Rethinking old unworkable ways

The administration needs to take a proactive role in dealing with our constantly sinking tourism industry. It must meet with key players such as the hotels, airlines and travel agencies to rechart and revive a troubled industry quite unprepared for stiff competition in the region since the onset of the Asian crisis.

In other words, all four must meet and strike at the roots of the problem by sacrificing in ways to make the NMI an equally competitive destination at the market place. Unless this effort translates into a real action plan to enable the NMI to secure its share of a highly competitive market, all our promotional efforts would have gone down the tube.

The old ways or old paradigms have slipped into the past. They no longer work in a region where other destinations also offer the triad of the sun, sea and shore. If it is cheaper to head out to Thailand for a mere $340 and still be able to see about seven destinations within this package; and still be able to shop, why would one bother heading to the NMI where there’s less to see for a package that costs an arm and a leg?

To illustrate and prove a point: We’ve seen a good number of our people head to Bali, Indonesia. Why do they go there? The price for that package is within their pocketbooks. Thus, they’ve taken advantage of a package to see another place a bit different from the NMI.

Furthermore, it is timely that the administration and the industry collectively review current taxes in that I’m rather suspicious that related businesses have been paying for the same corporate tax (read carefully now) TWICE! This rather strangling double taxation must be repealed forthwith to ease the ability of the industry in reducing the price of package tours to the island. To pin this culprit quickly is to engage the services of experienced financial experts forthwith so they “tell it like it is”.

This is what the governor needs now — expert financial and economic advice — not political advisors who tell him what he wants to hear.

Kidding ourselves with recovery

Indeed, it is very difficult kicking old habits after more than 50 years under a spoiler system that planted the idea that success equals a government job.

Planning was never our forte which fits every groove in our well greased sense of mañana. As such, we never plan anything other than serve as cogs in an engine we never even took part in the conception and design process. Therefore, we don’t know how this mechanical concoction works. We only serve a tiny part of a greater role. Occasionally, we’re allowed to take it for a spin with smiles from ear to ear.

The engine has conked out. This engine is what we know of as the tourism industry. For some, it isn’t broken and have chosen to hang tightly to golden memories of an industry that has crashed against the reefs fronting these isles. Others have confirmed and accepted that the engine is now close to history and it’ll take complete replacement parts to restart it once more. The only problem though is that all have ideas how to restart this engine. But nobody is willing to take the first step to repairing it. It remains at this stage — piles of proposals — that would soon equal the height of the Puerto Rico Dump.

Now, given the political problems in Japan which has protracted any appreciable strides in economic recovery, it’ll take at least up to 2001 before the NMI benefits from this ripple effect if in fact Japan gets back on her feet. For now, local leadership must turn inward to see where it can pick up the pieces and undertake appropriate amends. If we don’t, then it becomes a sure ticket to sinking an already sinking ship.

It means we must immediately begin solving this mess from within. Otherwise, we’d wreck this sinking ship to a complete financial meltdown.

Friends, in every corner of these isles there’s a quiet though loud sentiment of uncertainty among families in terms of what the immediate future holds for them. They too know that something’s has gone wrong. And they now have laid their future on the laps of their elected officials for leadership. I know we can employ reasoned analysis on a collective basis. Let’s join hands and do it. Our people look forward to strong leadership, now! Si Yuus Maase`.