Thread: Your new job: Minister of Tourism

Imagine the following... The previous Minister of Tourism has been sacked after the campaign "Addicted to Spain" failed miserably in attracting new tourists and even worse, ended up putting many off Spain for good.... Fast forward and suddenly you are now in charge!

You are the new Minister of Tourism.... You wonder how such a tasteless campaign even went into action considering that Spain is the most addicted country in Europe (!)... Before your thoughts trail off you realize it is now time to look forward.

You have a very big responsibility... at the same time it is a great honor!

Time to make an action plan...

What would be the top 5 priorities and how would you go about achieving them?

1. Do a deal with the banks (low percentage of rental for a fixed period, something is better than nothing) to use their huge repo portfolio for tourism.
2. Use local unemployed resource to finish off the half finished buildings, upgrade the bank repos to a suitable condition for rental. Knock down the half finished eyesores. Part of this activity would ensure processes were put in place to stop lazy or greedy builders (sitting on half finished properties etc) from reaping massive rewards of this effort.
3. Offer tourists incentives to come to Spain for example low rentals, free attraction access, put on free tours, make the towns look attractive and welcoming.
4. Advertise and visit targeted countries.
5. Improve internet services so it's easy for tourists to enquire online. Train staff to respond, not just ignore enquiries. CUSTOMER SERVICE, CUSTOMER SERVICE, CUSTOMER SERIVCE (we want them to come back again) ;-)

1. Make it a proviso that anyone starting a new tourism-related business takes a course in business management, customer relations and marketing. Why leave a disgruntled market to separate the wheat from the chaff after the damage has been done?

2. Provide subsidised tours for the same business owners. They can tour the tourism-related sectors of other countries to see for themselves that even Rhyl, Margate and Blackpool have moved on from the 1950s.

3. Encourage a broader choice of entertainment. Not everyone is into Gilbert & Sullivan and karaoke.

4. Treat tourists as valued guests, which they are.

5. Have a head to head with the prats who are making the flying experience such an excruciatingly poor experience.