Submitted by John A
How many of you remember the old drawing books that had numbers on a page? You would start at number 1 and the go to number 2 and by time you were finished a beautiful picture would appear on the page.
Just a few weeks ago the local hotel building czar proclaimed that the shortage of labour (at his prices) was hampering the building of all these newly promised hotels. Shortly after that the free movement of people was announced from certain territories. Coincidence I am sure, but thus it unfolded none the less.
Now suppose we moved to another dot and considered maybe that they were other reasons that this hotel building boom had not yet started. A few months ago at a lunch I ran into an old family friend whose family has operated a small hotel for years. In the conversation he mentioned that the family was thinking of selling the property, but it was not as profitable as many believe a hotel is. Yes they do ok in winter but then they suck salt in summer, hence ending up with a low average occupancy percentage over the year. He then went on to say that the growth in Airbnb and the competition from private home owners had also cut into his business. Wait hold on, where did I hear that name Airbnb in the news recently could this be the next dot?
It was recently by share coincidence, announced in the news that Government would be clamping down on the local Airbnb operators (hotel competitors) with new laws to “ensure a quality product.” Well from what I have read, a bad Airbnb doesn’t remain in business too long with entities like TripAdvisor out there. These review blogs could mek you or brek you real quick! Ah another dot maybe? So is this about protecting our global image or is there another agenda in play here?
Right to a next dot now, what could a government do to help to ensure a better profitability for any foreign investor coming here to operate a locally built hotel? Let me think pun dat one for a while before commenting. Would a smart builder risk building a hotel with the hope that he could catch a foreign hotel investor under the current climate of alleged high labour cost and stiff competition from airbandb, when coupled to the low annual occupancy rate we currently achieve in the industry? Let me tink pun dat one for a while too.
So my question as a simple shop keeper in St Farlip is this. Is this going to become a situation where the sharks eat all the sprats leaving only sharks to live? Will local sprats be protected in an environment where sharks roam free and the fisherman simply focus on catching and removing the nuisance sprats? This ecosystem don’t sound safe for a small man like me to swim in. I going have to rethink my idea about fixing up the back room as an airbandb and offering tourists that stay there free drinks pun a weekend as part of my package! DE SHOP INN DINER AND LOUNGE may get put on de back burner now!
In closing when you connect the dots what do you see?
Disclaimer: The above story may be fictional or em might not be, so tek what dey with a pinch of salt or not, its wunna choice! The writer does not practice party loyalty, so if any faithfuls are offended that is wunna problem not mine. Besides em is only a story, or is it?
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