An interactive projector includes a projection section, a detection light irradiation section, an imaging section, and a position detection section adapted to detect a position of the pointing element with respect to the projected screen based on an image, which is taken by the imaging section and includes the pointing element. The detection light irradiation section is disposed so that (i) first contrast in an image taken in the state in which the tip of the pointing element has contact with one position outside the projected screen is lower than a threshold value set in advance, and (ii) second contrast in an image taken in the state in which the tip of the pointing element has contact with an arbitrary position in the projected screen is higher than a threshold value set in advance for distinguishing the pointing element from the projected screen.