Shrimpsvoices

Australian resort launches 'nude month' to fight economic crisis
An Australian holiday resort has come up with a novel way to fight the global ecomonic crisis: a month-long "anything goes" party.

The White Cockatoo resort in Queensland is battling falling bookings and needed something to stand out from the crowd.

"Tough economic times call for stiff measures," owner Tony Fox told the Courier-Mail newspaper.

"It will be a hedonism resort, where anything goes for a month. It doesn't take rocket science to work out what it means," he said.

The move has been lauded by local mayor Val Schier , who said she was not opposed to the event as long as no laws were broken.

"People in tropical north Queensland are extraordinarily creative," she said. "It is tough economic times and as long as it is with consenting adults, then there is no problem."

But the party - scheduled for March - has worried some.

"You've got to wonder what sort of people go and why. Where is the moral code of behavior and how do you stop jealousies and fights?" Cairns Catholic Bishop James Foley said after Mr Fox's announcement.

The controversial "clothes optional" resort made headlines three years ago when police were called to end partner-swapping parties after a swathe of public complaints.

Australia's tourism in industry is being hit hard by global economic turmoil with official figures showing a 7.6 percent decline in overseas visitors in September.

Industry leaders expect holiday bookings may drop by up to a third in early 2009 and are planning a new international advertising campaign to coincide with blockbuster movie "Australia" starring Oscar-winning actress Nicole Kidman.

But holidaymakers will have to act fast if they want a slice of the action at the White Cockatoo, Mr Fox says the hotel is almost fully booked.

"You've got to wonder what sort of people go and why"