Isla de Margarita
Kurowski’s dream for prosperity on
Isla de Margarita
Report © by VHeadline.com News Editor
VHeadline.com: August 15, 2000 --- Guest editor Per Kurowski has been describing the future Isla de Margarita he would like to see… “I’m a firm believer that the only relevant economic model for Venezuela is the one that recognizes that the country will continue to receive considerable income from oil revenues for many decades to come, making Venezuela relatively expensive and Isla de Margarita an island with class and category.”
The future Margarita he dreams of has the following characteristics:
1. A high category tourist industry leaving cheap tours to other venues.
2. Enough lure to demand top services from the world’s top airlines, offering perks like tax free and cost price jet fuel for every plane that lands here or stopping any line that doesn’t stop here from landing in Caracas.
3. Recognition that non-specialized tourism doesn’t render benefits…targeting market segments that have comparative advantages like wind-surfing in El Yaque Beach.
4. Make use of assets like the Nueva Esparta Medical Center for third age persons by securing agreements with universities and specialized companies. Six winter months holidays for old age pensioners from the developed world.
5. Get upset on learning that in January 2000 54 cruise ships weighed anchor in Saint Martin, bringing 95,000 passengers and 39,000 crew members ashore to spend money, placing a less worthy island than Margarita on the map.
6. Not to allow Venezuela to associate itself with Caricom when those countries refuse to put Margarita on their Caribbean tourist maps.
7. Not to remain smug with official government support… send officials to international fairs to promote the island with creative packets, like setting up top quality recording studios that would attract world class performers and much media coverage.
8. A leadership that would halt privatization of the island’s electricity sector favoring only the central government and causing islander’s a notable hike, since Margarita can enjoy electricity supplied from Guri, like the Brazilians will next year.
9. Our children’s future will depend on a joint effort… a tourist code that fixes severe penalties for every infraction.
10. Free language courses for every resident.
11. Apply the Environmental Law to demolish works or uncompleted projects that are an eyesore to visitors.
12. Get rid of cigarette company sponsored billboards that litter the road to the airport.
13. No more taxes, except to award tax-dodging certificates to tired Europeans , who can but gasoline at its real price, without paying the 400% tax they have grown accustomed to.
14. Isla de Margarita should become the entry port for all tourist offers in Venezuela and should convince fellow countrymen that their development depends on Margarita’s success and at the same time “convince islanders that their development depends on their own efforts.”
In other news, Venezuelan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (Fedecamaras) director and Economic Constituent Committee member Guillermo Velutini reports that hotel reservations have only filled 20% of their capacity and 18 hotels have been forced to close down in the last couple of months … Velutini has failed to explain possible motives behind the demise of the hotel industry on Isla de Margarita … Kurowski’s 14 wishes, on the contrary, drop several hints
