Comments on DONDEQUIERA: The Engima of Puerto Rico Tourism

Thanks for popping in and sharing your wit, always...

2009-12-24T13:23:31.743-04:30

Thanks for popping in and sharing your wit, always welcome.

I'd say you're spot on in the thieves comparison, but miss the point in the gross incompetence. You see for anyone outside of the den of thieves, we assume the objective of the campaign is to promote tourism, but that is just the convenient cover for the real objective.

I bet if we were to do any investigation, I bet that there are no more than two degrees of separation between someone in Ogilvy & Mather or De La Cruz Advertising and either Fortuño or Jaime Lopez. No scratch that, I bet there is direct connection.

Here's the Jenius version on this topic: Stupi...

2009-12-24T12:27:45.809-04:30

Here's the Jenius version on this topic: Stupid thieves masquerading as tourism marketing experts blowing $10 million in a way to make Monica Lewinsky take notes.

Don Dees is spot-on in his criticisms and tone. The worst part of this abortion-level campaign is that it is entirely misdirected in terms of market, so a badly-executed waste of money has even a lesser chance of making any kind of positive impact.

Sabotage? Seems to Me you still need a bit of brains for sabotage. I'll call this gross incompetence, or in a simile, Acephalic Monkeyshines.

Now, now, Mr. Insider, it's not nice to tell a...

2009-12-22T21:27:37.824-04:30

Now, now, Mr. Insider, it's not nice to tell anyone that the emperor has no clothes on.

All valid points, some of which I'll get to in this series. However, I'll let you in on a little secret which explains everything.

I'm sure you've heard of Ockham's Razor, well the reason Tourism fails so horrible is because it is nothing but a huge front for politicians and leaders to pay back (pay off) their friends and supporters. Yes, simple corruption, yet very elegantly executed with 100% deniability.

Once again, thanks for reading and sharing your perspective.

Over promise, under deliver. A formula for disaste...

2009-12-22T16:58:40.046-04:30

Over promise, under deliver. A formula for disaster.

Instead of throwing millions into a print and video PR budget, why not fix some stuff within? Clean up the trash maybe? Create a reliable method to get tourists from the San Juan airport to the West Coast, perhaps? Make sure public beaches have working and clean bathroom, change facilities?

Western cities like Mayaguez don't have the budget (even shared) to run a daily passenger bus service (free) to get tourists back and forth to the airport? You don't think the money spent by a few hundred travelers would offset the price of gas, maintenance, and driver overhead?

Yes - non-discerning tourists do sometimes fall for the ads and arrive in Puerto Rico, but then have to suffer through the ugliness of urban decay, concrete jungles, anti feng shui, trash-comfortable society.

Result? Why the hell would they return?

Apparently, the marketing guys at tourism didn't understand the translation for "turnover".

Imagine the revenues lost from visitors who will never return, from those who did NOT talk positively about their trip, or downright bashed the experience.

Now you might get lots of first time Caribbean travelers who bask in the heat and are very forgiving of the bad service and unsightly disorder. The the more affluent traveler with an annual budget for sun and fun has lots of other superior options to choose from - and after seeing Puerto Rico - why would then not want to push up the list of priorities places like Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, or any of the other popular destinations?

I had a relative visit me in Puerto Rico. They asked if we would considering meeting them in Cuba the following year instead of Puerto Rico! Yes, they experienced Cuba too, and Cuba took care of them. The Hotel Conquistador wasn't enough for them to make the return, even with a family member present there to reduce the cost of their travel. Puerto Rico Tourism... fail...

I would not want to see Puerto Rico turn into an Orlando, although there are many, many things that can be observed and adapted in the logistics of Orlando (theme parks aside).

But Puerto Rico plain and simply has a "losing" attitude. Places like Dubai are building off shore islands and skyscraper hotels in the shape of ships sales.

Puerto Rico can't even install working beach bathrooms, clean up the trash, or keep the fecal coliform out of some of its most popular beaches?

Ridiculous.

You could take a student from first year marketing 101 in any college in America, and I think they should be able to come up with a better plan for Puerto Rico in about 1 week, compared with the politico appointed jerks floating at the top of the cesspool of ignorance and incapability.

Well, now that you mention it, you have a point. I...

2009-12-22T12:39:53.171-04:30

Well, now that you mention it, you have a point. I thought the images were good, but not stunning. As "good" photography, they are a bit on the artsy side. Clearly Erwitt is a Master, but like you said, what people living through a bleak winter want to see is exciting, beautiful, warm color pictures.

Thanks for reading Mayra and sharing your thoughts, they are appreciated.

All your criticisms are well reasoned, I agree wit...

2009-12-22T10:59:58.209-04:30

All your criticisms are well reasoned, I agree with you. What struck me most were the b&w photos. As artistic expression they certainly are beautiful. But if I'm suffering from the winter blahs, black and white and grey is all I see out my window daily. I want vibrant color, I want shining sun, I want sparkling beaches. You get the "picture."