What is important (at least to us) is the consequence that the subsequent boycotts of Arizona are having on the good people of that State. And, how the retaliatory boycotts will impact the economies of the original boycotters.

City Councils in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Berkeley and a host of other cities have announced boycotts on travel to Arizona. Some Arizonans are organizing boycotts against the cities that have boycotted them.

Children...please.

Because, like children, none of these players has a firm grasp on the concept of consequence. Oh yeah, it may feel good to flip off the other side...but what then? The tens of millions of dollars of convention business that is reportedly in jeopardy of cancellation because of the political posturing isn’t just crucial revenue to the State’s economy. It’s the thousands of jobs that will be lost if that business (along with even more leisure tourism spending) decides to walk away. It’s the tax revenues that will be lost, forcing government to dig even deeper into the pockets of its residents. It’s the businesses that are teetering on the brink of profitability that will, without visitor spending, ultimately fail.

Is this what the boycotters want? To hurt people whose only crime it is to live in a stunningly beautiful State? Really? And, who will take the brunt of the hit? Probably Hispanic Hospitality Workers.


But, when one side wants to screw the other side, consequence be damned. It’s all about the sound byte on the evening news....regardless of the carnage.

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer has formed a “tourism task force” to attempt to rebrand the State. But, it’s too late. And, pledging $250,000 to the effort is laughable. BP has pledged $70 million to the Gulf States for tourism marketing and THAT isn’t enough to change public opinion.

No, Arizona will take a beating for a few more weeks from the talk show comedians, bloggers and the media. Nothing much a “task force” can do about that.

But, there is something that we can do as an industry...and Destination Marketing Association International and the U.S. Travel Association have taken a promising step. They’ve called for an end to all travel boycotts as divisive and detrimental.

Now, it’s our turn to take the message to our communities. To explain that, whatever the wrong that is trying to be avenged, boycotts don’t hurt the targets of our ire...they hurt us.