Tourists don’t Vote. Victims of Crime Do.

Deandrea Hamilton

Editor

October 18, 2024 – Just about every government wants to take credit for the economy-building boom in tourism which has plumped-up the public purse, yet when it comes to crime and deadly violence ripping into the soul of the nation, they shift that growth (and blame) to the ‘whole of society’.

It would be laughable except for the fact the repercussions are too damaging and the human toll too high.

It is evidenced by statistical reports and news information that tourism is rebounding at record highs just about everywhere on the planet, even off the planet these days.

The residual effects of the freeze on travel, blockade on movement and criminal condemnation of human interaction brought on by the deadly Covid-19 pandemic are still being experienced.  It’s causing wanderlust and pent up demand has inspired 790 million travellers, the first seven months of 2024 according to the UN World Tourism Organization.

The meteoric rise in tourism and travel is so fast that in places like Spain and Italy residents are staging protests to slow it down.  Airline and cruise companies are no longer floundering as they did when the Coronavirus hit, there is a radical upswing in earnings and expansion.

While some governments may be able to claim certain strategies in how their particular country managed or seized the rocketing interest in travel as the reason their economies profited, most governments just sauntered into this prosperous place and picked up where the last fellow left off.

Truth be told, there is no governmental genius in giving attention to the leading industry and brushing up on policy so that it becomes more robust.

The real genius is in who dares to lock horns with the devil and pull people out of criminality in order to preserve their lives and ensure that a zero tolerance for disorder and lawlessness is the country’s reputation.

Real change comes when those we bestow with leadership are losing sleep because they are possessed with a passion to end the carnage and restore public peace.

Bragging about tourism increases is good. Bragging about a drop in crime and violent killings, is way better.

Tourists don’t vote.  Victims of crime do.