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What Are the Top 5 Medical Tourism Destinations?

What Are the Top 5 Medical Tourism Destinations?

Some of the countries that are preferred for the medical tour destinations provide all features as well as facilities with lower cost packages. Experts strongly believe that these medical tourism destinations will create a positive impact on the country's economy and also for the benefits of traders and patients. The phenomenon of the medical tourism destinations would also encourage the investors from the foreign countries who hold interest with those countries.

You can find the best service as well as attendance from these medical tourism destinations with low or at least with reasonable price. Several hospitals will have their tie-up with those recreational facilities in order to provide best services to the patients. You can come with your money for the treatment and in case if the treatment money exceeds beyond your budget or if you need some other luxurious treatments, then medical tourism destinations would provide with all the facilities. You can get the best services as like you get in a five star hotel.

Regarding the top 5 most medical tourism destinations, the following are the best medical tourism destinations with all features and quality are as follows:

1. Panama
2. Brazil
3. Malaysia
4. Costa Rica
5. India

PANAMA:

Panama is one of the best medical tourism destinations that provide 40 to 50 percent lower cost when compared with the cost for similar surgeries provided in the United States. This report on the medical tourism was published in NCPA (National Center for Policy Analysis). Though cost for surgeries are expensive in the United States, people from United States feel comfortable in travelling to Panama as the travel expense from United States to Panama is less. Panama is also one of the Americanized countries that are attracted for both medical destinations as well as the tourist spots. United States Dollars is the official currency for this place and majority of the physicians are trained from the major universities from the United States.

Since medical tourism destinations play a major in economy improvement, Panama also has shown its economy improvement through these medical achievements that heavily relies on the industries. Panama has independently negotiated with free agreement regarding the trade with United States during the year 2006 rather than participating in CAFTA (Central America Free Trade Agreement). Finally, panama has got its wide opportunities with the medical tourism and also with other types of services like real estates, tourism related services etc.

BRAZIL:

Brazil can be said as the international Mecca for the treatment of cosmetic as well as plastic surgeries. Brazil has got its fame in the medical tourism started with Ivo pitanguy who is a world renowned plastic surgeon opened clinic before 40 years ago outside Rio de Janeiro. When compared with United States as well as with other countries, Brazil provides high quality surgeons and also with less cost as they are the world's second largest market for the treatment of plastic surgeons. In terms with general medical treatment, Brazil deserves the name for best medical tourism destination as several hospitals are located with JCAHO (joint commission America hospital organization). JCAHO is the United State's largest accreditation organization according to the medical tourism service website.

Sao Paulo is the largest city in the Brazil that has several world's best hospitals with advanced equipments, latest technologies and also with high trained physicians etc. Hence with all these credentials, Brazil will be predicted to become one of the best as well as dominant economic countries in the world. Moreover, people from any place in the United States can reach Brazil within 8 to 12 hours by airways.

MALAYSIA:

Medical tourism industry has been growing rapidly in Malaysia during recent years. People from several countries seeking healthcare treatment in Malaysia has been increased to 296, 687 patients during the year 2006. Previously, it was about 75,210 during the year 2001. Year by year, number of people from all over the world for seeking healthcare is increasing. The association of private hospitals in Malaysia is expecting 30% growth during the year 2010.

Medical procedures in Malaysia offer treatments for cosmetic, dentals and cardiac surgeries etc. with lesser cost. For example, cardiac bypass surgery costs around $6000 to $7000 in Malaysia and the same surgery cost around $9000 to $12000 in United States. Malaysia is not only attracted for the medical tourism destinations but also for its economic stability, tourist spots as well as higher rate in literacy. Will all these features, Malaysia can also be said as one of the best place for medical tourism destinations.

COSTA RICA:

Costa Rica is the place that suits best to the North American people for getting medical treatments with cheaper costs. Each year, more than 150,000 foreigners are visiting Costa Rica for getting benefit with low cost treatments. For instance, treatment for dental veneer in Costa Rica costs around 300$ to 350$ and the same procedure would cost around 1250$ to 1500$ in United States. Hence, people in United States are willing to travel through airways to Costa Rica for getting treatment. You can reach to Costa Rica within 10 hours from any part of United States through flight. Costa Rican government is taking necessary plans for negotiating with free agreement through CAFTA.

INDIA:

According to the report of NCPA (National Center of Policy Analysis), India has got its high quality treatment along with cheaper cost when compared with all other medical tourism destinations. Many hospitals located around India are accredited with JCI (Joint Commission International) and also with cutting-edge latest technologies as well as well trained physicians. Though India provides high quality treatment with less cost, it ranked in 5th place rather than in 1st place because of the amount restrictions from foreign investors and also the distance between United States and India through flight can be approximately 20 hours.

Medical tourism in India including the foreign patients was about 500,000 during the year 2005. Previously, it was just 150,000 patients during the year 2002. Rapid growth is experiencing and it is expected around 1 million during the year 2010. Even in monetary terms, experts have estimated that medical tourism would bring around 2 billion dollars by the year 2012. India has got its fame in the orthopedic as well as cardiac procedures. Most of the American patients will travel to India for the treatment of Birmingham Hip resurfacing where the treatment for the same is not available in the United States. The treatment for this Birmingham his resurfacing in India has been approved by FDA.

Important Of Tourism in Honduras

Honduras Tourism - Important Of Tourism in Honduras

Tourism is getting more important these days and its popularity is rising day by day. Its revenue proves its success. Tourism has today become one of the largest industries globally. It was not so important few years ago but today it affects the global economy and helps in earning foreign currency. Honduras tourism is very popular all over the world. Honduras gives priority to tourism as it believes that tourism is one of the most beneficial industries of the country. Tourism not only gets Honduras, foreign currency but it also strengthens it national identity.

Tourism plays an important role in the development of this superb country. Honduras tourism also provides new jobs to the people of Honduras that ultimately raises the standard of living of Honduras. Tourism in Honduras helps this country to remain in the competitive global market. Honduras is famous for its natural and cultural heritage. Its superb cultural heritage is well known all over the world. The natural beauty of this country is amazing and can win any heart. The bay Islands look amazing and coral reef surrounding them is just mind blowing.

Copan is flooded with beaches that are just amazing and attract the tourists from all parts of the world. This place is considered as the Athens of ancient Mayan civilization. If you love natural scenery and singular beauty of beaches then Honduras is a perfect place for a vacation with your family or friends. It is believed that Honduras has huge tourism potential. This country has come up with great tourism in the recent past and is doing well to develop in this field. Honduras is ready to take all the challenges by developing tourism destinations, as Honduras is much dependent on its tourism and gives much priority to tourism industry.

The growth of Honduras tourism is rapid and has high aggregated value. Honduras is working hard and trying to promote its tourism on foreign markets so as to earn more and more foreign currency. The country is also giving importance to security. It is coming up with tourism police force that helps in strengthening the security system of the country. Honduras also allows investments in this sector so as to develop Honduras tourism.

The main aim of Honduras tourism is to prove that yet Honduras is a small country of America, it can beat any nation with its tourism diversity. It is really a five star country with all the pleasures and excitement you can demand for, while exploring any big country of America.

Honduras is economically, one of the poorest countries in the region but its tourism industry is doing well. If you are planning for a vacation and you are having a low budget then Honduras is one of the best destinations for you. It is regarded as a perfect low budget adventure destination whose main source of income is tourism. Although, this country is also dependent on export of agricultural products but at present it is giving more importance to tourism and is trying hard to stay in the competitive market.

Responsible Tourism in India

Responsible Tourism in India

Responsible tourism is a new concept in the tourism industry. This concept was developed by Jost Krippendorf in the 1980's. His aim was to "to develop and promote new forms of tourism, which will bring the greatest possible benefit to all the participants - travelers, the host population and the tourist business, without causing intolerable ecological and social damage."

Responsible tourism can be defined as " tourism which creates better places for people to live in, and better places to visit". Some of the main objectives of Responsible tourism are as follows:

1.To respect local cultures - traditions, religions and built heritage. 

2. To protect the environment - its flora, fauna and landscapes. 

3. To conserve natural resources - from source to destination. 

4. To benefit local communities - both economically and socially. 

5. To minimize pollution - through noise, waste disposal and congestion.

In a nut shell, Responsible tourism is that form of tourism in which initiatives and responsibilities are taken by both the tourists and the travel agencies to maximize the positive impacts and minimize the negative impacts on environment, traditions and cultural heritage of the region.

Responsible Tourism is rapidly growing global trend. Some of the nations like South Africa, the United Kingdom, United States, the Gambia, Sri Lanka and India are already practicing Responsible Tourism and gradually other nations are also following the ideologies of these countries.

India has an abundant scope to emerge as a Responsible tourism destination. Indian tourism industry has grown immensely in the last five years and it is for sure that in the upcoming years India will become a hot tourist destination of South East Asia. To sustain this growth process it is necessary that all the stakeholders of the Indian tourism industry ie tour operators, government agencies and NGO's must work in cohesion. They must protect the heritage of our country which in turn will benefit both the local communities and the tourists.

To develop India as a Responsible tourism destination, ICRT India which stands for International Centre For Resposible Tourism works in collaboration with private sector, government and local communities. It is a Bangolore based non-profit organization, establishes in 2006, whose main objective is to "take responsibility for achieving sustainable tourism, and to create better places for people to live in and for people to visit." It provides policy advice, research and consultation on developing Responsible Tourism in India.

Among all Indian states, Kerala has pioneered in practicing innovative tourism ideas. It is a state which is rich in traditions and culture. It has started Responsible tourism in the state to create awareness among all stakeholders for a better environment to live and visit.

Some of the successful Responsible tourism projects of India are -

"Sunderban Jungle Camp" initiated by Help Tourism group to connect the heritage sites and protected areas of Sunderban with the livelihood of the local communities through community-based, environmentally and socially responsible tourism.

"Awake and shine" is another successful Responsible Tourism project. This project was started by Retired Indian Army General "Jimmy" Singh in May 2006 to develop the Samthar Plateau near Kalimpong(40km) as a tourist destination depending on the homestay holidays, local handicrafts and other products. This project has helped the local community to improve their life style and the region to make its mark on the Indian tourist map.

Another the Responsible Tourism project of India is in the Anakkara Spice Tourism village in Idukki district of Kerala. This project was started in October 2004 by Women in Agriculture (WIA), a group of women who has joined hands to preserve nature, share benefits of tourism among the local populace and boost the local economy. This project has enable these ladies to improve their standard of living by providing their share of income in the well being of their family.

Get Drenched In India Travel & Tourism

Get Drenched In India Travel & Tourism

Welcome to India, one of the most important tourist destinations of the world. Tourists from all over the world visit this country not without reasons. There are lots of options for tourism in India. The country has lots of tourism options which can be enjoyed on travel and tours to India.

-Cultural Tourism 

-Hill Station Tourism 

-Adventure Tourism 

-Heritage Tourism 

-Wildlife Tourism 

-Health Care or Medical Tourism 

-Wedding Tourism 

-Village Tourism 

-Pilgrimage Tourism 

-Special Interest Tourism 

-Ethnic Tourism 

-Green Tourism or Eco Tourism 

-Monsoon Tourism etc are some of very popular options available in India which you can too experience on your India tours.

The entire country is full of fascinating attractions and never fails to allure its visitors. During travel and tours in India you will have wonderful opportunity to mesmerizing blends of past and present. You will see that mingle of tradition and modernity in a perfect harmony.

"When you come to India, you are inspired by the past and you can see the future" - US President George Bush, New Delhi - 3rd March 2006.

India is globally known for its unique culture and traditions. People of India are generous and always helpful to its guests. India is the country of diversity and you can see its diversity in its culture, tradition, cuisine, lifestyle, people, costumes, languages, weather, landscapes, etc. In whatever part of the county you travel, you experience a new charm and something extra on your every step of your India travel and tours.

There are lots of fascinating destinations which are among top positions of horizon of world tourism - Rajasthan, Goa, Kerala, Kashmir, Shimla, Manali, Ooty, Munnar, New Delhi, Uttaranhal, Uttar Pradesh, Mumbai, Mysore, Bangalore, etc are well known tourism destinations of India Tourism.

Rajasthan - the Land of Kings & Monuments is globally famous for rich culture, custom and traditions. It is one of the most visited states of India. It has lots of attractions well persevered to offer its visitors. Invincible Forts, Elegant Palaces, Terrific Temples, Stunning Havelis, Traditional Villages, Camel Safari on Thar Desert, Wildlife Sanctuaries & Tiger Reserves, etc are prime attractions of Rajasthan tours. In the boost of tourism in India Rajasthan tourism plays a major role.

Kerala tours and Goa tours are very famous among tourists from all over the world for beach tourism Goa is India's most popular beach destination and dotted with foreign tourists all year around. Kerala is also known for backwater tourism and health tourism Alleppey and Kumarakom are the prime backwater destinations of Kerala and ideal for staring houseboat cruise over the romantic and scenic backwaters. Almost entire Kerala is dotted with amazing greenery and beautiful landscapes. Kovalam is the Kerala's most famous beach destination. It is dotted with several Ayurvedic Resorts and Health Care Centers.

Agra in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India the most visited destinations of the country. It is the home of Taj Mahal - India's star Attraction. The Shimla, Manali, Kullu, etc are known for superb natural beauty and lots of adventure and sports activities.

So, if you to want to enjoy the charm of India tourism you must tour India and explore its fascinating destinations and attractions. Be, sure your travel and tourism in this country will be a delightful experience of lifetime.

Bad Eco-Tourism Does More Harm Than Good

Bad Eco-Tourism Does More Harm Than Good

Tourism is a booming industry. With many travellers flocking to different destinations around the globe, tourism is becoming one of the most viable business markets in the world. However, air travel, car travel and other aspects of tourism are adding to the planet's pollution crisis and this is becoming a problem. Travel operators and hospitality corporates realised that some action needed to be taken, and Eco-tourism was created as a solution to this problem.

Eco-tourism is now one of the fastest growing sectors of the tourism industry. Eco-tourism involves the conservation of biological and cultural diversity through education of locals and tourists alike. By protecting ecosystems it has had a positive effect on the local communities and their livelihoods through their participation in projects and lessening the impact on the environment.

Why Eco-Tourism?

A tourist operator who offers eco-tourism is basically an operator who makes no negative impact on the environment and helps to sustain and promote the life of the local ecosystems.

Their activities should not pollute the local surroundings and have a mutually beneficial relationship with local residents through education of how to sustain themselves without damaging the environment. In South Africa, teaching locals how to make crafts from empty cans and used containers to minimise litter and help create a source of income is one example of this. The tour operator should also be involved in the education of locals concerning the environment and teaching them how to live in harmony with it, instead of destroying it.

There are many benefits to eco-tourism, yet many hospitality providers claim they offer eco-tourism holidays and accommodation when they do not. Governments and tourism providers are leaning towards the promotion of anything which involves nature as eco-tourism, allowing activities which are not based upon sustainable development of the environment and communities.

Tourism ventures such as low-impact tourism, green tourism, bio-tourism and ecologically responsible tourism are advertised as eco-tourism when they do not fall under this category realistically.

The Problems with Fake Eco-Tourism

"Green washing" is a term used to describe the occurrence of a tourism operator claiming to offer eco-friendly holidays when they are in fact, environmentally destructive. This practice involves the commercialisation of tourism involving nature and some ecological projects as eco-tourism. Many people flock to these tourism operators and end up doing more damage to the environment than if they had not used a 'green' operator. They are destructive towards the environment, are insensitive towards cultural needs and exploit the tourism economy. They are also misleading to tourists as they appeal to the desire to help the environment which tourists have, yet destroy the environment, not giving the tourists what they have asked for.

Despite some operators meeting the guidelines, there may still be a negative impact on the environment and local communities. Eco-tourism operators need to have a thoroughly positive impact on the environment with few, if not no negative impacts. If there is a negative impact, this should be counter acted by some kind of compensatory action such as planting trees and so forth.

South Africa is currently reaping many economic benefits from eco-tourism but there are still problems with displacement of people, violations of constitutional rights and negative impact on the environment from tourism activities.

An eco-tourism operator should be involved in investing in the local ecosystems and conservation. Rejuvenation of the natural resources and the education of locals in living in harmony with these ecosystems is paramount to eco-tourism. Education of tourists, assisting the livelihoods of locals in supporting themselves without negative environmental impact and the conservation of biological and cultural diversity should be not only endorsed but achieved through eco-tourism. Money generated from eco-tourism should also be invested in furthering conservation efforts.

Grootbos Private Game reserve is a nature reserve in Gansbaai which is an eco-tourism venture with eco friendly luxury accommodation, nature adventures for guests and is responsible for founding the Grootbos Foundation [http://www.grootbosfoundation.org/]. Grootbos conserves the local flora and fauna, helps locals with sustainable development and educates tourists and locals in how to conserve the habitats and ecosystems occurring in Gansbaai and to live without having a negative impact on the environment.

Tourism in Western Europe: A Collection of Case Histories

Tourism in Western Europe: A Collection of Case Histories

Richard Voase provides an interesting collection of case studies regarding Western European tourism development. The case studies are well organized in three thematic areas based on political, economic and socio-cultural contexts. The collection of stories communicates changes in tourism development and practices and reflects how tourism development seeks for new ways of tourism thinking. Voase concludes that tourism experiences, on the part of travelers, show signs of active decision making with passive consumption. This point prompts the reader to think that tourists choose "canned" experiences that are creatively constructed, however accessed through extensive information search and decision-making.

The case studies are authored by a variety of authors with strong local ties to the place they write about which enables extraordinary insight into issues the tourism industry faces in Europe and North America (although North America is not the focus of this book). This book can be used in a tourism development course to help students identify current issues in tourism (e.g., environmental challenges, sustainability, conservation approaches) and build upon definitions and theoretical models in tourism.

In his introduction, Voase conveys that the analysis or interpretation of the cases is based on political, economic, socio-cultural and technological environments. The analysis captures the multidimensionality of the tourism product and the cultural and social factors that relate to current ideologies, which affect how tourism evolves. Such ideologies are relating to prevalent postmodernism approaches that seem to affect those consumer behaviors, which capture experiential consumption rather than production processes of products or services.

The book consists of eleven chapters. The first four chapters are approached under the lenses of a political context analysis. The first chapter, by Meethan, presents the role of tourism marketing and public policy in the counties of Devon and Cornwall, England. Meethan concludes that for these two counties "marketing was one aspect of a wider integrated policy which aims to incorporate tourism more fully into the regional economy" and these programs would not have been possible without the funding from the European Union (EU). "The cases of Devon and Cornwall also demonstrate how new organizational forms emerge as a response to wider structural changes".

Chapter 2, by Morpeth, focuses on the role of leisure and tourism as political instruments in Britain during the 1980s. Central and local governments used leisure and recreation policies as an extension of urban policy to balance the negative effects of unemployment and structural problems evident in England in the 1980s. Morpeth discusses the case of the city of Middlesbrough and the role of Thatcherism policies on the city, which focused on the generation of inner cities and the use of tourism as a tool for regeneration.

Chapter 3, by Voase, discusses the influence of political, economic and social change in a mature tourist destination; the Isle of Thanet in southeast England. Voase concludes that the process of policy, planning and development of tourism in a mature destination is not always straightforward. The antagonistic politics among the stakeholders involved in tourism development led to inconsistencies regarding the development of the destination. Chapter 4, by Robledo and Batle, focuses on Mallorca as a case study for replanting tourism development for a mature destination using Butler's (1980) product life cycle concept. As a mature destination, Mallorca needs a sustainable development strategy to survive in the future. This acknowledgement led the Tourism Ministry of the Balearics Island Government to establish a tourism supply-side regulation to protect the environment. This plan however, as Robledo and Bade identified, is an interesting case of struggle between different groups (i.e., government, ecological groups, councils, hoteliers, construction industry) defending their interests in tourism development. Voase identifies these first four chapters having three common factors: the role and interplay of local tiers of government in the formulation and implementation of policy, the role of politics as a vehicle for the promotion and management of economic interests, and the powerful influence of socio-cultural factors. While these common factors are not directly evident in the presented case studies, Voase fills that gap with his writings. These common factors can stimulate further discussion as to what is the role of politics in tourism and how policy can affect researchers and practitioners in the field.

The second part of the book focuses on the economic context of tourism and its use as a regeneration and wealth creation tool. Chapter 5, by Lewis, focuses on two agri-environmental schemes, Tir Cymen and Tir Gofal, and how they affected recreational access in rural Wales. This chapter presents how these schemes caused many changes in the agricultural practices in Wales. These changes positively effected recreation opportunities in Wale's agricultural landscape and changed relationships between "rural and urban and new demands for rural access, all of which now reflect the interdependence of environmental health, local social and economic needs, and access to land for recreation".

Chapter 6, by Lindroth and Soisalon-Soinimen, discusses how a historic tourist product was developed in Loviisa, Finland. The goal of the tourism development was to create an image of Loviisa as a historic tourist destination and to create new products in alignment with the historic theme. Lindroth and Soisalon-Soinimen identified that without the support of the tourist office, as well as the National Board of Antiquities, development would not have progressed significantly. Also, the European Union funding helped with training and expert help. The professionals and project leaders involved in the process shaped the project through their enthusiastic actions described in detail in the case study.

Chapter 7, by Bohn and Elbe, describes the story of one man and how his vision for the municipality of Alvdalen, Sweden transformed the town into tourist destination. The most important element in this story is that this man created a destination without being an expert in the field of tourism development. He used the current notion of relationship marketing to achieve successful development without knowing its full value as a marketing tool. This chapter underlines also the importance of cooperation among stakeholders involved in tourism. Voase identifies factors that these three cases share: the role of the individual entrepreneur in developing the product, the consumption of natural resources, and tourism focusing on past heritage.

The third part of the book focuses on the socio-cultural context of tourism in four case studies. Chapter 8, by Finn, discusses the change of European football from being a fan's sport to being a spectator's sport. Finn identifies current sport marketing approaches, which construct a product, or experience where fans' identity doesn't fit with current "civilized" consumption processes, and instead, spectators' identity fits with those images and procedures promoted by sport marketers inside and outside football stadiums.

Chapter 9, by Baron-Yelles, focuses on tourism and the politics of nature-based tourism and how the 'Grand Site National at La Point du Raz" underwent changes in tourism provision services and infrastructure to accommodate tourists' demands. In this chapter, the reader can observe trade offs between natural resources and the provision of tourism experiences. This case study also shows how a destination responded to stakeholders' opinions about coastal conservation, public access and allowable visitation levels.

Chapter 10, by Lohmann and Mundt, focuses on maturing markets for cultural tourism in Germany. The chapter discusses how tourism shapes culture through the exchange of experiences between travelers and residents in a destination. Travel and tourism are discussed as constituents of culture. Lohmann and Mundt conclude travel has become an important part of people's lives and in turn are exposed to other cultures, which can affect their own.

Chapter 11, by East and Luger, focuses on youth culture and tourism development in the Austrian mountains. East and Luger share interesting insights on youths' reactions and behavioral adjustments toward tourists. They report that youth who are involved in tourism through family businesses tend to be more respectful of tourists. Youth in rural mountain areas were found to be interested in urban experiences.

Voase concludes these four final cases have three underlying themes. The first theme is that the consumption experience is staged or produced. This theme brings to mind MacCannell's (1976) notion of front and back stage realities. Front stage is the presentation of a destination to visitors, whereas back stage is the real or truer nature of a destination. The second theme is that commercialization and commodification are not synonymous terms. The third theme is environments are often manipulated to influence people. Voase explains how sport environments have changed and caused spectators to also change.

Overall, this book is useful to practitioners and academics because it provides case studies offered by people with close connections to the tourism industry, thus providing an insider's viewpoint. Voase, as both a practitioner in resort tourism marketing and an academic, effectively brings together case studies which focus on Western European tourism and communicates concepts which shift 'old' tourism principles to 'new'. His introductions of each collection of cases (i.e., economic, political and socio-cultural) are insightful. Voase, however, does not discuss the introduction of Euro currency in January 2002. This is an important change to the economic structure of all countries-members of the EU and their socio-cultural development. The interconnection of the EU countries through the common currency might create a feeling of a larger community, which potentially affects tourism through cultural, social, political and economic of EU member-countries.

Finally, Voase's concluding piece is insightful. His conclusions identify demographic, environmental and consumer trends that will influence tourism in Western Europe during the 21st century. He concludes an aging population, global warming, and active and passive consumer segments are elements of a 'new' tourism. All three trends will potentially affect future research in the field of tourism development and marketing. Both academics and practitioners should be aware of these trends. Voase as a practitioner and academic makes a meaningful contribution through these themed case studies and the identification of major themes and trends of tourism in Western Europe.

Ecotourism - Responsible and Sustainable Tourism

Eco-tourism

Responsible tourism means all tourism directly dependent on the use of natural life e.g. wildlife and landscape. Nature based tourism include eco-tourism and mass tourism. Uncontrolled mass tourism continues to contribute to the degradation of natural & cultural significance (commercialization of Culture) thus leading or causing loss of biological and cultural biodiversity, and important sources of income. Nature based tourism offers a way of financing unique ecosystems preservation. This provides opportunity for the community living near the protected areas to benefit economically e.g. employment opportunity. But Nature based tourism & travel while sustaining eco-system also degrades them. Much nature based tourism falls short of social responsibility to the local community.

Sustainable tourism is developed and managed in such a way that all tourism activities will focus on a heritage resource, natural and cultural which can be continued imminently and every effort is made to maintain the resource to perpetuity. 

According to hector Ceballos-Lascurian (1983) ecotourism means "the tourism that involves travelling to relatively undisturbed natural area with the object of admiring, studying and enjoying the scenery and its wild plants and animals as well as cultural features found there."

Eco-tourism embraces four basic elements:- 

• The natural environment as the primary attraction and the cultural environment playing a secondary role 

• The sustainable use of the ecological and cultural environment. 

• Focus on education and the interpretation of the resource 

• Provision of the benefit to the host community 

Tourism is about people and places where one group of people leave, visit and pass through places, the people who make the trip possible and the people encountered in the tour, it involves travellers, host communities and governments.

In tourism industry the destination is perhaps one of the most important elements. The destination region represents the raison d'tre for tourism and the tourist attraction at the destination generates the visit. Tourism product is consumed where it is produced (destination). Hence the destination comes under considerable pressure from high levels of demand focused both in time and at specific sites for example the warm East Africa, Indian Ocean coastal beaches during the northern hemisphere winter.

Tourist pressures can lead to alteration of the tourism resource and as tourism resource and as tourist demand continues to raise so have many destinations around the world succumbed to environmental degradation. The impact that some form of tourism development has on the environment has raised concern among environmentalist and other constituents. Therefore professional management and planning of destination are critical if tourism is to contribute to their conservation and to be perceived as an acceptable industry in a world whose survival is threatened.

Tourism demand unspoilt environment in which to operate. It is essential that tour operation should be developed and managed in such a way that as to protect the natural assets. We subscribe to the fact that the extent to which tourism is developed, planned and controlled in an orderly and coordinated manner will affect the long-term quality of the tourism product and subsequently the success of the hospitality Industry. While tourism can be a catalyst for development, it is important for the government agencies plan and develop tourism carefully so that the benefit can be optimized without creating social and environmental problems

Low impact forms of tourism counteracts the effects of mass tourism that poses a number of challenges on the resource base i.e. environment, society, and economy. Low impact forms of tourism create a balance between environment quality and resource utilization. This is mainly aimed at empowering local communities in managing their natural resources that is creating an incentive to conserve the biological resource in the environment by allowing the beneficial effects from tourism filter down to the individual families and households.

Alternative tourism is seen as forms of tourism that are consistent with natural social and community values and which allows both the host and the guest to enjoy positive and worthwhile interaction and shared experience it is also known variously as ecotourism, nature tourism sustainable tourism environmentally friendly, environmentally sensitive, ecological compatible ecologically sound or Green and eco-tour such as Walking tours, Birds Safari, Camel safaris Guided nature walks, horse riding safaris, bicycle tours, home and farm stays, youth tourism.

Many destinations marketed as responsible tourism does not consider the local community development, economical, social welfare and human rights. Indeed majority of them care less about the resource as long as it brings the "green bill ". There must be concern with staff and tourist education i.e. the expected visitors' behaviour. Thus in this, nature based tourism is formulated as sustainable development. The concept of set principles, Ties 1991 defined it as responsible travel to natural areas that conserve the environment and sustains the well being of the local people.

It is now fashionable to look at tourism development in the context of "sustainability" "alternative tourism" "green tourism" all of which have a particular meaning to different people but majority of this are just eco-labels or marketing and PR slongs. Sustainable tourism is that which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Role of Tourism Sector in Climate Change - A Perspective

Role of Tourism Sector in Climate Change - A Perspective

Undeniable evidences throughout the globe indicate that global climate has changed compared to the pre-industrial era and is expected to continue the trend through 21st century and beyond. The Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)1 documented that global mean temperature has increased approximately 0.76°C between 1850-1899 and 2001-2005 and it has concluded that most of the observed changes in global average temperatures since the mid-20th century is 'very likely' the result of human activities that are increasing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere.

As a consequence, we observe various manifestations of climate change including ocean warming, continental-average temperatures, temperature extremes and wind patterns. Widespread decreases in glaciers and ice caps and warming ocean surface temperature have contributed to sea level rise of 1.8 mm per year from 1961 to 2003, and approximately 3.1 mm per year from 1993 to 2003.

The IPCC has projected that the pace of climate change is to accelerate with continued greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions at or above the current rates. IPCC best estimate suggested that globally averaged surface temperatures will rise by 1.8°C to 4.0°C by the end of the 21st century. Even with a stabilized atmospheric concentration of GHGs at the current level, the earth would continue to warm as a result of past GHG emissions as well as the thermal inertia of the oceans.

Future changes in temperatures and other important features of climate will manifest themselves in different fashions across various regions of the globe. It is likely that the tropical cyclones (typhoons and hurricanes) will become more severe, with greater wind speeds and heavier precipitation. This will be associated with continuing increase of tropical sea surface temperatures. Extra-tropical storm tracks are projected to shift towards the pole, with consequent changes in wind, precipitation and temperature patterns. The decreases in snow cover are also projected to continue.

The environmental and economic risks associated with predictions for climate change are considerable. The gravity of the situation has resulted in various recent international policy debates. The IPCC has come out with firm conclusions that climate change would hinder the ability of several nations to achieve sustainable development. The Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change found that the present cost reducing GHG emissions is much smaller than the future costs of economic and social disruption due to unmitigated climate change. Every country as well as economic sectors will have to strive with the challenges of climate change through adaptation and mitigation.

Tourism is no exception and in the decades ahead, climate change will play a pivotal role in tourism development and management. With its close links to the environment, tourism is considered to be a highly climate-sensitive sector. The regional manifestations of climate change will be highly relevant for tourism sector that demands adaptation by all major tourism stakeholders. In fact, it is not a remote future for the tourism sector since varied impacts of a changing climate are already evident at destinations around the world.

As a flip side of the above story, tourism sector itself is a major contributor climate change through GHG emissions, especially, from the transport and accommodation of tourists. Tourism sector must play a proactive role to reduce its GHG emissions significantly in harmony with the 'Vienna Climate Change Talks 2007' which recognized that global emissions of GHG need to peak in the next 10-15 years and then be reduced to very low levels, well below half of levels in 2000 by mid-century. The major challenge ahead of tourism sector is to meet the international sustainable development agenda along with managing increased energy use and GHG emissions from massive growth in activities projected for the sector.

The concern of the tourism community regarding the challenge of climate change has visibly increased over the last five years. The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and other partner organizations convened the First International Conference on Climate Change and Tourism in Djerba, Tunisia in 2003. The Djerba Declaration recognized the complex inter-linkages between the tourism sector and climate change and established a framework for on adaptation and mitigation. A number of individual tourism industry associations and businesses have also shown great concerns by voluntarily adopting GHG emission reduction targets, engaging in public education campaigns on climate change and supporting government climate change legislation.

Direct impacts

Climate determines seasonality in tourism demand and influences the operating costs, such as heating-cooling, snowmaking, irrigation, food and water supply and the likes. Thus, changes in the length and quality of climate-dependent tourism seasons (i.e., sun-and-sea or winter sports holidays) could have considerable implications for competitive relationships between destinations and, therefore, the profitability of tourism enterprises. As a result, the competitive positions of some popular holiday areas are anticipated to decline, whereas other areas are expected to improve.

The Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) has concluded that changes in a number of weather extremes are probable as a result of projected climate change. This includes higher maximum temperature and more hot days, greater storm intensity and peak winds, more intense precipitation and longer and more severe droughts in many areas. These changes will have direct bearing on tourism industry through increased infrastructure damage, additional emergency preparedness requirements, higher operating expenses and business interruptions.

Indirect impacts

Since environmental conditions are critical resources for tourism, a wide-range of environmental changes due to climate change will have severe adverse impacts on tourism. Changes in water availability, loss of biodiversity, reduced landscape aesthetic, increased natural hazards, coastal erosion and inundation, damage to infrastructure along with increasing incidence of vector-borne diseases will all impact tourism to varying degrees. Mountain regions and coastal destinations are considered particularly sensitive to climate-induced environmental change, as are nature-based tourism market segments. Climate change related security risks have been identified in a number of regions where tourism is highly important to local-national economies. Tourists, particularly international tourists, are averse to political instability and social unrest. Reduction in tourism demand will affect many economies in form of reduction in income (Gross Domestic Product). This may result into social unrest amongst the people regarding distribution of wealth which will lead to further decline in tourism demand for the destination.

Tourists have great adaptive capacity with relative freedom to avoid destinations impacted by climate change or shifting the timing of travel to avoid unfavourable climate conditions. Suppliers of tourism services and tourism operators at specific destinations have less adaptive capacity. Large tour operators, who do not own the infrastructure, are in a better position to adapt to changes at destinations because they can respond to clients demands and provide information to influence clients' travel choices. Destination communities and tourism operators with large investment in immobile capital assets (e.g., hotel, resort complex, marina or casino) have the least adaptive capacity. However, the dynamic nature of the tourism industry and its ability to cope with a range of recent major shocks, such as SARS, terrorism attacks in a number of nations, or the Asian tsunami, suggests a relatively high adaptive capacity within the tourism industry.

Measuring Carbon Emissions from Tourism

The tourism sector is not defined by the goods and services it produces, but by the nature of the consumers of a wide range of distinctive goods and services. This suggests that tourism is defined on the basis of consumption rather than produc¬tion. Given that tourism is consumer-defined, it is important to define a tourist. World Tourism Organisation defines tourism as consisting of 'the activities of persons trav¬elling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes.' This means that business travellers and 'visiting friends and relatives' travellers are also considered to be tourists as well as holidaymakers.

In context of accounting for energy use and the resultant carbon dioxide emissions, it is essential to distinguish between the direct from indirect impacts of tourism activities. Direct impacts are those that result directly from tourist activities, while indirect impacts are associated with intermediate inputs from second or third (or further) round processes. Becken and Patterson measured carbon emission from tourism activities in New Zealand. The methodology they opted was primarily focussed on direct impacts. Their methodology focussed only on carbon dioxide emissions as the main greenhouse gas resulting from the combustion of fossil fuels and did not consider the emission of other greenhouse gases. This omission is acceptable for fuel combustion from land-born activities (e.g. transport or accommodation) where carbon dioxide constitutes the major greenhouse gas. It had been estimated that carbon dioxide accounts only for about one-third of the total emissions. Thus, a factor of 2.7 had been suggested to include effects from other emissions such as nitrous oxides etc.