Leyendo mis feeds habituales, he llegado a este artículo de Bananama Republic en el que salen a relucir ciertos comentarios/críticas a cerca de la floreciente empresa turística panameña y la respuesta a dichos comentarios por parte del ministro de turismo Rubén Blades.
Independientemente de lo citado en Bananama Republic (blog generalmente de contenido político con críticas bastante ácidas y divertidas) lo que me deja de piedra es la respuesta del sr. ministro de turismo.

Para dar algo de trasfondo a este post, diré que Casey Halloran es un empresario dedicado al sector del turismo con varias compañías distribuidas entre Panamá y Costa Rica. (Para mas información ver el enlace).
Bien, el tal Halloran escribía un post en un blog de turismo llamado CostaRicaPages, enumerando 5 pecados a evitar por el incipiente turismo panameño.
El blog en sí es bastante inocuo, lleno de información típica sobre lugares para visitar, restaurantes, viajes… etc. Típico de turismo si no fuera por cierto aspecto curioso. Una sección destinada a la gallina de los huevos de oro que actualmente danza por Panamá: El Real Estate.
Viendo los datos de alexa sobre este blog (por citar una fuente neutral, ya que mr Blades al final de su artículo alude a cierta conspiración judeomasónica) se aprecia que es un blog normalito.
Entonces qué tiene este post para suscitar la respuesta de un ministro?
Os pongo de manera resumida los 5 puntos que enumera este post:

1. Hyper-growth = Rushing Into Mistakes

Subjetivamente hablando, debo reconocer que me ha gustado ese artículo, punto tras punto destila sentido común y buenos consejos hacia la actual administración.
No obstante, siendo objetivo creo que dejarse aconsejar por alguien que ha demostrado (porque una cosa es hablar y otra muy distinta realizar) tener éxito en el mercado turístico sería algo inteligente, algo que cualquier líder sensato debiera hacer. A fin de cuenta, la historia nos enseña que los líderes que han dejado huella en la misma, son aquellos que, no sólo tenían los mejores consejeros, si no que ademas los escuchaban.

Por eso al leer la respuesta de nuestro ministro, siento como las esperanzas del sector turístico panameño están fundadas sobre unos cimientos más bien inestables.
Reproduzco las respuestas a estos puntos que pueden leerse en la web del IPAT.

1. “Halloranc” states; “Panamá has little history of tourism success”. His point of view is far from truth. Back in the 17th Century the Portobelo Fair attracted over 60,000 people from all over the world to trade and visit Panamá, every year.
In the second half of the 20th century, except for the years of political instability brought on by Noriega´s regime, Panamá had a higher tourist/visitor rates than Costa Rica or any Central American destination. There was a well planned international promotion (My Name is Panama) that catched tourists and visitors attention and many others were attracted to Panamá´s importance as a business destination due to its Banking Center, the Canal and the Free Zone.

2. “Halloranc” states: “Panamá has no clear plan for success”. False. Panamá had a Plan for Tourism Development (1992-2002) that created a paradigm for development of the industry. The problem was not the lack of a Plan; the problem has been a lack of political WILL, no clearly designed purpose and course of action,and very little enthusiasm from the private sector to implement the Plan.
Currently, we are in the final stage of completing a new Master Plan, a national strategy for the development of sustainable tourism in Panama. This Plan will have regulations which will define the intent and direction of our national tourist development, the priorities and schedules for its creation, and it will identify the areas and businesses that will be allowed to be developed, to fulfill the quota of jobs expected to be created

3. ”Halloranc” states, “Hyper growth, Rushing into mistakes”, as a “source of concern over the disappearance of areas of tourist potential, being overrun” by un-checked development. From our perspective, it is correct to be concerned over how past governments created laws without appropriate reglaments, or allowed unconsulted laws produce undesired consecuences, or permitted these laws to be applied with no official supervision, or allowed impunity for their violation, or laws that created conflicting jurisdictions, etc. The Master Plan now in process will determine what needs to be done, from now on, to prevent a repetition of any past disorder. It is pointless to continue to dwell on the past. The responsibility for what we lament today goes to the private sector, where speculators, with no regard for the consecuences of their greed, actually have prevented responsible investment from taking place, and the public sector whose lack of enforcement of existing laws and neglect of duties has created doubt and confusion, all around.

Everybody is aware of the problems of hyper growth. Panamá is in the process of modernizing its institutions, so as to legally face its regulatory responsibilities, without creating concern over legal security issues, (”Seguridad Jurídica”). Rest assured “Mr. Halloranc” that in the National Plan for the Development of Tourism the adequate controls will be placed in position to prevent the creation of Panamanian versions of Cancún-type tourism, or Marbella-like residential Mega developments. Of course, you have to expect the private sector not to like this. I would love to see what your Blog will write when the get-rich-quick-and-easy-crowd begins to denounce the order brought in by our government as “Socialist”, or “Communist”, or, “hostile to investors”.

Also, please note the difference between real estate developments and tourism development. Hotels are not the ones creating the enormous pressure on land use, affecting the general environment and creating the loss of aesthetic values we experiment today in Panamá, nor is the government the one selling the beautiful homes in Bella Vista to being torn down in order to build residential towers; it is the private sector. Why do people sell their beautiful old homes, to be razed? Because they can! Because they make a lot of money! Because it´s a free country! Does it bother us? I don´t think the sellers care. Can it be stopped ? No, but we can write blogs about it.

4. “Halloranc” states “Copy-cat-itis brings loss of culture”. We agree it could. Then again, I copied PuertoRican singers when I started singing but didn´t change my nationality because of it. However, “copy-cat-itis” also can produce a loss of potential business and make Panamá less competitive, internationally.
The private sector should read and react to this comment by Halloranc. The private sector is the one responsible for creating tourists products. I guess the blogger´s concern is directed to those offering products for tourist enjoyment.
As for the cultural value of our country; it is one of our strenghts. For instance, there are no surviving indigenous peoples in costa rica, cuba, dominican republic or puerto rico. Perhaps our general lack of incorporation of the local flavor to the tourist offerings, or failing to understand the value of our folklore, art and idiosincratic derivatives is a consequence of low self esteem and negligence in identifying what a tourist wants, seeks, or needs.
This is changing. With our future new campaign, directed to internal tourism, we hope to appeal to foreigners and natives alike, encouraging the development of product based on cultural strenghts, which are not presently incorporated into our tourism offers;

5. “Halloranc” states:” Panamá is Eco-unfriendly”, encouraging “non-sustainable tourism”: Not true. As explained before, there was no real content to the 1992-2002 Plan for Tourism Development. This produced a lack of legislation directed to, amongst other matters, the encouragement of incentives towards the creation of an eco-tourism industry, and eco-friendly environment, from waste disposal and recycling, to the rescue of our rivers and Panamá Bay. It’s amazing the way ”Halloranc” dismisses the obvious positive impact represented by the work, now in progress, of cleaning up Panamá Bay´s contaminated environment, and the waters of the rivers near Panamá city, and the Government´s initiative to create the first biodiversity museum in America, the Gehry. This are not the actions of an “eco-unfriendly” nation, or government. Granted, there´s a lot to be done, but we are moving in the right direction.

We are following this intention in our National Plan for Tourism Development.
I suggest the blogger to check the news on Costa Rica lately; there is talk of two hotels shut down for contaminating ocean waters and of homes built on protected land without permits. We have to learn from mistakes so we don´t repeat them.

6. ”Halloranc” states, “Service=Shmervice: No return clients”; Half truth.
Once again, the blogger grasps for anecdotes, not facts, to make his case.
He states correctly that in Panamá we need to improve ALL service oriented sectors of our national business not just the tourism industry; it is a national cultural problem. And we not only need to improve service, as in employee attention to the public; the bosses themselves should also be trained in what constitutes service and how to improve their leadership. Then he asserts people are so disatisfied with service in Panamá that they leave angry, never to come back.
However, the official program Tourism Satellite Account which includes polls to tourists (over 6 thousand questioned so far), shows an 85% satisfaction index, related on how they were treated, during their stay in Panamá.
This is not an anecdotic statement; these are facts. When these tourists were asked if they´d consider returning to Panamá, over 90% said they would. Of course, this doesn´t mean we do not need to improve our service to the public, or stop rising prices, exploiting carelessly the tourist trade. But it is not right to state that service is so bad tourists will not return. That is false.

Presently, the need to speak a second language is being reinforced nationally by the government, after it was suspended, stupidly, by past administrations.

7. ”Halloranc” states, “All exclusive; angry locals”. Again with the anecdotes! The problem is not, as the blogger suggests, the local all inclusive hotels. He, or she?, fallaciously equates Santo Domingo with a couple of hotels located in Coclé beach areas that respond to the all inclusive denomination. It is true that when you arrive to Punta Cana you don´t see Santo Domingo. But when you arrive in Tocumen you have to travel through Panamá to reach San Carlos/Farallón area, wher the “all inclusive” hotels are located. The blogger misses the point again; The all inclusive hotels would love to have their clients leave the premises for hours on end, so they wouldn´t eat and drink them out of revenue. The real problem? The adyacent towns have not prepared tourist products nor have organized their offer so as to take advantage of the tourists presence in the nearby hotels, or residential developments.

The all inclusive establishment can´t guarantee the safety and comfort of their clients once they leave their premises. Therefore, only enterprises that are organized, insured, and produce responsible offers, from adjoining towns near to the hotels, could be encouraged. PLUS, those local offers have to understand they must pay some percentage to the hotel, if they expect to get some of the tourist trade they have brought into the area; it is not free.
Where are the local tourist offers for the all inclusive hotel clients?

Telita…

Bueno, pues como yo soy así, voy a dar mi opinón al respecto sin que nadie me la haya pedido.

Dejando a parte que la contestación, más que las declaraciones de un ministro se asemeja más a un “flame wars” sacado de un foro (juro que en ocasiones echaba en falta expresiones del tipo “I p0wned u” o “cry me a river”) me parece que mr. mediatico Blades está meando fuera del tiesto (maceta en panameño).

Para entender de alguna manera las aserciones del sr. ministro es importante explicar los motivos de la política del “yo no fuí”.
Durante la historia democrática de Panamá, las legislaturas siempre se han sucedido entre los diversos partidos políticos (que vienen siendo incluso de las mismas familias, pero eso es otra historia).
De ahí que los proyectos que unos comienzan, otros los desarman para dar paso a los suyos propios. Algo así como el baile del cangrejo, que avanza de culo sin mirar hacia donde va, si no de lo que se aleja.
De ahí que los políticos nunca tiene la culpa de nada, si no que el problema viene de lo que otros hicieron.

Esto en general puede colar durante los 2 primeros años de gobierno, pero a estas alturas del partido, cuando ya nos encontramos casi al final de esta legislatura, y teniendo en cuenta que algunos de los asuntos a los que se alude (la super piscina en un área con conocida escasez de agua, o el boom de la burbuja inmobiliaria) son actuales, culpar a gobiernos pasados no es una buena estrategia. Ya no cuela tan fácilmente…

Y es que hay algo que hace agua, porque o es culpa de los otros gobiernos, o es que no se puede hacer nada porque el sector privado se quejaría.
Entonces para qué leches estás ahí plantado? Porque los anuncios de “las sonrisas son gratis” están muy bien, pero ayudan poco.

Yo creo que mediático Blades peca, al igual que todos los artistas, de orgullo. Y debido a ese pecado, no se deja ayudar por gente que sabe mucho más que él del asunto.
Arreglando compases, y componiendo yo no le discuto, pero cuando de política turística se trata, creo que al sr. ministro le vendría bien una manita (o varias). Por eso, la reacción de descategorizar demagógicamente los consejos de alguien que, seguramente, sabe bastante más del asunto que mediático Blades, me parece un error tremendo.

Hasta ahí mis comentarios respecto a las respuestas de mediático Blades.
Ahora, la conclusión del ministro respecto al post todavía todavía no tengo claro que comentario me merece:

Finally, responding to a blogger´s column is tantamount to having a conversation with a fictional character. Who is “Halloranc”? Is he/she objective? Is it a person, or group? Is the blog motivated by foreign interests who hate Panamá, or local political interests that oppose our government? Who are these bloggers? This one seems to live and do business in Costa Rica, which throws more than a hint of bias in what he writes. It can be anybody posing as an American in the witness protection program, posing as an independent blogger. Who cares!
We invite all responsible people to make an appointment, visit our offices and present personally their opinions, criticism and suggestions, in a constructive manner. We are always ready to adopt sound ideas and meet with anyone. In this particular case, “Halloranc” may need to get in a plane and come to Panamá to see us in which case, must likely he will refuse this offer.

Be well, oh fictional critic!

Speechles…
Yo, desde mi humilde blog voy a tratar de contestar a alguna de las preguntas de mediatico Blades.

Who is “Halloranc”?
La magia de Google todavía es desconocida para algunos : http://www.caseyjhalloran.com/who.htm

Is he/she objective? Is it a person, or group?
Probablemente si no se molestó en buscar la web de Halloranc, mucho menos se habrá molestado en leerla.

Is the blog motivated by foreign interests who hate Panamá, or local political interests that oppose our government?
Claro, primero Panamá y luego el mundo. Muahahaha!!! De hecho como odian tanto Panamá tienen toda una sección dedicada a dar a conocer el país.

Who are these bloggers?
Nosotros los bloggers venimos de las lunas de Plutón para reivindicar que le devuelvan el estatus de planeta.

This one seems to live and do business in Costa Rica, which throws more than a hint of bias in what he writes. It can be anybody posing as an American in the witness protection program, posing as an independent blogger. Who cares!
Exacto, a quién le importa? si de lo que aquí se trata es de marear la perdíz, desacreditar a un emprendedor exitoso en el mundo del turismo basándonos en datos del siglo XVII (quién no se acuerda de la feria de portobelo…) y en todo tipo de subterfugios que a modo de resumen vienen a significar “Yo no fuí”.

We invite all responsible people to make an appointment, visit our offices and present personally their opinions, criticism and suggestions, in a constructive manner. We are always ready to adopt sound ideas and meet with anyone. In this particular case, “Halloranc” may need to get in a plane and come to Panamá to see us in which case, must likely he will refuse this offer.
Eso, seguramente declinará la oferta porque es probable que… le tenga miedo a los aviones?
O tal vez porque le estarán esperando en el aeropuerto un comité de bienvenida (Aeropuerto sin carritos para llevar las maletas al auto, pero con mozos que desde el momento en el que pisas el suelo panameño ya tratan de sacarte dinero por acarrear las maletas. Policías en la carretera del aeropuerto para revisar papeles y licencias de conducir. Tarifas de taxi desorbitadas por llevarte a la ciudad…)

Be well, oh fictional critic!
Fictnional critic? Pero de qué cojones va! O sea que como el medio en el que ha realizado esta crítica es Internet, entonces es una crítica ficticia?
Entonces todas las empresas que se abre en el portal panamaemprende son ficticias?
Y todas las operaciones que se reflejan de manera “transparente” en el portal panamacompra son ficticias? Será entonces la transparencia de las mismas operaciones ficticia también?
No hay que escupir hacia arriba…

En lugar de desacreditar gratuítamente, no sería mejor trabajar para que realmente Panamá fuera un buen destino turístico?
No se puede tapar el sol con una mano. Y sobre todo, no se debe engañar al turista/inversor/persona.
Si molesta que publiquen noticias con quejas hacia panamá por la delincuencia, por el mal servicio, por engaños turísticos o estafas inmobiliarias… Por qué no tomar esos problemas como una lista de cosas a arreglar?
Desmentir un problema que existe, no hace que desaparezca. Sólo sirve para generar desprestigio.

Yo no soy ministro, y no soy tan mediático, pero creo en hacer bien las cosas.

No sólo que parezan buenas y luego ya se verá. Si no hacer las cosas bien para que no haya que falsear nada.
Si seguimos en esta línea, no sería mejor poner a nuestros políticos como porteros de la selección? Porque despejar balones lo hacen muy bien, tal vez así nos dieran alguna alegría para variar.
Pero bueno, como mediático Blades diría…

Be well, oh fictional critic!

Ah! antes de que se me olvida y sólo por si acaso:

Soy español y a la vez panameño. Y esta es mi web.
Suelo ser objetivo menos cuando soy subjetivo.
Salvo raras ocasiones en las que el tráfico, o algún funcionario lento me cabrea, rara vez deseo destruir el país o derrocar a su gobierno.
Como blogger vengo de las lunas de Plutón para reivindicar su estatus de planeta
Y si me invitan yo no tengo ningún problema en visitar sus oficinas y charlamos