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From: progress under congres, [69.73.242.107]
Subject: Why do we do this? - Killing the golden goose (whale)
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Dear Sir: ‘A study produced this year by a group of independent economists located in Australia confirms that whale watching has become a boon to tourism in Central America and the Caribbean over the last ten years and is set to make a bigger contribution to the industry’s earnings. Many Caribbean countries have been the principal beneficiaries of this growth despite the support given by a few of their governments to Japan’s yen for commercial whaling.’ Sir Ronald Sanders, former Caribbean diplomat and commentator. In his article Sir Ronald goes on to outline many of the benefits to their Tourism Industries of Caribbean countries that take Whale Watching seriously in both financial and value added terms. Although relatively ‘small beer’ at the moment it is an area of Tourism that is increasing rapidly and is a very significant tool in a tourism based economy’s armoury. Sir Ronald does say that there has been growth in this sector ‘despite the support given by a few of their (Caribbean) governments to Japan’s yen for commercial whaling’. However, it is almost impossible to analyse how much more significant this part of our tourism product would have been if those ‘few governments’ had not supported Japan in its commercial whaling. I for one have much anecdotal evidence, from the many tourists I deal with annually, that it would have been even greater. Yes, you’ve guessed it – Grenada is currently one of ‘those’ countries supporting Japan in its commercial whaling. Why do we do it? At best it can only be that we hope to benefit from Japan’s largesse and gratitude however that may or may not materialise – a fishing station in Gouyave or some other relatively small deal that satisfies short term ‘political’ expediency to the detriment of long term progress? Are we as a nation so desperate, and some could rightly argue morally bankrupt, that we are willing to put ourselves out into the world as a beggar nation even to the extent of potentially jeopardising the only currently viable foreign currency generating industry we have? It would seem so. Tourism is a fickle business made even more difficult with people’s concerns about the environment, eco-system and the dire financial situation at the moment. Europeans and North Americans are taking fewer and shorter vacations and when they do make their choices there is overwhelming evidence that eco-tourism and adventure tourism are the only real growth areas in the industry. Grenada finds itself in the enviable position of being one of the very few ‘unspoilt’ islands in the Caribbean so let’s play to our strengths and attract these Eco-minded tourists. However, are we going to undermine our main source of revenue by voting with Japan at the International Whaling Commission's 62nd Annual Meeting in Agadir morocco this month? Say ‘no’ by telling your Member of Parliament not to ‘Kill the Whale that lays the Golden Egg’ – act now before it’s too late! Mandoo Tour operator St. George's Grenada |
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