- HSBC report positive
- says two growth engines: tourism and remittances “are humming now”
Tourism Minister
Drives positive moves to cater for new tourism products and landscape. Issues a Twitter notice stating that musical shows can play Fridays and Saturdays till 1 am and on Sundays till 12.30 am subject to reasonable distance kept between religious places and schools. This should have been much earlier.
The country should remember that tourism is crucial . It is prudent to know that during Covid, tourism numbers fell the country didn’t have electricity, Gas and fuel. It is vital for the bureaucrats and governments servants to support in every way to increase tourism numbers. This should be the aragalaya now.
Gone are the days where tourism meant providing accommodation and food, surrounding our beautiful country. Tourist requirements are far more complex now with the young tourist, the millennials spending money and time in a totally different way. There are the digital nomads working from all over the globe and working remotely, specially after Covid.
The protectionist types are up in arms that foreigners are working without working visas / permits. However this is is a small minded theory supported by dinosaurs in the industry and the Jealous types backed by some ignorant media know it all conspiracy theorists.
We have to compete as a country with the other tourism products competing with us. If foreigners don’t come and do temp work, how do we evolve? did we know how to surf before? We need the foreign DJs to come and play so we know those new music genres. We need foreigners to invest and start restaurants so that we know what is in at the moment with other countries. Look at Bali how they cater to the foreigners, beach clubs, restaurants offering the right food. However we have become uncomfortable ? It is this small minded nature that has kept our tourist numbers at bay.
We need to evolve and play the game. If foreigners are working without permits, give it to them and structure a rule where they have to train 10 locals. Our system of stopping the businesses that are doing well for jealousy must stop.
Let us take this HSBC report to heart and know that driven in the right direction we can change . There is no doubt that RW knows what he is doing. Specially on tourism. Let’s give him that at least and thank him for stepping up.
Read Full HSBC Report:
