Market Diversification

What these islands need is more proactive leaders who wish to make a difference in the diversification of tourism outlets beyond conventional markets. Such should be the agenda of local leadership by lifting immigration restrictions of mainland China travelers who number more than 100 million in up-and-coming middle class Chinese ready to see places beyond Hong Kong and Shanghai.

If in the past we’ve spoken boldly of the obvious need for market diversification, this is the most opportune time to proceed with such a plan to augment the ailing tourism industry which took a nose dive since two years ago. Imagine the effects of a successful market diversification to China with over 100 million anxious travelers. It would make a difference in rebooting tourism in the islands in grand fashion. Opportunity knocks so let’s answer and open the door, now!

We hope the lessons of the regional crisis has taught us the hard lessons of putting all our eggs in a single basket. We relied on the fallacy that came with the Japanese Bubble economy convinced that it will never burst. It did. That we often neglect the benefits of long-term planning, we went scrambling for answers, dazed and far more confused by its negative effects than anything else. In the process, we watched in awe as more than 2000 tourist related businesses shut their doors permanently.

If anything, the current experience confirmed in no uncertain terms, the fickleness of this sector of the local economy. It behooves leadership to commission a study on the future of tourism in the islands beyond what we now offer. It must involve the right hand knowing full well what the left hand is doing so we can get our acts together for vicious competition with nearby competing destinations in Asia and the Pacific. We no longer can take the triad of the sun, sea and shore for granted. Other destinations have the same gifts from nature who constantly keep abreast of the market to refine their services.

Let us hope that we could get our acts together on this matter in our collective efforts to revive an industry that has helped us attain great economic strides over the last two decades. We’ve got to change our sputtering engine beyond a tune-up job. A change in paradigm in how we view tourism is a must as we map-out the future of this industry. Lest we forget, only those who opt to help themselves get to reap the fruits of their efforts. Si Yuus Maase` yan ghilisow!