Creating diversity without disparity

Now that the festivities are over and we have carefully wrapped the last bauble and the Christmas crib in tissue paper for storage in some cardboard box on top of the wardrobe or in the garage, only to be reused and recycled next year; we should take a long look at just how we are stereotyping our traditions and culture and, indeed, our very sense of diversity today!

For over 20 years I have worked in the hospitality sector of the tourism industry, so I believe I do know a little bit of what goes on behind the scenes in the run up to peak moments of business in this industry! More often than not, these times are dominated by a nostalgic (or, at best, a lethargic) view of the programme and activities of the previous event. With a bit of cosmetic retouches, the same programme is invariably recycled for public consumption again - a very reasonable decision, if one considers that the main argument focuses on the client's wishes but an utterly boring and tactless move when one considers that there is such an element as value for money and diversity! But this is exactly what most of our five- and four-star hotels are doing today! We are creating stereotypes for different events - Christmas, New Year, St Valentine's or Easter!

Stereotyping is not limited to the organisation of events but extends to the commercial sector - we have all experienced the growth in fast food outlets, pizzerias and (more recently) Asian and Indian restaurants and I am sure we all notice the similarity in the menus offered. Indeed, we would be able to know what is on the list even before we read it, simply because each outlet is a very simple variation of the other; again there is no diversity here.

Thirty or 40 years ago the UK was called the nation of shopkeepers and today the same term can be given to the Maltese islands, which show a very positive trend towards a free market economy and consumer choice. But here again we must note the extent of that choice. Are we really being innovative enough in offering the right balance of diverse products on the market or are we simply riding on the back of the more successful and enterprising entrepreneurs who invested time and money in studying the feasibility of new markets, products and services?

We do really need to think about how we can sustain our ability to succeed in business by offering diversity. There are, however, other elements we need to consider and this involves the issue of disparity. Disparity has been termed as: inequality or the difference between two measurable items where one item is better than the other. Strengthening our business or economy can have adverse effects on other factors that will, in turn, affect our own indigenous character and tradition. Tourism is one such socio-economic activity that is very prone to this kind of upset.

I have recently received a presentation about the Ta' Cenc development in Gozo, an initiative which, I am sure, deserves an amount of praise for its very concept but it is just one of a number of initiatives that need to be considered holistically by all stakeholders including the public in terms of the impact the initiatives will have on such factors as the ecology, the environment and the whole economic framework that makes up our national GDP.

We need to ask questions such as: How will this initiative reflect on tourism? How will it affect the local resident? How will it create the diversity in our products and services based on the present market requirements?

These are questions I know are being addressed by the government today but we all need to have the answers that will help us build a better and more competitive commercial sector that creates diversity without disparity!

welcomejuliette@hotmail.com