Keep it in perspective

honesttravelguy.com

YOU won't write anything bad about my country, will you - asked the heavily-pregnant representative at the Egyptian stand at the Dublin Holiday Travel Show.
It struck me as a rather bizarre question at first. There we were at the trade section of this exhibition. She was there to promote Egypt and my quest was to look for interesting places to write about.
On the whole, us globetrotting wordsmiths give a fair and accurate description of our encounters for the benefit of readers who might to choose to follow our paths.
And we are unlikely to lash out criticism if minor things go wrong - that can happen anywhere.
But then I reflected on the terrible scenes of violence from Port Said being beamed around the world. The slightly nervous tone in the voice of the woman at the trade show was a reference to that situation.
Her concern was understandable... but is it?
I would be interested to look at the figures..but I wonder if there is a link between atrocities in one part of a large country and the effect on tourism as a whole?
I doubt it.
We have seen barbaric and heartbreaking scenes in places like Alabama and Colorado after shooting rampages.
I am not aware that tourists in large numbers started having second thoughts about trips to New York,  California or Florida.

'This is bound to hit tourism,' is an oft used comment in the aftermath of these atrocities but I believe that such a reaction tends to be rather alarmist and unjustified.
Now I should stress there are some very dangerous places in the world where there is a strong threat of acts against foreign visitors. And, if you are considering going to those countries, then you are strongly advised to heed guidance from your own governments.
But restricted actions do not always require such widespread caution.
Over at the Northern Ireland section of the Holiday Trade Show, businesses there were also lamenting the impact on tourism of Belfast being back in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. This time there are protests on the streets over the flags dispute.
But these demos are taking place in parts of this city where the average tourist is unlikely to be wandering on a discovery or heritage tour neither in the day nor at night.
And in my native London, there are areas where the average local would wary of visiting at the wrong time of day - but that doesn't mean that tourists should avoid the largely safer rest of the capital.
Places like Belfast are a beacon to the world showing how communities steeped in history of discord can come together in harmony.
Millions have been spent celebrating the beauty and positive aspects of life of Northern Ireland. Belfast is very proud of its shipbuilding heritage - and the Titanic exhibition is a great success. Over in Londonderry/Derry, celebrations are under way to mark the hosting of the European City Of Culture.
The place deserves credit for its remarkable achievements.
Don't stay away because of some 'bad headlines' from the wrong side of town.

honesttravelguy.com