The upcoming papal visit to Australia for World Youth Day is proving to be less than a blessing, with hotel bookings falling far short of expectations.

One five-star hotel in Sydney complained that no reservations had been made for the 1,000 rooms set aside for the July event, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

While World Youth Day is drawing fewer visitors than expected, the event is scaring away other tourists. Matt Brown, the New South Wales tourism minister, has announced a campaign to lure visitors who might want to be in Sydney at the same time as Pope Benedict XVI.

Brown said he expects the event to be good for Sydney in the long run.

The long-term benefits for Sydney will be enormous, with the spotlight similar to what was enjoyed during the Olympics, he said.

World Youth Day organizers predicted 225,000 people would attend. So far, 123,000 have signed up.

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