China’s tourism market is huge

For all the misgivings among diplomats about China’s entry into the World Trade Organization, most members would want Asia’s giant to partake in global trade for obvious reasons.

There’s a huge market to peddle consumable products of more than 1.3 billion people. The slow but sure change in the lifestyle of Chinese from traditional to a modern way of living will forever open the floodgates of change of a once closed society and market. The winds of change has taken its permanent seat. The behavior of
China’s consumers will never be the same.

Where does the NMI fit in this huge window of opportunities? I recall a friend’s view (Travis Coffman) who said that the NMI is the perfect venue for US companies to build manufacturing plants and market their products to countries in Asia. The labor cost here is relatively inexpensive compared to US mainland wages. We control immigration and so there’s the added advantage of bringing in workers from neighboring countries. The NMI would in turn become the capital of an economic forward base for any and all US manufacturing companies.

Some may argue why make a pit stop here when they can go directly into Asian countries. Well, the comparative advantage that we have over all others is political stability. We equally wary that we will never pull out the high-tech industries from Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines and other tiger countries. But there’s still a huge for American companies to manufacture and peddle consumable products to these countries. The opportunity is here and the loss of US mainland workers is our gain for both guest workers and the indigenous people the latter of whom are all US Citizens!

Imagine raking-in our share of the more than 100 million up and coming middle class Chinese in Shanghai who are itching to explore the globe. Imagine the revival of the local tourism industry with at least 10 million visitors from the People’s Republic of China. Not only would this see great strides in reviving the tourism or glamour industry, but we would have seen greater heights in other forms of visitor activities beyond conventional activities of fun in the triad of the sun, sea and sand.

All it takes is the reinvention of approach to revive the wheels of phenomenal success. It can be done and it must done. For starters, how about organizing our house so we build positive and consistent investment policies? It makes retaining think tanks mandatory and basically inevitable. These are experts who are detached from provincial politics that allows for leadership to see issues with a journalistic mind set. Ako? Or do we perpetuate the usual attitude of self-destruction? Let’s make paradise what ought to be for both our children and friends from near and far.

Visiting my pals Iku and Duñg

I must have dropped in at the wrong time in that my two pals weren’t talking. I kissed their hands and offered them cold beer to loosen their tongue. They instantly went on a rampage about calling for police help in the butchering of their prized pig. Apparently, the officer missed the target and hit the pig’s ear rather than between the eyes.

“A` Saina dis policeman. What a waste…everyday academy, academy, academy and dey still miss the target!”, related Pedron Malas, fuming.

“Yeah, `nai, like you, JR. Eberyday you talk about de `conomy, `conomy, `conomy. What `conomy?–the dying coconut trees?”

Only then did I realize that the coconut trees planted 20-30 years ago have started dying and there’s no replanting program if only to watch coconut fronds swing to the whims of that tropical breeze at dawn and dusk.

“You know, Iku, no mo` da coconut economy, only talk economy now”, related Juan Malas. I left a bit troubled wishing that the “talk economy” is tangible so we could get some people jobs to bring home the bacon. Think about it. Hello?