Comments on: Exploring the Mission’s Tourism Business

By: lisette mejia » Archive » Exploring the Mission’s Tourism Business

lisette mejia » Archive » Exploring the Mission’s Tourism Business — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 04:28:31 +0000

[...] Published on Missionlocal.org. [...]

By: George Lipp

George Lipp — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 14:45:53 +0000

Great article! I think it is super to read about people coming to San Francisco and seeking out the mission as a place to enjoy themselves.

By: Mlocal

Mlocal — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 03:27:43 +0000

I have lived in the Mission for 20 years and took a Mission food tour last year. Don’t remember the name of the company but it wasn’t one of these Noe-Marina-Yuppy tours, the guide was from the Mission and we went to almost all ethnic places. It was really amazing. I also took a history tour of the Mission and was surprised at how much I didn’t know. However, one of these tours in the article, you couldn’t pay me enough to take one.

By: Avital

Avital — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 19:44:39 +0000

Hi Shotwell resident.

Thanks so much for your comments. The $64 price does include a full meal – we visit 5 different restaurants in 3 hours – and all of the food is included in the ticket price. Just to clarify the misinformation, Venga empanadas offers our guests 15% off their next purchase to encourage them to come back.

We have lots of Mission locals on our tours who often tell me they learn a lot about their own neighborhood history and its murals – as well as return to the businesses because they had personal interactions with the restaurant owners. Our goal is to authentically tell the stories of the people in the neighborhood. I invite you to join me on a tour sometime – and I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised about all that is in your backyard

Best regards,
Avital Ungar
Owner, Avital Tours

By: marco

marco — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 12:22:48 +0000

How does this make the Mission like the Marina? People don’t go to tour the Marina. The point of this article is that the Mission is a vibrant neighborhood with interesting art, food and history. It makes more sense to say “we are becoming the Latin Quarter in Paris” or something like that — a place that is rich enough with history, art and culture that makes tourists want to visit and learn about the area.

By: bob

bob — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 06:01:54 +0000

Excellent, we need the business. Bring on the rich ladies and the token empanada tours. I’d be surprised if it brings down crime but what the heck.

By: Mister Big

Mister Big — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 00:21:25 +0000

This article makes me sad. We are becoming the Marina.

By: shotwell resident

shotwell resident — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 23:30:32 +0000

Yes it sure would be great if this brought in new business for local businesses. (The tour operators are “working on it.”) Meanwhile I think the ONLY thing we can say for sure is that it’s bringing in business for the tour operators. $64 to Avital to walk around the Mission and eat its food and SHE DOESN’T EVEN PAY FOR THE FOOD?!?! Venga covers half the cost of the empanadas?!! I bet she has a nice profit margin. Seems more exploitative than all the groupon-like sites.

By: Edgy

Edgy — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 21:39:12 +0000

Well put. Didn’t know I was living in an amusement attraction. I work at a non profit and feel more like a low paid carney now than ever.

By: Michael Andersen-Andrade

Michael Andersen-Andrade — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 17:22:57 +0000

Half of me thinks this is great if it brings in new business for local businesses, and the other half of me wants to give a big eye roll. What kind of person takes a tour of a neighborhood that they could explore themselves? Some of this article made me cringe.