Lessons to Learn

• Not everyone agrees with you
• Tourism is about education
• Tour operators need to warn and inform clients

Free Thought or Free Travel?

The Social Media Life

Who doesn’t like to travel and post their adventures on social media in real time? It proves you’ve been there and can even share information that helps other travelers. But it’s essential to be aware of the laws and regulations in various countries regarding social media posts. Some countries, like China and Iran, have strict censorship laws that limit what can be posted online. In Saudi Arabia, it’s illegal to criticize the government or the royal family on social media. In Singapore, posting anything deemed offensive can result in fines or even jail time. It’s always a good idea to research the laws and customs of a country before posting anything on social media while traveling. But what about what you’ve posted in the past, videos or memes you liked and might even have saved on your phone that are totally unrelated to your travels? For most travelers, these are only concerns when visiting more oppressive countries, or at least they were.

Right Think, Wrong Think, Don’t Think

However, if you’re visiting a safe and friendly destination such as Ireland, wrong think could land you in prison, just as it would in N. Korea. It’s a double whammy of laws that come into play. First, Irish customs officials can inspect and search electronic devices at border crossings, including phones and computers. This authority is granted under the Customs Acts, which allow customs officials to examine goods and documents to ensure compliance with customs and import/export regulations. Now that isn’t anything new and can happen when you enter just about any country. But it gets interesting with The Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill 2022.

“The new Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill, which is currently passing through the Irish parliament, contains some shockingly authoritarian provisions. The bill will outlaw the ‘communication’ of material or speech that might ‘incite hatred’ against people with certain protected characteristics (such as race, religion and gender). In practice, if other European hate-speech laws are any guide, ‘inciting hatred’ tends to mean little more than causing offence. This can be punishable by up to five years in prison.
As if all that weren’t draconian enough, it even makes it a crime, punishable by two years’ jail time, to simply ‘prepare or possess’ material likely to ‘incite hatred’. ‘Possession’ could mean nothing more than having an offensive video stored on your computer, or a dodgy meme saved on your phone.”(i)

What if you’re a tourist from a free-thought country visiting Ireland? You belong to a dozen different social media channels. Posting, liking, and sharing with wild abandon from every electronic device you have. Sometimes serious, sometimes humorous, but always freely. In the best-case scenario, no one cares to check, and you enter the country and have a lovely time. Worst? Fine and/or prison.

If you thought this was a problem just in Ireland, you’re wrong. Thoughtcrime legislation is on the move in the UK and EU, and it’s hoping over the pond. Canada has a similar thought crime act. 

Will Ireland/UK/EU/Canada/etc go the way the N. Korea and require spyware installed on your phone so they can make sure you’re not upsetting anyone? Sure! Why not!

The Tour Operators’ Responsibility

As tour operators, it’s our job to put butts in seats and heads in beds. We show pretty pictures, professional videos, glowing testimonials, and reviews as long as your arm to entice the traveling public to come. As a tour operator, we also have a significant responsibility for the safety and protection of our clients throughout their travel experience. Here are some key aspects of our responsibility:

Risk assessment and planning

Conduct a thorough risk assessment of the destinations and activities you offer. Identify potential hazards and take necessary precautions to minimize risks. This includes monitoring travel advisories, consulting local authorities, and staying updated on health and safety information.

Selection of reliable partners

Choose reputable accommodation providers, transportation services, and activity organizers. Verify their licenses, safety records, and adherence to industry standards. Regularly assess their performance to ensure continued safety and quality.

Providing accurate information

Give your clients clear and precise information about the destinations, activities, and potential risks involved. Communicate any safety guidelines, including local laws and customs they should know. Provide information on emergency contacts, medical facilities, and travel insurance options.

Safety briefings and guidelines

Conduct comprehensive safety briefings before and during the tour. Educate your clients on safety procedures, emergency protocols, and any specific risks associated with the activities or destinations. Encourage them to ask questions and address any concerns they may have.

Trained and competent staff

Ensure that your tour guides and staff members are well-trained in first aid, emergency response, and customer safety. They should be knowledgeable about the destinations and capable of handling various situations professionally.

Emergency Preparedness

Develop and implement emergency response plans for different scenarios, such as medical emergencies, natural disasters, or political unrest. Establish communication channels and contingency measures to address any unforeseen circumstances swiftly.

Continuous monitoring and improvement

Regularly review and update your safety policies and procedures based on feedback, incidents, and industry best practices. Stay informed about emerging safety issues and adapt your operations accordingly.

But are we omitting vital information on something as intangible as what they think and share? What are we doing to ensure our clients don’t end up with the Blarney Stone chained around their ankles while they make license plates for 5 years because of a meme? When a conservative/religious/conscientious family or group comes to visit, and they’ve got (insert “harmful content” here) on their phone from previous social media posting, will they be in danger?

Breaking down barriers

International travel offers numerous benefits, including cultural enrichment, personal growth, expanded perspectives, and the opportunity to create lasting memories. It allows individuals to immerse themselves in diverse cultures, experience different traditions and cuisines, and develop a broader understanding of the world. International travel promotes tolerance, empathy, and intercultural communication, fostering a more interconnected global community. It provides opportunities for self-discovery, building resilience, and gaining a sense of independence. Additionally, it can enhance language skills, boost creativity, and provide unique educational experiences. Overall, international travel opens doors to new experiences, broadens horizons, and enriches lives in countless ways. But what happens when we close our borders to all but those with “approved” thoughts?

Lessons to Learn

• Low-Value Tourism is Destructive
• More impact, less money
• High-Value Tourism is Desirable
• Less impact, more money

Low-Value Tourism isn’t worth it

There’s no doubt that tourism is valuable. It can contribute to economic growth and job creation by providing employment opportunities and generating revenue by selling goods and services to tourists. This revenue often goes on to benefit local communities and businesses, particularly in areas that may have limited economic opportunities. Tourism can also help promote cultural exchange and understanding between people from different regions and countries, leading to greater tolerance and appreciation of different cultures and ways of life. In addition, tourism can encourage the preservation and protection of natural and cultural heritage sites by creating conservation and sustainable use incentives helping to preserve these crucial resources are preserved for future generations.

While tourism can bring many benefits, potential negative impacts must also be considered and addressed. Some adverse effects include environmental degradation, cultural erosion, economic dependence, overcrowding, conflict, and crime.

So what causes tourism to cross that line from a benefit to a detriment? Ask academics, and they’ll devise a dozen explanations and another dozen reasons to explain their answer. Our experience boils down to just one cause, the tourists themselves. After over 20 years of working in Morocco tourism, we’ve had a front-row seat as the country went from a once-in-a-lifetime adventure to a commodity you can buy in a three-pack at Cosco.

Race to the Bottom

Morocco used to be a difficult destination to get to with its limited flights and capacity giving a vacation to Morocco the feeling of something special and elite. Tourism suppliers in Morocco were tightly regulated, making it nearly impossible for start-ups to succeed (if they were even allowed to start at all), and existing operators were closely controlled and very reliable. It all changed when Morocco’s “open sky” policy was implemented in the early 2000s. The policy involved liberalizing the country’s air transport market, opening it up to more competition, and allowing foreign airlines to operate more freely within Morocco. So instead of paying $700 for a flight to Morocco, you can fly from Europe for 50 euros (it’s still $700 from the US). And the European tourists it attracted were exactly what you’d expect from clients spending 50 euros on getting there and willing to ride in an overhead bin. As the “50 Euro Tourists” flooded in, the entire tourism industry began a race to the bottom. Once luxurious boutique hotels became run-down Airbnb’s taken over by a whole herd of tourists on a party weekend. Reputable operators that heavily invested in their business started facing competition for anyone and everyone with a car and a camel.

That race to the bottom sent shockwaves through every facet in Morocco and flipped everything on its head. Once, the markets were proud to offer quality handcrafted work from local artisans at a quality price. Now they import cheap machine-made Chinese knockoffs to sell to the “50 Euro Tourists,” causing Moroccan crafts to become endangered. These same tourists are known for being the rudest and most disrespectful visitors to Morocco, making them an almost deserving target for crime. They were the easiest tourists to spot, visiting for a long weekend to get drunk and laugh at the locals while wandering around in booty shorts and crop tops. They didn’t have a name for this tourist class when it started, but now we call it “Low-Value Tourism.”

Low-Value Tourism

The term “Low-Value Tourism” has come to refer to tourists who spend relatively little money while traveling. These are typically tourists looking for budget-friendly options and are willing to compromise on comfort, luxury, convenience, and authenticity to spend as little as possible.

They tend to put little money into the economy through accommodation, dining, transportation, and other travel-related expenses, even to the point of bringing cans and packages of food WITH THEM. They stay in the cheapest accommodations possible, stuffing as many people into a room as possible. And it doesn’t matter if it’s clean or has amenities such as swimming pools, spa services, or restaurants, as long as it’s cheap. They travel for shorter periods, often just a long weekend, skewing accommodation availability and shutting out “High-Value Tourists.” They’re also less interested in luxury or high-end experiences, such as tours, shopping for authentic crafts, culture, or even local restaurants.

More and more destinations are waking up to the devastation the “Low-Value Tourism” have on tourism, the environment, and the culture.

• Thailand has implemented a 500-baht tourism fee for a “tourism transformation fund” 
• Indonesia talked about banning backpackers from Bali
• Barcelona has implemented a tourism tax on visitors to help offset the negative impacts of tourism, such as overcrowding and environmental degradation.
• Bhutan has implemented a policy of “high-value, low-impact” tourism, which aims to limit the number of tourists and promote sustainable tourism practices. Tourists must pay a minimum daily fee that includes accommodation, meals, transportation, and a guide, which helps ensure that tourism benefits local communities and contributes to the conservation of Bhutan’s natural and cultural heritage.
• Venice requires day-trippers to pay an entrance fee into the city of up to $11 (€10).
• Even Iceland (perhaps already Europe’s most expensive destination) has implemented a tourism tax to fund conservation and infrastructure projects. The tax is based on the number of nights tourists spend in the country and helps offset the negative impacts of tourism on the environment.

Aim High(-Value Tourists)

Implementing a system to deter low-value tourists can be achieved through several strategies:

1. Change the perception: “Low-Value Tourists” is a market unto themselves. There are budget travel magazines, budget travel podcasts, and budget travel bloggers. All this information makes identifying what draws the “Low-Value Tourist” to your destination fast and easy so your changes can be laser-focused, causing the least disruption and most significant value.
2. Targeted marketing: Develop advertising campaigns and promotions emphasizing high-value experiences, attractions, and activities to attract tourists with specific interests and higher spending capacity.
3. Pricing adjustments: Adjust pricing structures for accommodations, attractions, and services to encourage higher spending and discourage budget travelers. This could include premium offerings and exclusive packages tailored to attract high-value tourists.
4. Quality enhancement: Enhance the quality and variety of tourism offerings, such as improving infrastructure, attractions, accommodations, and customer service. High-value tourists are more likely to be attracted to destinations with exceptional experiences.
5. Visitor screening: Implement pre-screening measures such as visa requirements, advanced booking systems, and thorough traveler profiling to assess the potential value and purpose of visitors’ trips. This can help filter out low-value tourists seeking inexpensive options without contributing significantly to the local economy.
6. Partnerships and collaborations: Collaborate with high-end travel agencies, luxury brands, and upscale service providers to create exclusive packages and tailored experiences that appeal to affluent tourists. This can help attract a higher caliber of visitors while elevating the destination’s reputation.
7. Regulation and enforcement: Implement and enforce regulations that discourage low-value tourism, such as limitations on short-term rentals, restrictions on low-cost mass tourism operators, or introducing tourist taxes. These measures can help manage visitor numbers and incentivize higher spending patterns.

Stomp on Toes

There’s a choice: do you want Low-Value Tourists or High-Value Tourists? Do you want responsible tourism that contributes to and sustains the economy and culture? Or do you want hoards of drunks buying cheap Chinese souvenirs and running the economy and culture into the ground? There’s no middle ground on this. So don’t be afraid to step on toes!

Lessons to Learn

• If the sun shines, take credit for it
• Don’t hide what you have
• Turn misconceptions into selling points
• Use what you have, don’t wait for what you don’t
• Don’t chase the money, chase the clients and money will follow

Tourism Trouble in Paradise

Welcome to the Jungle

Suriname is a small country located on the northeastern coast of South America. Although it has a lot to offer in terms of natural beauty, cultural heritage, and biodiversity, this paradise is not a very well-known tourist destination compared to some of its neighboring countries.

According to the World Bank, the number of international tourist arrivals in Suriname has been relatively stable over the past few years, with around 250,000 visitors in 2019. This represents a modest increase from previous years but still falls short of the country’s tourism potential.

Suriname’s tourism industry has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, like many other countries around the world. Travel restrictions and health protocols have been put in place to curb the spread of the virus, which has had a negative impact on the industry.

However, Suriname has been taking steps to promote its tourism industry in recent years. The government has invested in infrastructure development, such as improving airport facilities and expanding the road network. In addition, initiatives have been launched to promote sustainable tourism and protect the country’s natural and cultural heritage.

Overall, the current state of tourism in Suriname appears to be a work in progress. While there is potential for growth, it may take some time and effort to fully develop the industry and attract more visitors to the country.

So what are they doing wrong?

There are several factors that may be contributing to Suriname’s struggle with tourism. Here are a few potential reasons:

Lack of marketing:

Suriname isn’t doing enough to promote itself as a tourist destination. Many potential visitors may not even be aware of what Suriname has to offer in terms of attractions and experiences and the Ministry of Tourism isn’t doing much to change it. A quick search shows an almost non-existent consumer outreach (limited website, difficult to contact, no recommendations for itineraries or attractions, etc.). It’s almost like they’ve delegated TripAdvisor to promote their country. A key component they’re missing is working with local and outside tour operators. When tour operators hit the ground, THEY’LL promote and advertise the destination as a normal part of business, often spending even more in marketing than the Ministry of Tourism. For example, Google “Morocco Tours” and prepare to be overwhelmed by the number of ads that come up. Now Google “Suriname Tours” and see the lack of ads that appear. While hotels and attractions may promote themselves to a limited market that seeks them out, the destination as a whole would benefit from tour operators promoting it also.

lack of Openness

The Ministry of Tourism and service providers should be a cheerleader for the country. Every fresh coat of paint, every piece of new pool furniture, every new restaurant menu, and even every sunny day needs to be celebrated and promoted. But they don’t talk about it. Why? For a bunch of reasons.

First is their privacy policy. The Ministry of Tourism is unable to share the contact information of tourism service suppliers with tourists/tour operators. So if you call, they won’t be able to provide you with any information. They also won’t let their own tourism service suppliers know the name and information of tourists/tour operators that want to do business with them. It’s like there’s a black hole of information where people with money to spend and people that want to work for the money are tossed in and never heard from again. So instead of promoting tourism, they’ve succeeded in stopping it.

Second is their gatekeeper policy. The Ministry of Tourism will take your information (licenses, passport copy, credit references, corporate filings, and blood type), and then inject themselves into the middle of your business. They’ll determine the resources you’ll need, the destinations to visit, and the suppliers you’ll use. Then you have to fly down for a face-to-face meeting. So much can go wrong. What if they don’t understand what programs I’m trying to develop for my market and they bring the wrong players to the table? Do I have to fly back several times before I’m finally with the right resources? How do I know I’m not being set up by the Ministry so I’m only doing business with his nephew’s cousin’s best friend’s roommate? It’s a page right out of the old Soviet Intourist Office.

Cultural differences also play a factor. Assuming you’ve made it to Suriname and have managed to find the service providers you want to hire, they won’t take the job. Problem is, if they don’t know you, they won’t work with you. It’s like the whole concept of tourism (people you don’t know) is lost on them, but they want the money from it. It’s like walking down the middle of the street swinging bags of money yelling “there’s this and more if you work with us!” and everyone runs inside, locks the doors, turns off the lights, and crawls under the bed.

Limited infrastructure

Saying Suriname’s tourism infrastructure may be lacking, making it difficult for visitors to access certain areas or to find accommodations, transportation, and other amenities is an excuse, not a reason for the country’s poor performance. What does a country need for a successful tourism infrastructure? In simple terms: somewhere to sleep, somewhere to eat, something to do, and a way to get there. That’s it. Suriname has people living happy and comfortable lives so the infrastructure is already there, it just takes a bit of creativity to organize and use it correctly. Often though, what we’ll hear is “We need X before we can bring tourism.” and X is often big money projects, water parks, convention centers, etc. You know, the kind of projects that local politicians love to name after themselves. But if you have locals going about their daily lives, you’ve got all the infrastructure you need.

Safety concerns

Suriname has a perceived relatively high crime rate, which may make some tourists hesitant to visit. But that’s just a perception, the reality is that even the US State Dept says “Suriname – Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions” which means it’s no more dangerous than any US city. Additionally, there are concerns about diseases like malaria and dengue fever, which can be contracted from mosquito bites. But only the Yellow Fever vaccine is recommended for travelers.

Limited attractions

While Suriname does have some unique and interesting attractions, such as the capital city of Paramaribo and the Suriname River, there may not be enough to keep tourists engaged for an extended period of time. Fortunately, most Americans are lucky if they get a week of vacation, so there’s not much worry about them running out of things to do in the limited time they have.

Lack of investment

Without significant investment in tourism infrastructure and marketing efforts, Suriname may struggle to attract visitors and build a sustainable tourism industry. This is a bit of a trap though. Does every destination need a waterpark? Does it need a convention center? No. Use what you have now, don’t wait for what you don’t have, and let the market determine and provide what you do need.

To improve its tourism industry, Suriname may need to address some of these issues, such as improving its marketing efforts, investing in infrastructure, and addressing safety concerns. Additionally, the country may need to consider developing new attractions or experiences that can appeal to a broader range of tourists.

What not to do

• Over-regulation can stifle creativity
• Under-regulation destroys trust
• Travel is a business
• There’s no substitute for experience

The Ministry of Tourism & Funny Walks

Call it what you will, the Ministry of Tourism, National Tourism Office, Convention and Visitors Bureau, etc., all have different names, but we’ll call it the “Tourism Offices.” Regardless of the term, all have the same job: promoting and bringing tourism and its dollars to their region. How they do it is another matter, and every agency has a different way of doing it. Top-down, bottom-up, side-to-side, it’s like a Wonkavator, but depending on their approach, it dramatically affects their success.

What not to do

Some Tourism Offices attempt to help but lack understanding of how to help. Others are following a playbook out of the top university programs with no foundation in reality. While some genuinely exist to hinder, if not outright destroy, tourism. To understand what works, let’s examine what doesn’t work to start with.

The Taiwan Two-Step

Want to start running tours to Taiwan? Start at the top and work your way to the middle! Our adventures with Taiwan began with contacting the Taiwan Tourism Bureau. They referred us to any of 15 overseas offices worldwide without answering a single question or contacting us directly. Picking the one closest to our office, we called and introduced ourselves, and explained what we were looking for. Their response? They had to defer to someone else for the answers, so “send us an email.” A dozen emails later, and absolutely no response was followed by another call and again, “send us an email.” Does Taiwan lack an infrastructure able to support tourism? Does Taiwan have all the tourists they need, so there’s no need for more? Has Godzilla leveled most of the tourism infrastructure? Does Taiwan even exist? (I haven’t seen it, so I can’t be sure).
As a rule, if the person answering the phone or checking the emails has ever to refer you to someone else, they’re saying, “I don’t have a clue, and I’m not going to find out.” Lots of and or maybes pop up, but the end result is the same. Just hang a great big sign at the airport saying CLOSED FOR BUSINESS. It’s an obvious lack of business understanding (and tourism is a business). All the marketing campaigns, all the adverting, and all the offices scattered around the world won’t make a difference if you can’t help. So why couldn’t our email be forwarded to someone that could help and have them respond instead of having us try to navigate their own bureaucracy and find that someone? A simple rule about tourism: “Go Where You’re Wanted.” An even more straightforward rule of business: “Make it easy for them to give you their money.”

The Saudi Slide

What happens when you let MBAs with overpriced degrees in tourism but no practical experience take over your country’s tourism operation? You get Saudi Arabia. Their attempt to become a tourist Mecca (get it?) has been roundly mocked as an overpriced, overhyped failure. “Not ready for prime time,” wrote one of the commentators. Saudi Araba has discovered you can’t buy your way to tourism success. It’s not a matter of money; it’s a matter of actually offering tourists an easy and unique experience they can’t get by going to EPOCT or Vegas. It falls on the pioneers to create programs and infrastructure needed for tourism, and government can 1) lead, 2) follow, or 3) get out of the way. However, instead, they chose option 4, a myriad of laws, regulations, and fines. After all, can’t have businesses running around willy-nilly giving the traveling public what they want. So there must be an orderly, needlessly complicated process where people who aren’t traveling determine what tourists want and don’t want. This is based on what a professor locked in an ivory tower thinks tourists want, determined by complex calculations performed on an abacus while tripping on LSD (honestly, there’s no other way to explain it). Do you think they ever stopped and thought there may be so many unlicensed operators because getting licensed is so complicated it’s nearly impossible? And maybe they only exist because the official operators aren’t delivering what tourists want. I haven’t even gotten to the culture and religious norms that make Saudi Arabia about as welcoming as a beach resort in N. Korea.

The Pakistan Pop

Long called the next up-and-coming global destination, Pakistan has been self-exiled into a virtual hermit kingdom of tourism. What should be a natural destination for tourism remains unknown, unapproachable, and unattractive. Why? That’d be their Tourism Development Corporation. Why would an agency tasked with developing tourism be the chief obstacle? A quick glance at their website tells the story. “The Pakistan Tours (Pvt.) Limited was incorporated as PTDC’s wholly owned subsidiary in 1977 under the repealed Companies Act 1913 (Now the Companies Ordinance, 1984). PTL has its own Board of Directors with MD PTDC as its Chairman. Under a license from the Federal Government, Pakistan Tours (Pvt.) Limited is organizing package tours and treks, renting tourist transport, and operating a number of domestic/international tourist bus services.” Basically, the tourism office OWNS the tourist resources. And oddly enough, they’re the same ones that license (or refuse to license) other operators in Pakistan. Funny how that works out.
But we tried anyway. Emails, calls, and even an associate went to their office and scheduled a meeting. Emails went unanswered, calls never returned, and their office was closed for the meeting we scheduled weeks in advance. We even went as far as contacting the US Embassy to see if they could put us in direct contact with anyone they had at the TDC. You know you’re not wanted when even the embassy is ignored. But then again, they had a tourism expo promoting Pakistan tours from Myanmar, guess it went really well, and they’re full of tourists now and don’t need any more.

The Morocco Mash

After 20 years working in Morocco, we’ve had a front-row seat to how the country has progressed and changed. Once, tourism was tightly controlled by the Moroccan Tourism Police enforcing its laws. But then the Moroccan government opted to “get out of the way” more or less and loosened its regulations. Now anyone with a car, camel, or Gmail account is advertising tourist services on Facebook and Trip Advisor (often loaded with fake reviews). Mix in cheap flights from the EU, and Morocco tourism exploded. What’s been lost is any guarantee tourists have when they book and send money. As the disreputable mix with the reputable, Morocco’s tourism industry has become a bit of a gamble.

The Beat Goes On

These are just a few examples of what we’ve encountered over the years. I’m sure there are dozens more stories out there, but blogging is a drag, and I’d rather travel. So what can be done? In our next post, we’ll look at what high functioning Tourism Offices can do to make their destination a winner.