Venezuela's solution to a collapsing economy and rampant violence: Woo tourists

[Eugene]

Source: Washington Post

Venezuela’s solution to a collapsing economy and rampant violence: Woo tourists

By Anthony Faiola and Mariana Zuñiga January 12

TODASANA, Venezuela — With its oil industry floundering, Venezuela is searching for a new engine of growth for an economy in free fall. The embattled socialist government thinks it has an answer — a future built not only on drilling and roughnecks, but beach umbrellas and piña coladas.

“Tourism is the oil that never runs out,” Marleny Contreras, the nation’s tourism minister, recently proclaimed.

Yet for a country saddled with the world’s highest inflation rate and rampant violence, becoming a tourist paradise may be as improbable as a new Disney theme park in Damascus.

Amid severe scarcities of basic goods, some hotels here have begun rationing toilet paper. Crisis-battered Venezuelans on local escapes, meanwhile, have graduated from stealing towels to pocketing lightbulbs and even coffee makers. Some resorts force their guests to sign contract-like inventory lists and submit to detailed room inspections at check out.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/venezuelas-economy-is-collapsing-and-violence-is-rampant-its-solution-woo-tourists/2018/01/12/56363398-f492-11e7-9af7-a50bc3300042_story.html

[DetlefK]

1. Kidnappings in Venezuela? Now THAT'S adventure-tourism.

[GatoGordo]

2. You risk your life even before you leave the Simon Bolivar airport in Caracas

1. Getting the visa to enter. Not likely, especially if you are a vile American. And the delay in getting a visa is epic. Count on waiting at least 6 months.

2. Getting to Caracas. Good luck. Few airlines stop there. Only regional flights to/from Columbia, Panama City and a few others.

3. The "Maiquetía Shakedown". In customs, any non-Venezuelan is pulled aside and... tsk tsk... "Are you smuggling into Venezuela, sir? This is BIG PROBLEM. We send smugglers to jail! It is illegal to bring this much cash (dollars) into Venezuela. But, as a favor to you, I will exchange it for you, because I am a nice guy and I don't want to see you go to horrible prison. The DICOM rate is 10 BsF to $1. (The black market rate is approaching 200,000 BsF) You are very lucky to have me as your friend. Goodbye!" Of course, anything of value in your luggage will never make it past customs... it "disappears" magically between the plane and customs inspection.

4. And now you are leaving Maiquetia International Airport. Very likely, you will be getting mugged before they even get to a cab...

But the good news is that the Airport is quite uncrowded. Nobody can afford to fly into/out of Venezuela, and soon the last regional airline will fold up shop. You might be the only person on your flight in or out.