Calls to boycott Arizona are spreading like a virus

I have several friends working in the tourism business in Arizona, hence my concern for their well being. I spoke to a couple of them, who are now thinking about relocating to another state in case they loose their jobs.

Apparently the governor is in denial as far as boycotts are concerned. She seems unfazed by the potentially devastating effects that the new immigration law may bring upon her state's citizens and businesses.

I admire her courage to go against most politicians in the country in order to please the state's voters, but like Janet Napolitano I also have "deep concerns" about how this law will negatively affect my AZ friends.

Here is the full story:

While Arizona tourism tries to resist the tidal wave of anti-Arizona sentiment triggered by the state’s passage of a tough new law that targets illegal immigrants, it may be a losing battle when stacked up against viral social media and negative word-of-mouth. Worse, the state looks to lose 3.8 million visitors a year from Mexico, whose citizens are now leery of police stops and harassment.

The Arizona Hotel and Lodging Association set up its own Facebook page, called “Don’t Boycott AZ Tourism” most likely to battle the three other “Boycott Arizona” Facebook pages already in use, a petition site and a general Arizona-bashing. The Facebook page, which has the sub-headline of “Don’t punish 200k tourism employees for politics,” so far has 802 followers. The primary Boycott Arizona page has more than 11,000. That’s what the Arizona hospitality industry is up against — a very aggressive and antagonistic social media campaign oppposed to Arizona’s controversial new anti-immigrant laws.

So far it’s working. The American Immigration Lawyers Association notified JW Marriott in Scottsdale that it will cancel a 300-plus person event, saying, “We didn’t feel it was appropriate to have a meeting in (the) state.”

At the Arizona Inn in Tucson, 12 customers canceled reservations or said they wouldn’t come to the state because of the recent law.

“This is a very scary situation that the police can now just come up to you for no reason and ask for papers,” Joy Mann, a prospective guest who had previously stayed at the inn, wrote . . . in an e-mail message. “My son is a construction worker and is very suntanned. I cannot ask him to join us there now, as I would fear for him.”

The law may have even more consequences for international tourism. Visitors to Arizona spent $18.5 billion and supported about 167,000 jobs in 2008. Out of the 37 million visitors staying overnight, about 3.8 million came from Mexico, the largest single source of international visitors. The new anti-immigrant laws that may mean being pulled over by police and required to prove immigration status, will affect those visitors most. On Tuesday, Mexico issued a travel advisory for its citizens, telling them, “It must be assumed that every Mexican citizen may be harassed and questioned without further cause at any time.”

The advisory is kind of a switch for Mexico, because it turns the tables on the many U.S. State Department advisories released on Mexico that cover everything from drug cartel violence to swine flu. With Arizona’s international visitorship decimated, the state now must rely on domestic visitors — many of which come from liberal California, where cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles are seeking official boycotts of the state. Late Tuesday, Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento), leader of the California State Senate, also proposed a statewide boycott of Arizona.

In the end, while many in the hotel and hospitality industry are now crying foul and asking visitors to not hurt them personally — the Arizona Office of Tourism and the Greater Phoenix Economic Council were conspicuously silent as the anti-immigrant bill became a law. Neither wanted to touch the political hot potato, but now both are paying a price for their laissez-faire attitude. Now almost a week later, the Greater Phoenix Economic Council is talking, but only after it realized it had much more to lose than gain by the legislation.

From the Arizona Republic:

Those close to the state’s tourism industry worry that it could suffer the brunt of a backlash from the new law.

“I think it will be really easy for someone to pass us over on a convention decision now,” said Barry Broome, president and CEO of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, which has been trying to promote Arizona as a good place to do business.

The enormity of a boycott has struck home to many hoteliers, including the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (its members own 40% of U.S. hotels) which is lobbying lawmakers to reconsider the law. Other industry insiders agree.

According to the Arizona Republic:

“I don’t see anything good for tourism in this,” said Bruce Lange, managing director of the Westin Kierland Resort and Spa and former chairman of the Valley Hotel & Resort Association.

“It’s just one of those issues that makes people uncomfortable. When people get uncomfortable, it’s a lot easier to say, ‘I don’t want to go there,’ ” he added.

Diane Enos, president of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, which last week opened the 400-room Talking Stick Resort and casino east of Scottsdale, said the bill is not good for Arizona.

“It does not put our best face forward to visitors, particularly to international travelers,” she said in a statement.

I lived in Mesa, AZ for 18 years and still have family in the area. I love this law! The only people that have anything to fear are the illegals. Legit citizens don't have anything to worry about. So you might be asked for your ID...big deal!

I agree it sucks for the tourism industry, but the state will be much better off in the long run.

From what I have seen about this new bill, I have to say I am quite shocked. I always thought immigration was under the federal jusistiction. Are all immigrants in Arizona required to carry their immigration papers? I know here in Canada it is not a requirement that you carry those papers with you 24/7.
This bill clearly targets Mexicans. I'm positive there are Canadians who have emmigrated to Arizona, in fact, I'm 100 % sure of it, because I know people who have moved there from Canada. But will they become targetted by this bill. I highly doubt it. I think Arizona is taking a bold step backwards.This bill won't reduce illegal aliens. It will simply cause illegal aliens to relocate to neighboring states. In my opinion, it is clearly a violation of the constitution to target people through racial profiling.
Imagine what legal Mexican immigrants must think, knowing that they can be pulled over at any time merely to have their immigration status questioned. This bill does nothing other than tarnish the reputation once again of the state of Arizona, much the same as it did when Arizona refused to recognize Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Originally Posted by airenlow

So you might be asked for your ID...big deal!

But if a person look or sound foreign, even though you are here legally, wouldn't it be an inconvenience to be stopped all the time to show your ID? I guess that is the main reason why most of the people think this law is even unconstitutional. It entices racial profiling.

Originally Posted by ComoxCorn

From what I have seen about this new bill, I have to say I am quite shocked. I always thought immigration was under the federal jusistiction. Are all immigrants in Arizona required to carry their immigration papers? I know here in Canada it is not a requirement that you carry those papers with you 24/7.

This is no longer a bill... This is now law, signed on 04/24/2010.
And yes, immigrants would have to have papers 24/7 on them.

Seriously?? Is her son here illegally?

“This is a very scary situation that the police can now just come up to you for no reason and ask for papers,” Joy Mann, a prospective guest who had previously stayed at the inn, wrote . . . in an e-mail message. “My son is a construction worker and is very suntanned. I cannot ask him to join us there now, as I would fear for him.”

As I understand it, police will just ask for proof of citizenship when interacting with a person for some other reason.

How about the Pima Co. Sheriff who is rebelling against the law. Isn't it his job to uphold the laws on the books, not interpret them? How can he "not comply?"

Originally Posted by Nanci

Seriously?? Is her son here illegally?

I would say "FOR SURE!"

LOL

Originally Posted by jpccusa

And yes, immigrants would have to have papers 24/7 on them.

Too bad it's only Mexicans that need to worry about been targetted by this law. Bigotry lives on.

I could be wrong but I think the new law states it is secondary. Meaning they have to be stopped for another reason like running a stop sign before they can be asked. They just can't walk up and harass for no reason. I could also be wrong but isn't it already federal law that if you are here on a visa whether for travel or work or education you have to carry it on your person?

Originally Posted by tsst

I could be wrong but I think the new law states it is secondary.

You are wrong. Now they can ask if they have "reasonable suspicion" that somebody is here illegally.

Meaning, if you look Hispanic.

This law is inherently racial... in theory it might be all fine and dandy but in enforcement, it will be discriminatory.