In order to get optimum benefits of renting a holiday villa in Florida, you have to manage to rent the most suitable holiday villa. You have to consider this highly because different vacationer certainly has different needs, personal conditions, and budgets. If you are able to find Orlando villas that best meet your expectations, you will likely become fully satisfied. In fact, finding the most suitable holiday villa in Florida will require you to do a thorough survey because there are many holiday villas in Florida to be considered. In doing your survey, you had better go online since many travel agencies offer their services on internet these days. If you surf the web, you will be able to make a long list of online travel agencies. There are also many directories of holiday rentals that feature worldwide holiday villas, holiday apartments, and holiday homes. You can simply choose such directory to help you finding the most suitable holiday villa in Florida.

Further, if you use an online directory of holiday rentals to help you finding the most suitable holiday villa, you will be able to find and book a holiday villa more easily and conveniently. As long as you have reliable internet connection, you will be able to find and book the most suitable holiday villa from the comfort of your home at your most convenient time. In short, renting a holiday villa in Florida over the internet enables you to do it more easily, more conveniently, and more comfortably. Therefore, you had better use an online directory of holiday rentals to help you finding the most suitable holiday villa.

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Besides the beaches, Egypt also has beautiful under the sea scenery and fortunately, there are many agents that rent diving equipments for tourists who want to enjoy the under the sea scenery. But it indeed cannot be denied that the majority of tourists who visit Egypt want to see those thousands-of-years pyramids and also pharaoh’s tombs. Visiting to Egypt, tourists do not have to worry about the accommodation and also the transportation because there are many high-class hotels at Egypt.

There are many online tourist agencies that offer Egypt tours on various packages. In my opinion, tour package is cheaper than going on vacation on your own. Do not forget to compare between online tours agencies to get the best deal.

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Termpaperwriter.org is among the leading online writing services and thousands of clients have been satisfied by the services from this company. Although the name using the words term paper, this online writing service also receives other writing paper orders such as research paper, essay, literature review, case study, theses, dissertation, and other paper assignments. The quality of results is undoubted and the service rates are very affordable. Moreover clients are given access to track down the progress of the orders and many clients like this feature.

For those who need term paper help, they can directly visit the website at Termpaperwriter.org. If there is a thing or two that still bother you about the service of this online writing service, just talk with the human customer service through live chat or calling them directly.

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If you want to look for the high speed Internet connection, you can log on to abroadband.com to find out more details about that product. Besides that, you will also be informed about how much cheaper if you use this product. One of the main products is abroadband modem. It is a type of USB modem which you can use in many countries. This company has several links at least 50 countries which you can use still in a high speed. Some countries which already partnered with this company are Australia, Albania, Malaysia, France, Germany, etc. If you need more information about that, you can look for the information here. Furthermore, you can also have some advantages if you buy this modem like 24 hours on line shop with certified and guaranteed security.

To fulfill your need in Internet connection especially for you in a high activity, you obviously need mobile Internet around the world. What it has been offered by Abroadband, you can have one price, one click and you can use it in some other parts of the world. So, it will be getting easier to connect to the Internet as time goes by. People will not be worry about their needs of Internet. If you need further information, you can browse to the site and find out more details about your needs. Remember, you can use it as soon as possible or you will be left behind from information.

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The Internet gives you easy access to so much information that you can become overloaded. When traveling this is definitely the case. Friends and fellow travelers tell you to book your trip on line yourself – you’ll save hundreds of dollars. But is that really the case? Will you be able to access the best and lowest deals? Isn’t it quicker and cheaper to do it all yourself? Maybe – maybe not.

<p>Beware the discount web site. Don’t book on the first deal you see. It may claim to be the lowest fare, but you won’t know until you look around and surfing the web for the best price may take quite a while and time is money.

Research of web sites stating they will give you best deal shows up many times as an incorrect claim. Many big travel web sites pay homage to their sponsors and advertisers, by showing their ‘deals’ only. In the airline industry, a number of small carriers are ignored and they may well offer the best deal for you, but you won’t know if their information isn’t displayed.

Prices of air flights differ wildly on the Internet. Try it and see. Go to a number of travel sites and look for fares to Sydney, Australia. See what you get. And this is what you need to do when booking your travel through the web. It might then be worthwhile to see what a travel agent can get for you. Yes they do have a booking fee imposed on your tickets but, did you know that many of the best budget deals are not available on the web? Specific web sites are only accessible to travel agents.  UNTIL NOW!  STUART S. TRAVEL is a full service on-line travel agency.

Remember that air fare prices change many, many times a day. It is going to be impossible to find the best deal. You need to be smart and organized and willing to spend a bit of time researching the best deal for you. Once you think you’ve found a great travel deal, remember to read the details to see if there are any restrictions. Will you be able to change your flight details? If so will it cost you? And how much? Those kinds of details. Things can change and your travel plans sometimes need to be flexible so make sure you know what it‘s going to cost you if you have to alter anything.

So if you are going to book your travel through the Internet remember these points: shop around and compare prices; be prepared to be flexible; ask questions; don’t believe everything you read on the websites; read the fine print; give yourself plenty of time to find the best deal and; if in doubt, don’t book it. 

If it all seems too confusing (which many web sites aim to be), go to your local on-line travel agent and see what deals they can do for you.

This article was provided by:

Stuart S. Travel / Your All World Travel Guru

http://www.stuartstravel.com sherry.hardsey@aol.com

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Daytona Beach is located in Volusia County, Florida. It has a population of 64,421. Aside from this, it is a year round resort known for its motorsports. Thus, Daytona is a seasonal town that caters to large groups of guests, visitors and tourists for various events annually. The smooth, wide beach and hotels attracts a lot of motorcycle and automobile races. There are many wonderful areas you can stay at and even have a chance to join the racing activities. These activities play a great part on the progress of Daytona Beach’s Tourism industry.

Daytona Beach is located in Volusia County, Florida. It has a population of 64,421. Aside from this, it is a year round resort known for its motorsports. Thus, Daytona is a seasonal town that caters to large groups of guests, visitors and tourists for various events annually.

When it comes to their history, the Timucuan Indians were the first ones who inhabited the place. Matthias D. Day founded it in the year 1870, and incorporated it in the year 1876. During the urging of the civic leader J.B. Kahn, Daytona Beach and Seabreeze merged as one in 1926. Thus, the world’s famous beaches of Daytona became known during 1920s.

It was also in the year 1902 when motorcycles, bikes and automobile racers came to witness the compact sand of the beach. The first stock car race was held last March 8th of the year 1936. Hence, replacing the beach course, William France created the Daytona International Speedway in 1959.

Furthermore, the beach is typically located at the southeastern part of the United States. This is along with a total area of 168.7 km2 and a humid subtropical climate. Aside from dry and mild winters, summers were generally hot. The spring months would start at the early days of March. This also start the season where many tourists and visitors visit the beaches and famous attractions that Daytona can offer.

Hence, records indicate that Dayton has a 33% tornado activity historically noted during its hurricane seasons. The areas chances of receiving hurricanes are possible because of its close proximity to the Atlantic Ocean.

Moreover, with over 8,000,000 tourists a year, people from all walks of life have come and still come in order to witness the beauty of the City and the beach, along with the great accommodations of Daytona hotels.

You don’t need to worry when you’re staying at a beach hotel in Dayton, strict hotel security and multiple surveillance cameras surround the vicinity. Thus, these hotels become more strict during special events like: the Daytona Beach Bike Week (Daytona 200}, the Speedweeks – Daytona 500 NASCAR race, Rolex 24 sports car race, Biketoberfest, Turkey Run car show, Spring break, Coke Zero 400, NASCAR race, and the Black College Reunion.

Furthermore, workforce and talented communities of Daytona began uplifting the tourist economy so as to get more businesses in the city. Prior to this, there were already several destination hotels and resorts in the region.

Here are the top 10 hotels at Daytona Beach.

#1 Bahama House, Daytona Beach

Price starts at: $229

The Bahama house is located at the Atlantic Avenue of Daytona Beach. The south central beach area has a total of 87 rooms. Hence, a six mile drive is all it will take tourists to get to the Daytona International Airport and only two miles away would be the Daytona Lagoon. It is also nine miles away from the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse, 5 miles away from the Daytona International Speedway and 4 miles away from the Volusia Mall.

This resort was built in the year 1984. Its amenities would include:

?An outdoor pool
?Air Conditioning (In Room)
?Daily complimentary breakfast
?Direct beach access
?Iron with ironing board
?Microwave Oven
?Daily Maid Service
?Non-Smoking Rooms
?Refrigerator
?Coffee Maker.

Aside from this, the Bahama House offers free wireless high speed Internet access throughout the hotel, free parking, cable TV, private balconies, laundry facilities, complimentary local calls and newspapers and a safe partial or full kitchen.

#2 Wyndham Ocean Walk, Daytona Beach

Price starts at: $118

The Wyndham Ocean Walk is located at Atlantic Ave. It is considered as a traffic free beach area. This place is only 10 miles from the Daytona Beach Airport, 45 miles from the Saint Augustine and the Kennedy Space Center, a quarter mile from the Adventure Landing, five miles from the Daytona International Speedway and Volusia Mall, 12 miles drive from the Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse, and a half mile from the Main Street Pier.

Amenities include:

?Hotel house dining room
?Health club
?Fitness room
?Lounge
?Golf-training center
?Non-smoking Rooms
?Meeting rooms
?game room
?Convenience store

Furthermore, this hotel offers two outdoor and two indoor swimming pools, a restaurant, landscaped beach access, free parking, children’s activities, wheel chair access, Internet access, laundry services and a hot tub. Room features would include washers, a refrigerator, DVD/VCR players, hairdryers, microwaves, cable TV, balconies, Jacuzzis, ceiling fans and air conditioning. Thus, upon request, cribs can be available. Check-in time is at 4: PM. Check-out time is at 10:00 AM.

Other fees would include:

Per person: one way fees of $5-$15
Per family: $16-$25
One way taxi fare: $16-$25
#3 Nautilus Inn, Daytona Beach

Price starts at: $113

The Nautilus Inn is located at Atlantic Avenue. It was built in the year 1986. This hotel has 90 comfortable and spacious rooms. This is along with its ten floors. It features private balconies, fully equipped kitchens, a heated outdoor pool, continental breakfasts, a telephone, free high speed Internet access, Cable or Satellite TV, a coffee maker, a microwave oven, air conditioning, daily maid services, dry cleaning facilities, a kitchen, and a balcony among others.

#4 Daytona Beach Regency Resorts, Daytona Beach

Price starts at: $189

The Daytona Beach Regency Resort is located only a short walk away from the Daytona International Speedway. It is a half-block from the boardwalk and five miles drive from the Daytona Beach International Airport.

Amenities:

?Jacuzzis
?Indoor pools
?Outdoor pools
?Laundry facilities
?Barbecue area
?Exercise facilities
?Game room
?Playground
?Parking
?Fitness Facility
?Car Rental Desk
?Business Center
?DVD/VCR
?Telephone (with Voicemail)
?Balcony
?Refrigerator
? Air Conditioned rooms
?Iron with ironing board
?Microwave oven
?Television
?Coffee Maker
?Daily maid service.

#5 Live Oak Inn Bed & Breakfast, Daytona Beach

Built in 1871, this hotel is located at beach St. This hotel also boasts of the many amenities in can offer. This would include: Newspaper (Free), Television (Cable/Satellite), Air Conditioning (In Room), Non-Smoking Rooms, DVD/VCR, Balcony, Telephone and Daily Maid Service.

Hotel Details

?Concierge Services
?Smoke Alarm in Rooms
?15 Rooms / 2 Floors
?Fax (For Guests)
?Room Service
?Business Center
?Common/Public Areas Accessible to Wheelchairs
?Sprinkler in Rooms
?Multi-lingual Staff
?Hot Tub
?Fishing
?Complementary Coffee

#6 Sunrise Beach Club, Daytona Beach Rated

Address: 1212 N Atlantic Ave, Daytona Beach
Phone: (386)252-4633

#7 Copacabana Motel, Daytona Beach

Address: 1201 South Atlantic Avenue, Daytona Beach
Phone: 386-252-1452, 877-352-2672

This motel was in operation throughout four decades. It is a family owned business that offers a choice of 40 well appointed guest rooms equipped with refrigerators and basic appliances.

#8 Tropical Winds Oceanfront Resort, Daytona Beach Rated

Price starts at: $86

Tropical Winds Oceanfront Resort is located at Atlantic Ave. It is famously situated onsite the Daytona’s famous beach. It was built in the year 1988, having approximately 8 floors and 94 rooms.

Local Attractions:

?Shoreside Entertainment Complex
?Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse
?Daytona International Speedway

Amenities include:

?wake-up calls
?an indoor heated pool
?24-hour front desk
?safety deposit box
?Air Conditioning (In Room)
?Non-Smoking Rooms
?maid service
?Poolside Café
?outdoor oceanfront pool
?Refrigerator
?Telephone
?Coffee Maker
?Cable TV
?Balcony
?Kitchen

#9 Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort, Daytona Beach Rated

Price starts at: $117

This is an oceanfront hotel that is located directly on the sun blessed beaches of the Atlantic Ocean. This hotel was built in 1989 and only a few minutes away from the Daytona International Airport.

The amenities it offers would include:

?Beachfront cabanas
?744 newly renovated guest rooms
?room movies
?high speed internet access
?Sony Play station
?room service
?coffeemaker
?Complimentary USA Today newspaper.

Charges for parking during special events would be:

?10ft Trailer – $20.00
?Motorcycles – $8.00 per day (first come first serve basis only)
?18 Wheeler & Cab – $150.00
?20ft Trailer – $40.00
?Over 30ft – $100.00
?Truck – $10.00
?30ft Trailer – $60.00

Hotel Details

§Car Rental Desk
§737 – 801 Rooms
§No of floors – 16
§Swimming Pool
§Family Rooms
§Fitness Facility
§Golf
§Swimming Pool
§Health Club
§Fitness Facility
§Tennis Court
§Business Center
§Wheel Chair Access
§Indoor, Outdoor and children’s pool
§Dining
§Game Room
§Meeting Room
§Hot Tub
§Health Spa/Massage
§Dry Cleaning

# 10 Aruba Inn, Daytona Beach Rated

Phone: (386)253-5643

Room Amenities:

?Microwave Oven
?Air Conditioning (In Room
?Refrigerator
?Kitchen/Kitchenette
?Television (Cable/Satellite)
?Refrigerator

Hotel Details

§Beach
§32 Rooms
§2 Floors
§Outdoor Pool

Moreover, the transportation in Daytona Beach provides faster access to its destination spots and hotels. You can fly using the Daytona Beach International Airport since they have different airlines, such as, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Vintage Props and Jets and AirTran Airways. Buses like Greyhound Bus Lines routes from Daytona Beach and connects with hubs to Orlando and Jacksonville. A VoTran local bus with a $3 pass can have access to a number of sites. Thus, the A1A Beachside Trolley operates from January to September each year.

Daytona Beach is really one of the many places in the world where in the whole family can enjoy the ocean beach. A tight security will be one of this areas many advantageous points. Tourists can stroll and visit the nearby places and attractions that Daytona can offer. Thus, after a long day of tours and enjoyment, you can spend the night relaxing in the convenience and comforts these Daytona Beach Hotels can provide.

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India is the land of amazing diversity. The country with its amazing diversity deserves the attentions of tourists from all over the world. It is one of the most preferred travel & tourism destinations in Asia. Every year tourists in quite large number visit this country and experience the charm of India travel and tourism. There are lots of tourism options in this fascinating country such as heritage tourism, nature tourism, medical tourism, eco tourism, monument tourism, beach tourism, nature tourism, backwater tourism etc. Holiday ideas in this country are numerous. Tourists from all over the world visit this country for numerous reasons or holidays ideas.

In this article I provide useful information about several holidays ideas in this country. Some of popular holiday & tourism ideas are adventure sports, wildlife expedition, desert expedition, wildlife safari, eco tourism, pilgrim & spirituality tours, luxury train tours, cultural heritage tours, health tourism, monsoon tourism, beach holidays, backwater tours, hill stations, houseboat stay, etc. Definitely all these holidays and tourism ideas of this fascinating country will allure you on your tours to this fascinating country. You will have wonderful opportunity to see lots of attractions during your tours and travel in this fascinating country.

The vivid landscapes of vast Thar Desert, lush green landscapes of Kerala, scenic beauty of Kerala backwaters, exotic sun kissed beaches of Goa & Kerala, invincible forts & palatial palaces of Rajasthan, awesome sight of world famous Taj Mahal, aroma of fresh tea cup and bustle of local bazaars, charm of colorful fairs & festivals, etc never fails to grab the heart of tourists from all around the world on their India visit. In whatever part of country tourists move, they find amazing and diverse charm of India tourism. In fact, the country has lots of opportunity to do and see for all kinds of tourists. The country is able to grab the heart of even the most negative tourist.

There are several fascinating and worth visiting destinations in this fascinating country. Some of most preferred destinations for enjoying amazing India tourism are Rajasthan, Agra, Goa, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Kashmir, Delhi, etc. Important worth visiting cities of this country are Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Mysore, Srinagar, Leh, Ladakh, Shimla, Manali, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Cochin, Trivandrum, etc. All these destinations and cities are full of amazing attractions of tourist interest. There are several beautiful hill stations in this country which are very popular among tourists like families, honeymooners, and nature lovers. For couple hill destinations of the country are like paradise. Some of popular hill destinations of this country are Shimla, Kashmir, Munnar, Manali, Dalhousie, Mussoorie, Dehradun, Ooty, Darjeeling, etc. All these are hill destinations of this country enjoys favorable climate for amazing India tours and travel.

India is also known for cultural and spiritual tourism. There are several destinations in this country which fulfill desires of tourists looking for cultural and spiritual tourism in this country. Such destinations are Haridwar, Jammu, Rishikesh, Pushkar, Ajmer, Amritsar, Varanasi, Badrinath, Deoghar, Khajuraho, etc. For beach lover tourists Goa and Kerala are perfect destinations offering amazing tourism options and lots of holiday ideas. Medical tourism and monsoon tourism are now becoming more and more popular in this country. Tourists from all over the world are coming to this country for medical and monsoon tourism.

If you too want to experience unique charm of tourism and holidays in this fascinating country, book your India tour package from any of reliable tour operators or travel agencies and get ready to treasure delightful experience of India travel and tourism. Be sure, your tours and travel in this fascinating country will be an experience of lifetime.

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TOURISM – A FIGHT AGAINST POVERTY

Creating Jobs and Wealth

Poverty alleviation has become an essential condition for peace, environmental conservation and sustainable development, besides being an ethical obligation in an affluent world, where the divide between poor and rich nations seems to have increased in recent years. There is a stronger evidence that tourism if developed and managed in a sustainable manner, can make a significant contribution to alleviate poverty, especially in rural areas, where most of the poor live and where there are very few other development options.

Travel & Tourism is the world’s largest industry and creator of jobs across national and regional economies. World Travel and Tourism Council research shows that in 2000, Travel & Tourism will generate, directly and indirectly, 11.7% of Gross Domestic Product and nearly 200 million jobs in the world-wide economy.  International tourism arrivals in 2002 exceeded 700 million, generating $US 474.2 billion in worldwide receipts.   These figures are forecasted to have an upward trend in 2010.

Jobs generated by Travel & Tourism are spread across the economy – in retail, construction, manufacturing and telecommunications, as well as directly in Travel & Tourism companies. These jobs employ a large proportion of women, minorities and young people; are predominantly in small and medium sized companies; and offer good training and transferability. Tourism can also be one of the most effective drivers for the development of regional economies. These patterns apply to both developed and emerging economies.

The Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization, Francesco Frangialli, rightly observed that “tourism is a major factor in the war on poverty. For most Developing Countries, LDC’s and Small Island Developing States it is their largest single export and major driver of jobs, investment and economic transformation. It is growing in these countries at significantly higher rates than in OECD states. Also in general these poor countries are most vulnerable to climate change and at the same time are the ones who create the least green house gas emissions. Tourism must be allowed to grow responsibly to these states and actions to curb emissions must take this into account”.

The geographical expansion and labour intensive nature of the Tourism sector provide ?a spread of employment which is particularly relevant in remote and rural areas where ?many of the poor live.

?UNWTO statistics show the growing strength of the tourism industry for developing ?countries:?

• International tourism receipts for developing countries (low income, lower and ?upper middle income countries) will soon pass more than US$ 250 billion.?
• Tourism is one of the major export sectors of poor countries and a leading ?source of foreign exchange in 46 of the 49 Least Developed Countries.?

Through its ST-EP programme (Sustainable Tourism – Eliminating Poverty), UNWTO ?has put in place a framework for poverty alleviation, linking its longstanding pursuit of ?sustainable tourism with the United Nations Millennium Development Goals and its own ?Global Code of Ethics.

Funding has been approved for 13 ST-EP projects so far, amounting to around US$1 ?million, benefiting 18 countries (Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Honduras, Kenya, Lao, ?Madagascar, Mali, Mozambique, Tanzania, Vietnam and Zambia, and a regional ?project in West Africa). In parallel, 25 ST-EP projects are being implemented by ?UNWTO with funding from the Netherlands Development Organization (SNV) for a total ?of around € 1.2 million (Albania, Cambodia, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Montenegro, Nepal, ?Niger, Rwanda, SADC countries, Uganda). Italy, is funding 8 ST-EP projects ??(Colombia, Ghana, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Mali), and funding has been approved for ?additional projects during 2007.

 International tourist arrivals, 1990-2002

International tourist arrivals

(millions)

Share

(percentage)

in 2002

1990

1995

2000

2001

2002

WORLD

455.9

550.4

687.3

684.1

702.6

100

Africa

15.0

20.0

27.4

28.3

29.1

4.1

Americas

93.0

108.8

128.0

120.2

114.9

16.3

Asia and the Pacific

57.7

85.6

115.3

121.1

131.3

18.7

      North-East Asia

28.0

44.1

62.5

65.6

73.6

10.5

      South-East Asia

21.5

29.2

37.0

40.2

42.2

6.0

      Oceania

5.2

8.1

9.6

9.5

9.6

1.4

      South Asia

3.2

4.2

6.1

5.8

5.9

0.8

Europe

280.6

322.3

392.7

390.8

399.8

56.9

Middle East

9.7

13.6

24.0

23.6

27.6

3.9

Source:  World Tourism Organization.

Tourism in Asia and the Pacific region

During the period 1990-2002, growth in tourism in Asia and the Pacific outperformed the rest of the world, with arrivals growing by 7.1 per cent annually (compared with 3.7 per cent for the world), increasing the global share from 12.7 per cent in 1990 to 18.7 per cent in 2002. Over the same period, tourism revenue in the region more than doubled, from $US 40.8 billion in 1990 to $US 94.7 billion in 2002.   Travel and tourism in the region has created 115 million jobs and made a significant contribution to GDP (North-East Asia, 9 per cent of GDP; South-East Asia, 7.56 per cent; South Asia, 4.87 per cent; Oceania, 13.55 per cent).

Given the broad income and employment figures as well as the impacts outlined above, tourism has considerable potential to contribute to poverty reduction in countries of the region.  However, in most countries, tourism initiatives are still only at the pilot stage and the measurement of their impact on the poor is inconsistent.  It is also well recognized that there can be leakages of foreign exchange from the tourism sectors and that the distribution of the benefits of tourism varies according t according to the market segment on which the country is focusing.  Consequently, two of the challenges in the sector are to design tourism interventions that maximize net foreign exchange gains and focus on the potential of improving the living standards of the poor.

With the increased interest in using tourism as a tool for poverty alleviation, there is clearly a need to develop methodologies and indicators that will enable Governments and other stakeholders to understand the impact of various initiatives on the poor and shape future interventions more effectively.  In this connection, preparations are under way to organize a meeting on measuring and assessing the impact of pro-poor tourism initiatives and policies at Bangkok in September 2004.  The meeting will bring together a group of practitioners working in poverty and tourism to consider methodologies to measure and assess the impact of pro-poor tourism initiatives.

The rising arrival figures do not necessarily mean that the poorer members of a society will also benefit. Nor are increasing numbers of tourists always welcome at a destination.  It is therefore vital that destination managers find ways how the poor can obtain “not crumbs off the table but a share of the cake”.  In this context, Dr. SantaMaria introduced seven approaches for achieving benefits for the poor from tourism development:

• direct employment;

• supply of goods and services to enterprises;

• direct sales of goods and services to visitors;

• running of enterprises (SMEs, community-based);

• tax or levy on tourism income;

• voluntary giving / support by enterprises or tourists; and

• investment in infrastructure.

A study was conducted in order to discover how some of these approaches can be supported. To increase the number of poor people who are directly employed in the tourism industry, for example, three main activities can be suggested: the use of international partnerships and teaching support to “catch up” on education and training, the setting up of tourism developments even in isolated rural areas, as well as the support through microfinance initiatives.

The following principles have been adopted by UNWTO and recommended to the governments in connection with Tourism and Poverty Alleviation:

1. Mainstreaming: ensure that sustainable tourism development is included in general poverty elimination programmes. Include poverty elimination measures within overall strategies for the sustainable development of tourism;

2. Partnerships: develop partnerships between international, government, nongovernmental and private sector bodies, with a common aim of poverty alleviation through tourism;

3. Integration: adopt an integrated approach with other sectors and avoid overdependence

on tourism;

4. Equitable distribution: ensure that tourism development strategies focus on more equitable distribution of wealth and services – growth alone is not enough;

5. Acting locally: focus action at a local/destination level, within the context of supportive national policies;

6. Retention: reduce leakages from the local economy and build linkages within it, focusing on the supply chain;

7. Viability: maintain sound financial discipline and assess viability of all actions taken;

8. Empowerment: create conditions which empower and enable the poor to have access to information and to influence and take decisions;

9. Human rights: remove all forms of discrimination against people working or seeking to work in tourism and eliminate any exploitation, particularly against women and children;

10. Commitment: plan action and the application of resources for the long term; and

11. Monitoring: develop simple indicators and systems to measure the impact of tourism on poverty.

Based on these principles, UNWTO’s general programme of work includes a number of activities aimed at maximizing the impact of tourism for the benefit of developing countries in general and LDCs in particular.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

There has been an up market trend in the tourism over the last few decades, especially in Europe where international travel for short breaks is common. Tourists have higher levels of disposable income and greater leisure time and they are also better-educated and have more sophisticated tastes. There is now a demand for a better quality products, which has resulted in a fragmenting of the mass market for beach vacations; people want more specialized versions, such as ‘Club 18 -30′, quieter resorts, family-oriented holidays, or niche market-targeted destination hotels. As well, people are taking second short break holidays.

The developments in technology and transport infrastructure such as jumbo jets and low-budget airlines have made many types of tourism more affordable. There have also been changes in lifestyle, such as retiree-age people who living as a tourist all the year round. This is facilitated by internet purchasing of tourism products. Some sites have now started to offer dynamic packaging, in which an inclusive price is quoted for a tailor- made package requested by the customer upon impulse.

There have been a few setbacks in tourism, such as the September 11, 2001 attacks and terrorist threats to tourist destinations such as Bali and European cities. Some of the tourist destinations, including the beach resorts of Cancún have lost popularity due to shifting tastes. In this context, the excessive building and environmental destruction often associated with traditional “sun and beach” tourism may contribute to a destination’s saturation and subsequent decline. Spain’s Costa Brava, a popular 1960s and 1970s beach location is now facing a crisis in its tourist industry. On December 26, 2004 a tsunami, caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake hit Asian countries bordering the Indian Ocean, and also the Maldives. Tens of thousands of lives were lost, and many tourists died. This, together with the vast clean-up operation in place, has stopped or severely hampered tourism to the area.

Sustainable tourism is becoming more popular as people start to realize the devastating effects of poorly planned tourism on communities. Receptive tourism is now growing at a very rapid rate in many developing countries, where it is often the most important economic activity in local Gross Domestic Product.

In recent years, second holidays or vacations have become more popular as people’s discretionary income increases. Typical combinations are a package to the typical mass tourist resort, with a winter skiing holiday or weekend break to a city or national park.

“The development of tourism means, above all, social progress, job ?creation and poverty alleviation”. 

`           Travel & Tourism has a number of advantages over other industry sectors:

• it creates jobs and wealth whilst;
• at the same time, it can contribute to sustainable development;
• it tends to have low start-up costs;
• is a viable option in a wide range of areas and regions;
• is likely to continue to grow for the foreseeable future; and
• the industry is, in a large part, aware of the need to protect the resource on which it is based – local culture and built and natural environment – and it is committed to these resources’ preservation and enhancement.

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Myth #1: India is not safe for Medical treatments.
Remember, Medical care always entails risk. Top hospitals in India are accredited by the Joint Commission International – Leadership for Quality & Safety in Health care, which certifies through painstaking periodic inspections that procedures and practices meet international standards for delivering patient quality care. JCI is the sister organization of Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), the U.S. hospitals certifying body. And most facilities have management and staff training tie-ups with leading U.S. medical organizations such as Harvard Medical International. Many facilities are super-specialty hospitals, equipped with the most advanced equipment for diagnosis and treatment. These hospitals employ hundreds of highly-trained, experienced and specialized surgeons with impeccable credentials. Many have been either trained or have previously worked in the U.S., Europe or Australia.

English is main language in India and majority of the leading hospitals are aware of special care and treatment needed for overseas patients. In order to provide a highly specialized service, these hospitals offer seamless patient services of world-class quality. Most of the medical facilities provide special and discret International partients area providing you with five star luxuries and great standards at par or better compared to western hostpitals. Myth #2: Indian qualifications ar not as good as Australian qualifications. Top rated mediacl schools in India. What’s more, most of India’s leading doctors have also studied and worked in the best medical institutions, generally in U.K and U.S.A. Moreover, the doctors from the hospitals /specialty centers in our network keep abreast of the latest technologies accepted worldwide by attending refresher courses from time to time. Their global acceptance can be gauged from the fact that every year, hundreds of renowned Indian doctors visit Europe and USA to teach at leading hospitals and universities by invitation. New and innovative techniques are constantly being adapted and mastered by Indian surgeons who have success rates as good as those in the world’s best hospitals.

Myth #3: Benefits are not substantial in going to India for medical treatment. There are significant benefits in traveling to India for your next major medical treatment or it may be incidental if you are planning a trip to India; those in this category are generally cosmetic & aesthetic procedures or minimally invasive procedures such as dermatology or dental procedures. Save around 50-80% on your medical costs. In addition to the treatment cost savings, you can get instant access to any medical treatment, bypassing any waiting lists in Australia. Most of the top corporate hospitals will have a separate section for international patients, offering the five star luxuries, in addition to the best of the healthcare excellence.

Myth #4: I know of people going to Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore.. I will be the first one to go to India for surgery. India has made entry into medical tourism in recent years. The combination of high quality, world class, affordable surgery costs and Healthcare Services is attracting a regular stream of foreign patients to India. Many people from UK, USA, Europe, and Canada go to India for medical treatment. Indian medical establishments helped around 150,000 overseas patients in 2004; the Apollo group alone has so far treated 95,000 international patients… The Indian government predicts that India’s $17-billion-a-year health-care industry could grow 13 per cent in each of the next six years, boosted by medical tourism, which industry watchers say is growing at 30 per cent annually. According to a study by McKinsey and the Confederation of Indian Industry, medical tourism in India could become a $1 billion business by 2012.

It is understandable that for many people, travelling to unfamiliar country for medical treatment can sound daunting. Knowing someone who is experinced Indian doctor, understands the capabilities and limitations of the medical professionals in India and Australia is rare combination for your medical treatment requirements.

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What is a ‘sister city’ and how can you travel to one on a budget? 

A number of cities all over the globe have adopted a sister city in another part of the world to promote greater understanding, among other things, between the two cities and their nations. The sister city ‘movement’ began at the end of World War II and was instigated by America.

Participating cities aim to develop friendships and foster relationships between their chosen sister cities (some cities have more than one sister) and to encourage peace and understanding between nations. This is done in a number of ways – encouraging business and economic relationships through trade and technology, stimulate cultural and creative networks, develop partnerships between cities and countries and to provide the opportunity for sister city citizens to experience other cultures through travel.

Traveling to your sister city may be something you wish to do and it can be done at relatively low cost if you are able to become part of an exchange program. Cultural exchanges between sister cities are generally paid for by your home town. Some cities select students to travel to their sister city for a period of time, (it could be weeks or months) and pay all expenses. If you are a student, investigate what opportunities are available for this type of travel.

Traveling to a sister city is not only for students. Other residents may participate in the program as well. You may be selected as an ambassador of your town to travel to the sister city and take part in projects fostered by the sister cities. You will then likely to be asked to host visitors from the sister city when they travel to your country. If you are able to get on one of these exchange programs you can expect accommodation and food to be taken care of (you will probably be living with a sister city family) but you may have to get involved in fundraising for your trip.

If you think this sounds like a fun (and cheap) way to travel, visit your town’s web site and find out about their sister city program. You’ll need to become a member and join in the volunteer program to help with fundraising. You could be asked to host visitors from your sister city and you may get the opportunity to travel. Becoming involved in the sister city program means becoming a part of creating community links and learning about other cultures – exactly what traveling is all about. You may even have ideas for your community’s sister city program and how it can further foster its global sisters’ relationships.

This article is brought to you by: Stuart S. Travel – Your Online Travel Guru

www.stuartstravel.com

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