Life on the ocean wave
I write from the Gulf of Tonkin, off Vietnam, on board Seabourn Legend. Described by its owners as one of the most luxurious cruise liners in the world, it carries only two hundred passengers. Before readers conclude that I have joined the idle rich, I hasten to say that I am delivering six lectures in fourteen days. Called ‘conversations' by the operators, the purpose is to engage passengers in subjects of interest by experts who talk for around forty five minutes, illustrating the subject with Power point presentations before answering questions.
My first ‘conversation' was ‘Behind Embassy Walls - High dramas, bureaucratic mistakes and the darker and lighter sides of diplomatic life and work, as witnessed by a former ambassador to four Southeast Asian countries.' I was gratified both at the turnout of passengers and the very positive response.
Since then, Pam and I have been engaged by many. The mealtimes, serving the most wonderful gourmet food, are enlivened by interested questions about South Africa. There are two main categories: those who have been to South Africa and loved it; and those who have always wanted to travel there but are nervous because they have heard it is unsafe. Johannesburg, in particular, is seen as riddled with crime and best avoided.
How to deal with this? Bear in mind that these passengers are mostly very well educated, well-travelled, successful people who can afford to go anywhere in the world that they choose. Mainly Americans but also many Australians and British, together with a sprinkling from many other countries, these are very desirable tourists.
If we are serious about job-creation, there is no better generator of jobs for our unemployed, than tourism. We need tourists and especially well-heeled ones because they spend a good deal of money. With their support, we could produce hundreds of thousands of jobs.
We noticed the same phenomenon during our four years in Thailand: ever so many people who admire of country for our marvellous transition; who think Nelson Mandela was wonderful; have South Africa on their bucket-list, but who are put off because of our reputation about crime.
I do not slag off my country when I am overseas, but one does have to admit that although the crime situation is much better than it was a few years ago, the government has still not succeeded in bringing crime under control. Our crime rate is far too high.
If many major cities like New York and London have been able to reduce crime dramatically over past decades, what is preventing us from doing the same? The ANC government must realise that crime and policing need to be tackled systematically. We need an adequate minister and deputy minister, with a professional commissioner of the SAPS and with policemen who are properly disciplined, trained and paid. Only the brightest and the best must be police recruits and if they fail they must be fired and replaced.
This is not rocket science. It is plain good sense. Change the image by controlling crime and hundreds of thousands of tourists will flock in, creating new opportunities for our people. Is President Zuma listening?
Douglas Gibson is former Opposition Chief Whip and former ambassador to Thailand. He can be followd on Twitter @dhmgibson
This article first appeared in The Citizen.
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