Sometimes it's not about "better marketing." It's about what you have to offer.

A man tries to hit police with a beer bottle at Cronulla Beach in Sydney, Australia, Sunday, Dec. 11, 2005, after ethnic tensions erupted into running battles between police and a mob of thousands of youths, many chanting racial slurs. At least six people were arrested and several injured in alcohol-fueled fights at the beach.(AP Photo/Rob Griffith)

In "Opposition urges tourism campaign," the Australian reports on the ramifications of internationally communicated mayhem on the beaches of Sydney. From the article:

NSW Tourism Minister Sandra Nori said today she was not surprised or alarmed by international travel warnings about race violence in Sydney.Britain, Canada and Indonesia are warning their residents about the risks of travelling to Sydney following outbreaks of race related violence. The British warning mentions recent "sporadic outbreaks of racially motivated violence in Cronulla, Maroubra, Brighton-le-Sands" and "areas of south-west Sydney". Britons are advised to "monitor the situation and exercise caution". Ms Nori today said she was not surprised by the warnings and did not see them as a reason for concern.
________
cf The Sydney Beach Riots: Is Sydney Safe to Visit?.

The Sydney Morning Herald has a number of good articles about the riots, including "An angry ride into the dark side of mateship" which is relevant to local conversations about change, inequality, gentrification, and contested spaces. This article, "Armed gangs on rampage", has links to other SMH stories.

Although I will say that New South Wales Tourism Minister Nori, as well as the politicos in opposition seem more like the kind of clients that Susan Garcia gets in Candorville. The problem is more than just running some ads, or not being concerned at all, isn't it?



Comic courtesy Washington Post Writers Group and Candorville.

Index Keywords: tourism