Be careful what you say on social media

Yes. Tourism is an industry and not an abode. And like anything else in this world that operates in the "free market economy", an industry can be fraught with less than honorable intentions. It's all about the bottom line, making a profit, and to hell with the health of the environment or to the consumer. The free market economy is far from "free" and everyone has a price to pay and it will get paid - immediately for some and eventually for others. But all will pay in some form or another - and some more than others.

Perhaps I didn't make my primary point very clearly, though I do believe the terms "guest" and "host" are aptly used.

No matter where we go on this earth, no matter where we live - whether by birth or by choice - we are all guests. It seems to me that Mother Nature is the ultimate host in this chain. The environment we live in is the "Golden Goose". All of us, including the "host nation" or the local dignitary have a vested interest in keeping and maintaining the health and vitality of Mother Earth so we can all enjoy and reap the bounties of the "eggs" she lays and provides us. Whether it the guest consumer who pays to live there, or to the host nation and their representatives who reap the dollars spent by the guest, those are the free market eggs bestowed to all parties.

If an industry depends on the quality of the environment as its primary source of revenue, then it would be incumbent on that industry and the host nation to maintain that quality of environment. That's the product being sold. If it becomes spoiled and it loses its consumer market value, the guest consumer moves on to another area of the world that does provide a quality environment and they will gladly pay to enjoy it.

If the host nation kills the goose that's laying these golden eggs at his doorway, he has only himself to blame when he goes hungry and there are no eggs or fewer eggs to be laid. If he can't see the value of this, he doesn't deserve the eggs anyway. And the price he will pay will be the big dirty diaper of environmental waste he will need to clean up before the goose will return to lay more eggs at his doorstep. And the little gosling consumers will go elsewhere to thrive and grow.

Very penny wise - but very pound foolish.

We are all consumers of something - whether it's tangible or intangible goods or services. And we are all little golden gooses in this free market economy. It's a shame that there doesn't appear to be a recognition of interdependency amongst the players here. This persona non grata thing is a very shortsighted thing to misuse. It most definitely has a chilling effect on the "little goslings" as they will not thrive and grow to lay eggs on that nations doorstep. They will go elsewhere as there are plenty of places to go to thrive and grow. Because the better the environment, the better and bigger and more eggs will be laid.

The tourism industry has been busy building a pipeline to attract the consumer through it. When the pipeline gets clogged up and ruptures, the tourism dollars stop flowing. Those dollars go elsewhere and to other pipelines - for which there are many.

Tourism is a very dynamic, fluid and constantly evolving industry. It is also a very interdependent industry. The abilities of all levels of business and government need not to work at cross purposes - they need to work together. Therein lies the challenge. Personalities get in the way over the principles and can muck up intended outcomes. This seems to be a worldwide human phenomenon. But you can only step on your dance partners toes for so long before they refuse to dance with you again - no matter the song, no matter the ease of the steps, or how good looking you are. They will gladly dance with someone else and enjoy it!

Seems this industry is in the adolescent stage - out on the dance floor but stepping on toes. If this industry can hear the "OUCH!", and take a few dance lessons, and learn and improve - then great. If not, then they will end up on the sidelines and become the national wallflower.

nwlivewire

 

Agree 100%. When I'm told to "go home" if I have something to object against, I just can't figure out where they mean. Home is where I live. I live in Santander & Valencia.
Once you invest, start and run business, pay taxes, employe people, one might think you have some degree of say about how those tax money are spent without risking being through out of your new home.

 

Yes. I totally get what you're saying. I can certainly see how being in this type of political "no man's land" is quite problematic.

And I should think that if you are doing this much, building a business, hiring employees from the local economy, paying taxes and so on, and the nation benefits from this, then can you not apply for citizenship? I know a US citizen can carry dual citizenship status.

This would allow you to have a voice and a vote. After all, this is where you call home, right?

I was doing some reading the other day, and the PI has a "fast track" to citizenship that only takes three years - under certain conditions and circumstances.

As an example, if f I remember correctly, a duly certified teacher can fast track to citizenship with three consecutive years of teaching in the PI.

There may be other ways to get to citizenship and, providing your native country allows for it, you could carry dual citizenship.

I do know that in many countries around the world, it is highly frowned upon to be vocal or take active political positions - even if you have long term residency rights to live and work and build in that country. Many of the Banana Belt nations in Central America do not take kindly to resident "foreigners" being vocal.

They want your money, they want your expertise, they want your business acumen, but you are to stay on the sidelines with voice and vote, and in some countries, you are restricted as to property ownership rights, too.

Those are reserved rights for citizens. Much of this has to do with that nation's past experience as having been run under colonial rule and/or run by foreign corporate business interests prior to their independence.

nwlivewire

 

Yes, but I really don't think it will make any difference. I will always be seen as a foreigner that should pay double for entrance to waterfalls and shut up and not complain, or go home, regardless if I have a Filipino citizenship.

 

I hate to say this, but this seems to be another worldwide human phenomenon - the "in people and the out people". Yes, you may be always be viewed by some as a foreigner - even after you have been bestowed with (and fairly earned) full rights of citizenship. But I sure as hell wouldn't let those small-minded few EVER control my destiny an passon.

Heck, if I had a business, employed locals, created tax revenue, paid taxes, lived in two houses, and didn't have a voice or a vote, I'd sure be looking at attaining full rights of citizenship.

And I'd be smiling all the way to the bank. Having citizenship when one already has so much to offer will put more playing cards into your hands.

You can play with what you have in your hands now, or with citizenship, you can draw from the deck. Even if the deck is stacked against you and you don't draw an "Ace", it's still a card you can play you didn't have before.

The man or woman that has accomplished as much as having a successful business, two homes and everything else attendant to that, has done well and are NOT the dull knives in the drawer.

You make the best of the hand you are dealt - and you smile all the way to the bank.

I read a story one time about the first self-made woman millionaire in America. A woman who, about 100 years ago, who started with nothing and turned herself into the first independently made, self-made woman millionaire in America.

The woman happened to be an African-American. I can only imagine the challenges she must have had 100 years ago in a white, male-only business world. Not to mention the stigma her color back then must have been in the "hoity-toity" upper-class society circles she probably was never invited into or rarely asked to be a part of.

But I imagine she probably laughed all the way to the bank.

So should you. Look at the donut at not at the hole, right?

nwlivewire