Imagine if a Venezuelan government really promoted tourism...
<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Friday, May 16, 2003 By: Linda Sonderman
Date: Fri, 16 May 2003 17:20:47 -0400 From: Linda Sonderman linda@alpi-group.com To: Editor@VHeadline.com Subject: Re: hitting your head against a brick wall
Dear Editor: <a href=www.vheadline.com>Gustavo has said it all. We who have worked in tourism for years, I've been in the business for over 20 years, have been battered constantly.
I compare working in tourism to hitting your head against a brick wall at least once a day. Every time we (tourism in Venezuela) make some progress ... bang, something happens to knock it down again.
I also compare tourism in Venezuela to another country I know well, the Turks & Caicos Islands. When we first went to Providenciales (better known as Provo) in 1972, a beach front lot was selling for US$40,000 and a hillside lot with a spectacular view $8,000. There were no more than 500 residents on Provo, no paved streets, no electricity (except for a couple of privately owned generators), one field telephone on a sand dune near the beach, no TV, one small -- 8 room -- hotel, one small store, and the airport was a short coral strip with a small wooden shack for a terminal. At that time the island exported fish and Caribbean lobster or crayfish.
Today, after several changes of government, most with a good tourism policy and an eye towards development, the beach front lot is valued at over $1.5 million and the hilltop lot with a view at $200,000. There are over 15,000 residents; the roads are paved; there are 2 major supermarkets, many grocery stores, and place to purchase almost anything; the major roads are paved and the main road is in the process of being converted into a 4 lane highway; every home has electricity; most homes have at least one phone and an internet connection and there is cable TV; there are a whole slew of hotels and resorts; and a fairly modern airport with a paved runway and an ever expanding terminal.
The island still exports crayfish and fish so what is the difference -- tourism. That there have been favorable tax breaks, favorable legislation and an atmosphere to promote tourism. That is the only difference -- but what a difference it has made in the lives of every resident of the Turks & Caicos.
And, the only "touristy" product that the islands has is beach ... can you imagine how Venezuela would be with a government that really promoted tourism, that made it easy and profitable for the tour operators and investors to function?
Venezuela with hundreds of miles of Caribbean coast, mountains, Amazonian jungle, a massive Delta, the desert area near Coro, and Angel Falls & the Gran Sabana.
No one could stop the growth in tourism ... but, every government since I have been here (over 20 years) has said that tourism is a priority for the country and none have taken the steps needed to really promote tourism...
Linda Sonderman linda@alpi-group.com Alpi Tour, Caracas, Venezuela