MyPE

Community Business Directory, Event Listings, News and Views from Gqeberha, Nelson Mandela Bay

Why do we ONLY hear the Bad News around Tourism?

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An e-mail and WhatsApp doung the rounds at present reads; “In the last 2 weeks, there have been 2 (two) violent robbery incidents involving tourist buses visiting the Donkin as well as Zwide. Unfortunately, apart from having their belongings stolen, some Dutch visitors were injured and hospitalized. In addition, an American couple were robbed on the beachfront promenade.”

I say YES to indignant outrage at the terrible experiences meted out to our foreign visitors and YES my heart goes out to the damage that the criminal miscreants have done to their victims and our ailing tourism industry.

BUT I also say No to a lot of things:

  • NO to us harping on and on about the bad sh!t
  • NO to us only sharing the bad sh!t
  • NO to us NOT sharing the good sh!t
  • NO to us having our Safety and Security sector only being mentioned when sh!t goes down

Let us turn this around and say YES to a lot of things:

  • YES to sharing the good sh!t often and incessantly
  • YES to hunting down these miscreants and spanking them hard and with intent
  • YES to working together to finding meaningful employment that will attract these miscreants away from their life of crime
  • YES to praising our Safety and Security sector when they do good
  • YES to highlighting the tourism areas we have with an exemplary safety record
  • YES to hugging and thanking a tourist every day
  • YES to slowing down our day just a tad to interact properly with our foreign tourists
  • YES to being more positive on social media and to friends and family.

I sincerely BELIEVE that if we believe in something we will find a way to make it better.

BELIEVE in the power of attracting tourists to our neck of the woods.

As I said to some very dear friends today: “Incidents such as these need to also be tempered with some good news and successes – too many bad news items become the norm. There must many tourism products or areas that can boast of a 100% safety record – let’s celebrate those.”

From my very narrow perspective from being involved with the Algoa Bay Yacht Club welcoming many international visitors to our moorings and yacht club to my work with AB Marine Whale and Dolphin Watching from the PEDSAC premises I can honestly say that we have NEVER had an incident in the harbour or at sea. The security in the harbour is a HUGE plus. We do not even see the need for Car Guards who are not allowed in the area anyway.

SO, if you are concerned about the safety of your foreign tourists you are more than welcome to refer them to AB Marine to come Whale and Dolphin Watching and after that we will introduce them to the restaurant at PEDSAC for a meal – all whilst their vehicles, person and belongings are safe.

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.