Southern Comfort, Kool cigarettes have been advertised in fronts of million of viewers through billboards and other meansof advertising.. Although the implication of transnational companies have brought economical benefits to floats and Mardi Gras itself, it created a „sin” image of the festival, most of the major sponsors of the floats being businesses that produce alcohol and

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