Tourism Review Online Magazine - 09/2009 by Tourism Review Digital Network

SEPTEMBER, 2009

Dear readers, Have you ever thought about opening a special restaurant that would make everyone twitter about? Did you think about Hobbit Restaurant, Prison Restaurant or even Dark Restaurant? They are all there. Read the Heritage part for some inspiration. Many restaurants make use of the many advantages of internet booking and they are not the only ones in the travel world. Internet became a great source of information as well as revenue. Read the Professional supplement about the role of the net in today’s travel trade. The Medical part focuses on the various differences in the terms and concepts the spa industry uses around the world. For those who are not really into baths, massages and similar stuff and seek something more active – check out the Adventure supplement devoted to whale watching trips, equestrian holidays, and unique tours like “Dinner with Tasmanian Devil”. If you want more, let us invite you to the country with pristine nature but also serious economical problems. Bangladesh offers adventurous holidays, sightseeing, nature tours, but also a portrait of a land facing political instability and poverty. Milada Sovadinova Editor

CONTENTS

SEPTEMBER, 2009

H E R I TAG E

MEdicAL / SPA

RestauRant as a Destination? It’s time for something special – special restaurants to be precise. Let’s visit a popular place in Manila where you will be served by little ‘hobbits’. Perhaps you prefer nurses; then go to Riga and get ready for a straightjacket. Maybe you want something adventurous then The Clink and their prison food is your option.

CONTENTS

Medical Wellness vs. HealtH spas Medical spa, health spa, curative spa – so many terms, so many concepts. Spas in Europe and the USA often use the same words with different meaning. Let’s focus on the differences within the spa industry between various regions as regards the terms, concepts, systems, historical background as well as the latest trends.

HERITAGE: Restaurant as a Destination?........4

MEDICAL: Medical Wellness vs. Health Spas................................................36

The Hobbit House Restaurant Full of Dwarfs...........................................................5

Medical Tourism Worldwide from Past to Present. .............................................37

The Clink Serves Not Only the Prison Food. .................................................................8

World Wise Wellness – Global Options in a Mobile Society…..................................39

Hospitālis: Medical Adventure with Outstanding Cuisine. ..............................10

Health Spa vs. Medicine: Similar Terms, Different Concepts..............................42

Inamo Restaurant for the New Generation. ...........................................................12

Health Tourism in Eastern Europe – A System Change Needed…........................45

O.NOIR: It Is Better in the Dark. ....................................................................................14

In the Style of Singapore: Environment-Friendly Spas….....................................49 Medical Tourism Facilitators | EUROPE...........................................................................66

Professional

De ST I naT Ion

Surfing the World Wide Web Thousands of websites offer the best travel deals and promote themselves as the one stop shop for a traveler. However, what is the role of internet in the tourism world really? Who books more online – men or women? Who is most likely to write a customer review online?

Bangladesh Beautiful Bangladesh! The land of Royal Bengal Tigers and the greatest mangrove forest of the world. Visit the Sandwip Island, a former pirate stronghold, or Srimangal with miles of tea gardens. Visit the heaven of eco-tourists!

Professional: Surfing the World Wide Web...........15

Women & Oldies Are Becoming ‘Goldies’ for Online Travel Market.................16

Destination: Bangladesh...............................................54

Internet: A Powerful Source of Tourism Information. ......................................18

Bangladesh: History and Natural Beauty. ..............................................................55

Your Hotel’s Website Is Your Ultimate Sales Tool!. ...............................................20

Euromonitor International: Travel and Tourism in Bangladesh..................57

The Expanding Role of User-Generated Hotel Reviews........................................22

The Sundarbans: World’s Largest Mangrove Ecosystem.....................................59

6 Lessons from the Best Marketing Campaign Ever................................................24

SWOT Analysis of the Bangladeshi Tourism Sector...............................................61 Discover the Hidden Treasures of Sandwip Island...............................................64

AdVEnturE

Medical Tourism Facilitators | EUROPE...........................................................................66

Traveling To The animal Kingdom Whales! Aren’t they magnificent? They are not the only fauna treasures you can see by the Vancouver Island. If you go further to the north you will reach the polar bear capital of the world and see the white loners yourself. For all horse lovers – check out the unique trails in the Central Europe. And we have something even for those who dare to watch bats and ‘devils’!

Adventure: Traveling to the Animal Kingdom......................................................26

Fairs & Exhibitions T r av e l / T o u r i s m

i n

s e P T e m B e r

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B y

r e g i o n s

Vancouver Island’s Teaming Waters: The Serengeti Plains of the Marine World........................................................................................................27

Fairs & Exhibitions: Travel/Tourism in SEPTEMBER 2009 by regions..................................................67

Austin Congress Bridge Bats. ........................................................................................30

Western Europe..................................................................................................................68

Czech Republic: Horse Riding Holidays Growing in Popularity.......................31

CENTRAL Europe..................................................................................................................70

The Polar Bear Capital of the World. .......................................................................33

North America. ..................................................................................................................71

Devil Restaurant: Dinner with the Devil.................................................................35

Asia & Pacific.....................................................................................................................72

H E R I TAG E Restaurant as a Destination? It’s time for something special – special restaurants to be precise. Let’s visit a popular place in Manila where you will be served by little ‘hobbits’. Perhaps you prefer nurses; then go to Riga and get ready for a straightjacket. Maybe you want something adventurous then The Clink and their prison food is your option.

H eritage : R e staurant a s a D e st inat i on ?

The Hobbit House Restaurant Full of Dwarfs

hile the Philippine capital Manila has no dearth of the strange and exotic to mesmerize visitors, the Hobbit House – called ‘the world’s most unusual restaurant’ – would be hard to trump. Located in Marcelo H. del Pilar street, between Arquiza and Padre Faura streets, the restaurant is staffed entirely by midgets. Billing itself as “The only restaurant in the world owned, managed and staffed entirely by Hobbits”, the Hobbit House has managed to survive in an ultra-competitive area with its unique offer of fine dining, more than 100 worldwide beers, diverse ofS e ptemb er, 2 0 0 9

ferings of live music and, of course, its unforgettable staff of ‘Hobbits’. The restaurant was founded over 30 years ago by Peace Corps volunteer and college professor Jim Turner, a full-sized American bachelor in his late 70s. The inspiration for the establishment’s theme was, of course, J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit, a novel written in 1937 that gave birth to the contemporary fantasy genre. Subtitled ‘Tales of the Middle Earth’, the novel’s author surely never could have foreseen that his opus would be brought to life in faraway Manila in the form of a restaurant and a rock/blues/folk music venue. The bistro with the world’s tiniest waiters and waitresses offers two levels: the main restaurant area downstairs with its nightly musical offerings of folk, rock, country, jazz and blues, plus another, smaller area upstairs called ‘The Hobbit Hideaway’ for customers more interested in the pub attractions of pool tables and dart boards. Most of the tiny waiters and waitresses have been with the Hobbit House for years. One waitress, Josie Versoza, 38, has been with the establishment nearly 20 years. Originally from Catbalogan in Northern Samar, Josie came to Manila with family members, seeking employment. She was working at a fabrics company when she heard about the opening at the Hobbit House. Merely boasting a novel theme, however, does not automatically guarantee success for a restaurant/nightclub in this competitive environment.

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Years before, a restaurant run by the Friendship Club of the Deaf, Inc. opened a theme eatery in Luneta Park featuring a staff composed entirely of deaf mutes. Customers were required to write their selections from the menu down on pads. The waitresses and waiters, though, proved virtually impossible to summon for drink refills or other needs, thus forfeiting most return business. Today the establishment has been reduced to a small snack shop, though the proceeds still go to the deaf charity. The Hobbit House, however, unburdened by such drawbacks, continues to draw amused, amazed and delighted patrons from around the world year after year with its tiny, charming staffers. A few years ago, the Hobbit House made the local news in Manila by hosting a ‘Teeny-Weeny Wedding’ between two of its staff members. The wedding ceremony was attended by a proudly beaming Jim Turner.

H eritage : R e staurant a s a D e st inat i on ?

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Another newscast featured a six-foot-plus basketball player trying his hand at performing a waiter shift at the Hobbit House, presenting an eyeopening contrast to his coworkers, most of whom reached only to his waist. The Hobbit House’s staffers have occasionally taken some time off to perform as a traveling troupe in dance and variety shows in Singapore and elsewhere in Asia, including one member, Egoy, who does a memorable impersonation of Elvis. The diminutive waiters and waitresses present a surreal sight as they circulate among the tables, carrying trays almost as big as they are.

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The concept has been so successful that there is now even a second location, at a tourist resort in the central Philippines on Boracay. The establishment has been written about in guidebooks around the world, clearly reinforcing its well-deserved reputation as ‘the world’s most unusual restaurant’. The Hobbit House, Marcelo H. del Pilar, Manila, Philippines Photos: TR, Flickr http://www.hobbithousemanila.com http://newsgroups.derkeiler.com

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The Clink Serves Not Only the Prison Food diet of bread and water. Things change. On May 11th 2009, The Clink re-opened at Her Majesty’s Prison High Down, Sutton, Surrey. This time, however, it is a restaurant serving gourmet and wholesome food to prison staff, visitors and the public.

The Experience

rom the 12th century until 1780, The Clink was Britain’s most notorious prison, detaining heretics and priests, debtors and rebel rousers. With the clink of a lock, inmates were condemned to a

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The Clink offers a memorable dining experience. Patrons enter via the prison gates, following a security check, and cross a yard to a barred door. There, patrons enter a sixty by seventy feet dining room, illuminated by computer controlled lighting. From the reception area’s ten foot etched glass panel, customers will be led by a prisoner-turnedwaiter, to prisoner-designed and built tables and elegant seating, set beneath an exhibition of British prisoner artworks. The restaurant seats eighty customers at eight tables, served by ten inmates. Working with The Clink's designer, Derek Taylor, the furniture in The Clink has been designed and constructed by prisoners, hand crafted and signed by the inmate carpenter who produced the piece. An elevated area behind etched glass provides a smaller group of customers with privacy, while offering a clear view of the open plan food preparation area. With nine more prisoners at work in the kitchen (under the guidance of Chef Crisci and his ex-prisoner chef trainee), the open plan feature includes a Moltenia bespoke stove and a state of the art food preparation area.

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H eritage : R e staurant a s a D e st inat i on ? Locally sourced food, including vegetables grown in the prison garden, is principally wholesome and healthy British fare, with two sittings at breakfast (0630 – 0930) and lunch (1200 – 1400), primarily for staff and visitors. Invited groups and specialist events generate exquisite gourmet menus, using the finest locally sourced ingredients.

The Project The Clink is the idea of the Catering Services Manager at H.M. Prison High Down, Chef Alberto Crisci. A fully operational restaurant is now open INSIDE the walls of the gaol, operated entirely by prisoners, serving up to 1000 meals a day to staff, visitors and commercial customers. The restaurant is self sustaining and non-profit making, and is operated by Eco-Actif Services CIC. With the commitment of the prison's Governor, Peter Dawson, the restaurant is now open and in full operation, as part of a multi-million pound investment in the improvement of prison facilities. With no additional tax payer investment, nor extra staff costs, the restaurant is a considered and practical move toward a solution to problems faced by lives interrupted. There are easy jokes about doing porridge, or thyme served, but a prison sentence is no joke.

H eritage : R e staurant a s a D e st inat i on ?

Hard time is hard fact. When a prisoner is released, he faces what seem insurmountable problems, including health, housing, family and employment. The Clink represents a genuine opportunity for change. It offers every inductee the chance to gain catering qualifications, experience within an exciting and operational business, and guidance to a full time job upon release.

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In turn, this provides ex-offenders with self respect, secure housing and a stable family life. A decent life in a decent society. One High Down inmate spent the last year of his sentence on secondment at an external restaurant. With Chef Crisci’s work with Surrey Job Match, three ex-offenders left HMP High Down to high skill catering positions. The Clink will garner a national reputation for excellence that will increase pathways to employment for hundreds of men, or even more. While security at HMP High Down remains the primary concern, new systems have been introduced to ensure the appropriate screening of prisoners, staff and patrons. The Clink project and its associated educational courses will benefit hundreds of prisoners over the coming years. The Clink, Her Majesty's Prison High Down, High Down Lane, Sutton, Surrey, England, SM2 5PJ, UK Photos: The Clink http://www.theclinkonline.com

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Hospitālis: Medical Adventure with Outstanding Cuisine

then took the idea and creatively visualized it into the current form. Some thematic restaurants may lack unified style, but in Hospitālis the balance between self-ironic black humour of doctors and highclass restaurant is maintained both in the interior design as well as the menu itself created by an experienced chef Aris Bendiks. Both floors of Hospitālis take the hospital-like design to the highest level – sterile white walls and ceiling, floor with shiny tiles, walls decorated with polished surgical instruments, medical literature in book-shelves... For guests with specific preferences the restaurant offers unconventional meals in a stylized operating room, gynecology division or even dental office. Numerous screens located in all rooms of the restaurant show various hospitalrelated episodes from famous movies. Marita Bundule, the director of the restaurant commented: “Hospitālis breaks all generally accepted pre-assumptions about hospital as a place

you want to enjoy extraordinary Soviet hospital atmosphere head to the capital city of Latvia, Riga, where you can find a unique themed restaurant aptly called Hospitālis. The restaurant was developed in cooperation with several Latvian hospitals and the local Museum of History of Medicine

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that donated authentic hospital-related articles that now decorate the interior of the restaurant. The author of the whole concept is Maris Revalds, the chairman of the board of a leading medical institution of Riga called Health Center 4. Two artists of new generation, Zane Tetere and Guntars Gravins,

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H eritage : R e staurant a s a D e st inat i on ?

where various painful manipulations are performed. This is a place of surprise, where you can experience things you are usually afraid of with smile on your lips, and enjoy a tasty meal.” In order to make the visit to Hospitālis even more interesting, go downstairs to the basement, where you will be accompanied by red-and-black coloured wall-drawings of nurses in zestful poses. In the basement the usual coolness of hospital is replaced by hazy atmosphere. Here you can also find unusual stylish bathrooms – one of them leads to S e ptemb er, 2 0 0 9

the kingdom of mirrors, where you can treat the inferiority complex seeing yourself in multiple dimensions; the other is more dolorous – it is designed for patients with megalomania. Passing through the lobby of visions decorated with baldachins with entangled butterflies you get into a madhouse with upholstered walls and ceilings, original beds and modern chairs with straightjackets as well as a door leading to nowhere... For those who still expect a bit more there is the opportunity of enjoying a meal with live white mice. The menu of Hospitālis is in line with the subject proving that Hospitālis is not just fun, but a serious restaurant, too. For those in hurry and for unpretentious diners a nostalgic hospital lunch is offered. Surely, the meal is served in plain dishes, but as for taste it does not differ from other top-quality restaurants. If you love adventures and have strong nerves, you can find various dishes in the menu disguised under Latin names. Would you go for “Debilitas Dementio Hysterica Universalis Gravis”? Don’t worry; it is nothing more than a cheese and truffle soup. The madhouse menu also contains an eerie warning: ‘While being served the patients’ (guests’) moving abilities can be restricted!’ The strange message becomes clear once you are served a Madhouse Soup which you are forced to sip from the spoon given by a nurse, while yourself being dressed in a straightjacket. According to the meal you dare to order you will be given surgical instruments instead of traditional cutlery. Cocktails can be drunk from test-tubes using glass tubes instead of straws. Hospitālis, Stabu Street 14, Riga, Latvia Photos: Hospitālis http://www.hospitalis.lv

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Inamo Restaurant for the New Generation

matter how good the food may be in any restaurant, as long as the service is insufficient, customers might leave unsatisfied. People often get tired of waiting to be served and particu-

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larly frustrated when human waiters get the order wrong and bring an erroneous dish. These were the precise thoughts and experiences of the owners of London Soho’s Inamo restaurant, where customers

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H eritage : R e staurant a s a D e st inat i on ? have touch pads at their disposal to order dishes. Inamo is a pioneering Oriental fusion restaurant and bar where the control of the dining experience is placed firmly in the guest’s hands. Above the tables there are projectors to obtain the virtual display, and there is a circular touchpad to allow for navigation in the menu, which includes pictures of the appetizers, main courses, even drinks. Ordering is as simple as pointing and clicking, and a wait-person will deliver your meal to you. From the moment a customer sits down, the user can then select their “placemat” like selecting wallpaper for Windows. The interactive system also allows customers to choose the décor of the restaurant, depending on their mood. They are able to select from a range of animated sounds and choose different types of lighting and colors for the table. It is a little bit like being in your own living room, at your own computer, yet with the benefit of enjoying luxury food whilst somebody brings it to the table you have chosen. The interactive style of Inamo does not mean that the food is not superb. The famous chef Alexander Ziverts is one of the best Oriental fusion chefs specializing in Japanese, Thai and Chinese food.

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Just in case guests become curious about how their food is being prepared, they can always refer to the live feed to the kitchen via their touch pads. Restaurant staff is also at hand to help people; just they are not as relied upon as elsewhere. The touch pad system is perfect to suit a range of moods. If the evening is going well and a couple is, for example, on a date then romantic music can be played during the meal. If things are not quite going so well, then a range of games are available on the interactive system. If things end up being disastrous, or if both decide to leave, the touch pad also allows guests to order a taxi home.

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So is the Inamo the wave of the future when it comes to restaurants? Of course, one has to ask if mixing too much technology removes the human element of restaurants. Do you want a robot to bring out your meal? Many would probably ask how well the robot can do the job, and if it requires tips. Inamo, 134-136 Wardour Street, Soho, London, W1F 8ZP, UK Photos: Inamo http://www.inamo-restaurant.com http://www.coolest-gadgets.com

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O.NOIR: It Is Better in the Dark

fter three years of stimulating Montrealers' senses and stomachs, O.NOIR is excited to bring its extraordinary culinary adventure to Toronto. Opened in June 2009, the Canada's first-ever "Dine in the Dark" restaurant now invites Torontonians to experience food, drink and conversation like never before – without their sight! "It's a sensual dining experience like no other!" says O.NOIR owner and founder Moe Alameddine. "When you eat food in the dark, your remaining senses are heightened to savor the smell and taste of food. Even simple, everyday dishes like potatoes and yogurt take on a culinary flare." Din-

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ers select dishes from a set menu and also have the choice of picking a “surprise” option for one or all of their courses to truly put their taste buds to the test. But O.NOIR housed on the lower level of a hotel does more than just fire the imagination and stimulate the senses. After a few hours in complete darkness (that's right, no flashlights, matches, cell phones, cigarette lighters or luminous watches), customers gain a better understanding of what it is like to be blind – just like the restaurant's entire wait staff. Already the rage in Europe, Australia, L.A., New York and Montreal this socially conscious concept sprang from Jorge Spielmann, a blind pastor in Zurich who used to blindfold his dinner guests at his home so they could share his eating experience. In 1999, Spielmann opened Blindekuh (German for Blind Cow), a project aimed at teaching the sighted about the sightless world, and provide jobs for blind people. "It's not the easiest of undertakings" explains Alameddine. In addition to the creativity behind the concept, Alameddine said was also drawn to the idea of creating jobs for people with vision loss, a population that experiences roughly a 70% unemployment rate.

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Among the 30 employees at O.NOIR, Alameddine said 10 are blind. Individuals with vision loss act as servers, also referred to as “guides.” They’re tasked not just with bringing food and drink to diners but with leading them in and out of one of O.NOIR’s three darkened dining rooms, capable of seating a total of 100 people. "How lucky am I," Alameddine proudly states. "I get to do something I love and make a difference". Good cause or not, O.NOIR offers everything you'd expect from a fine restaurant – great service, a delicious menu... plus, a culinary experience like no other! O.NOIR Toronto, 620 Church Street, Toronto, Ontario, M4Y 2G2, Canada O.NOIR Montreal, 1631 Ste-Catherine West, Montreal, Quebec H3H 1L8, Canada Photos: TR, O.Noir http://www.onoir.com

P r o fe s s i o n al Surfing the World Wide Web Thousands of websites offer the best travel deals and promote themselves as the one stop shop for a traveler. However, what is the role of internet in the tourism world really? Who books more online â&#x20AC;&#x201C; men or women? Who is most likely to write a customer review online?

P rof essi onal : Sur f ing the Wor l d Wi d e Web

Women & Oldies Are Becoming 'Goldies' for Online Travel Market be initiated by the Internet, but made offline via call centers (Merrill Lynch). That means, cumulatively, more than two thirds (2/3) of all travel bookings in the world are influenced by or made via online reservation websites. With such a huge success of online travel industry, it is interesting and important to discover the demographic roots of this skyrocketing trend. Who are these people digging the Internet and arranging vacations and business trips for their families and colleagues? A recent survey and statistical study made by IVRA Holding on its worldwide travel reservation system OrangeSmile.com revealed a number of interesting facts and trends.

Trend 1: Women in charge of travel reservations made online

2009 approximately 44% of all travel reservations are to be generated through the Internet (40% in 2008, 34% in 2007, 29% in 2006). Moreover, another 30% of all travel reservations are to

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As the study shows females exceed the psychological milestone of 50% of the total bookings made in 2009. That record is quite interesting, taking into account the fact that, in the year 2006, the gender distribution has been fixed on the 51.3 / 48.8% level in favor of male-made bookings. We expect the trend to continue reaching 51.1 % of female made bookings in the year 2011. What drives this gender trend? From the survey analysis we have identified the following four possible reasons that make this trend happen. 1. Women are becoming more active in their business sphere and, besides that, are more often trav-

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eling alone. That one, as well as the next reason, is a consequence of a global feminization. 2. Despite the fact that an average female income is still lower than male's one, women's average salary is growing faster. That certainly increases the degree of freedom for women, which they are enjoying in their spendings and, more particularly, in traveling spendings. 3. Women are closing the gap in the access to and acquaintance with online technologies. 4. The well-known generic fact, that women are responsible for family travels empowers the three abovementioned reasons and finish up the explanation of this trend. As a side-fact from the OrangeSmile.com callcenter statistics: females contact (phone calls, emails) the support center much more often than

Study indicates dissatisfaction among online travel shoppers

Only 46% of U.S. leisure travelers who shop for or buy travel online enjoy the experience, and a still smaller portion, 34%, believe the sites present choices clearly and meaningfully, according to Forrester Research data released in August 09. In addition, Forrester reported, 26% of these online shoppers would consider turning to a good offline travel agency. That finding suggested brick-and-mortar agencies could be the beneficiaries, but it is important to note this is because the online competition is so poor. Tr avelwe ek ly.c om

P rof essi onal : Sur f ing the Wor l d Wi d e Web

males. In year 2008-2009 we have registered that 73% of all queries were made by women and only 27 % by men.

Trend 2: Adults 55+ start using online travel sites intensively What is the age distribution of our bookers?. The strongest trend discovered in the survey is that the share of senior travel bookers is rapidly growing. While in the year 2006 the booking share was 13.9

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% out of total bookings, in the year 2008 we recorded the share of 16,7 %, where in the current year 2009 we expect it to reach the level of 18,5 %. The three-year increase is, as in the case of women, quite dramatic: 32 percent. Our predicted share of seniors in 2011 equals 21.5 %. What has influenced such a trend? Let's look closer at the reasons collected from the survey analysis. There are the following four major influences: 1. Growing acquaintance with the Internet. In the beginning of the century seniors were under-represented in the Internet domains. Nowadays, almost every house has an access to the Internet and seniors begin to learn and use the opportunities provided online. 2. Population is aging in general. According to the research of National Institute of Aging, in the developed countries the percentage of adults 55+ will grow from 24.1% to 31.5% during the decade 2000-2010. This global trend directly influences our reported Internet usage trend. 3. The Internet-aware 'young' newcomers are jumping into the 55+ category. 4. Social factors, such as relatively stable income from the pension funds, increasing quality of medicine support and social care trigger the phenomenon of rising senior tourism. Looking from a global prospective, due to demographic and social changes, senior tourism will be – at least middle-term (until 2030) – the 'engine of growth' in tourism (Forschungsgemeinschaft Urlaub und Reisen 2004). The number of travelers will increase circa 3.4 million by 2030. Subsequently though, this volume will shrink and arrive at merely 1.5 million more travelers in 2050 than the current value. As such, the proportion of the older elderly

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will be unmistakably higher and the proportion of the young elderly will be lower than at the present. Concluding, the global trends on feminization, aging and growing Internet-awareness of previously under-represented seniors and females, influence rapid increase of the share of these two population groups in travel reservations made online. Women and oldies are the 'goldies' for online travel market? It seems to be true, since the abovementioned trends will continue at least until the year 2030. By Egor Bondarev (IVRA Holding) IVRA Holding successfully operates in the travel market since April 2002. IVRA Holding develops and provides B2C online-solutions for tourists sectors. IVRA Holding is founded and headquartered in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, currently operating Hotel and travel booking system OrangeSmile Tours (http://www.orangesmile.com) and design bureau Zoeprits.ru. http://www.prweb.com

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Internet: A Powerful Source of Tourism Information Internet is growing in popularity as an information source for travellers worldwide. What groups of would-be tourists use the net the most? The medium and high socio-economic groups are still the ones especially using the internet as a source of information for their trips. However, the internet is today expanding its influence as a source of information for travellers to all socio-economic groups for which it is increasingly common to look for their flight or search for information on a destination through the internet.

Air Internet Transactions 2007-2012

Retail Value RSP % breakdown Ireland UK Netherlands USA Australia Norway Germany Switzerland Austria

2007 51.1 49.5 47.0 41.7 40.7 37.3 36.0 34.8 33.5

2012 70.3 64.3 72.1 45.7 51.9 53.3 60.5 92.5 68.5

According to the New Media Trend Watch “the internet has revolutionised the way in which consumers make their travel decisions”. In what ways specifically has internet changed the tourism industry? The internet has changed the way travel decisions are taken in two ways. Firstly, as a very powerful source of information on destinations and tourist services providers it has an important impact on the choice of the destination of the trip as well as of e.g. the hotel and airline as travellers are able to take more informed decision based on their needs and preferences. Secondly, the choice of a specific destination and trip are now also influenced by the availability of internet deals or also particularly interesting travel propositions found on the internet. Has the current global downturn influenced the way travellers use the internet? The current global crisis resulted in tourists opting for less expensive trips. Therefore as a result of it travellers increasingly use the internet to search for travel deals, also through both advanced booking and last minute reservations. Which tourism sector is the most successful with respect to internet travel sales? Air travel, and especially low cost airlines, was the first tourism sector to significantly benefit from internet sales, and is still the most successful in particular as far as sales through di-

rect suppliers are concerned. Hotel reservations through the internet are also very important; in their case online travel agencies play a major role. What is the future of online travel agents? Online travel agents will present to their visitors an increasingly wider offer of travel services, where dynamic travel packages and tours will play a more important role. They will also increasingly act as travel consultants offering personalized advice and support before and during the trip. Market Sizes ‐ Historic ‐ Retail Value RSP excl Sales Tax ‐ US$ mn Social networking sites are a hot topic today Internet retailing 2003 world. 2004 2005 2006 can 2007tourism 2008 even in the travel However World 81283 108238 136142 170942 210929 252640 businesses really increase their sales through Eastern Europe 1550 2490 3527 4943 6885 8552 Western Europe 22459 33158 41807 52492 71527 88902 these sites? How? ©2009 Euromonitor International

Internet retailing ‐ Retail value RSP ‐ US$ mn World

Eastern Europe

Western Europe

300000 250000 200000 US$ mn

Interview with Euromonitor International Industry research analyst Angelo Rossini

150000 100000

50000 Market Sizes ‐ Historic ‐ Retail Value RSP excl Sales Tax ‐ US$ mn Internet retailing 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 0 World 210929 2008 252640 2003 812832004 10823820051361422006170942 2007 Eastern Europe 1550 2490 3527 4943 6885 8552 Western Europe 22459 33158 41807 52492 71527 88902

Internet retailing ‐ Retail value RSP ‐ US$ mn

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World 300000

Eastern Europe

Western Europe

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People online in tourism markets (%’s): Europe

1 Iceland 2 Norway 3 Finland 4 Netherlands 5 Sweden 6 Denmark 7 Switzerland 8 Luxembourg 9 UK 10 Austria 11 Spain 12 Belgium 13 Germany 14 Estonia 15 Slovenia 16 France 17 Monaco

89,30% 85,70% 82,90% 82,50% 80,50% 80,10% 75,80% 74% 70,70% 68,20% 68% 67,30% 67,10% 65,80% 64,80% 63,40% 60,70%

18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34

Latvia Lithuania Ireland Slovak Republic Hungary Poland Czech Republic Italy Greece Croatia Cyprus Portugal Turkey Romania Bulgaria Russia Malta

59,40% 59,20% 57,40% 55,20% 52,60% 52% 48,90% 48,80% 45,90% 44,20% 40,80% 39,70% 34,50% 33,40% 32,90% 27,10% 23,40%

Due to their peculiar nature of “experiential goods”, travel and tourism services can particularly benefit from travellers reviews and exchange of advice. Travellers believe more to reviews and travel stories written by their peers than to what is written in industry players or destinations institutional websites. Tourism businesses can benefit from social networks and the Web 2.0 phenomenon by advertising on or partnering with travel and tourism social

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networks and also by implementing Web 2.0 functionalities on their websites allowing their customers to write reviews and comments on them. Are there any drawbacks of the social networking sites and blogs? The impact generic social networks such as Facebook or Twitter can have on travel and tourism sales is doubtful, and therefore investing resources on them can result unproductive for travel and tourism companies. In fact people use these websites to get in touch with old and new friends and socialize rather than to choose and book their holidays. Specific travel and tourism websites which are visited by people willing to choose and book their holidays can be much more useful to invest in. These include websites and blogs such as e.g. Trip Advisor, Thorn Tree, TripSay and NextStop. What is your vision about the role of internet in the tourism industry in the next decade? Thanks to the development and diffusion of mobile devices to access the internet, this is expected to increasingly accompany people along their whole travel experience, from the moment of booking the trip until their return home, allowing them more flexibility for their reservations and to access travel information in any moment during the trip – e.g. alerting them about available hotel deals or interesting tourist attractions to visit once they get to their destination. http://www.euromonitor.com

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P rof essi onal : Sur f ing the Wor l d Wi d e Web

Your Hotel’s Website Is Your Ultimate Sales Tool!

ommend that you use web analytics for the website as a whole, to identify how many visitors you have received to your site and where they have come from. Most website analytic software will also tell you at the very least how long your visitors remain on the site, the pages looked at the longest; it will even tell you what pages received the highest bounce rate. You can pay for many web analytics softwares and systems, or you can use Google Analytics for free. For use in its simplest form, Google analytics will allow you to see the total number of visitors to the site and where the visitor came from. When used comparatively against your reservations statistics, these numbers will give you a conversion rate. This rate is vital in determining the performance of your website. Of course, we must not ignore other factors that can have an impact on reservation rates. Amongst others, room rates, room availability, value and con-

our hotel website is vitally important in acquiring reservations. It is the first and more often the last experience a potential guest may have of your hotel. Hoteliers must therefore cast a critical eye over the website and address the fundamental question: Is your hotel website doing its job properly?

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To reveal the true performance of your website, you must identify the number of reservations you generate through your website. The easiest way to measure your site’s production is to look at your web booking engine’s analytics. This will tell you in detail how many reservations you have received over a particular time period. I would rec-

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P rof essi onal : Sur f ing the Wor l d Wi d e Web

venience will all play a part. These are also important considerations and must be viewed so when analyzing the data from your analytics. As a 21st century hotelier weathering the all too apparent recession, you must realize the impor-

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tance of the internet to sell your hotel rooms. To be unaware of the ratio of visitors to reservations is akin to burying your head in the sand. Your website should be treated as a sales tool and measured as such. Unfortunately, during the last 10 years there has been a changing fashion in website design. This can arguably be held responsible for the all too “flashy” hotel website that is difficult to navigate, contains little general information about the area and has a distinct lack of presence in the search engines. Hotel websites should be designed by people who understand hotels and have experience working for or with hotels. A hotel website should look great, but to the detriment of its content, usability and search visibility? Certainly not. Research indicates that travelers choose a destination, attraction or activity first and foremost. Specific hotel choice is a secondary consideration; the chosen hotel will usually fit criteria in line with the destination. Therefore, it is common sense that a hotel website should include information about the destination. Travelers are very much looking for value as well – not just best rates, but value in terms of convenience. Search visibility is also of the utmost importance for a hotel website. What is the point in having a great website if no one can find it? The importance of visibility on leading search engines should not be underestimated. Best practice Search Engine

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Optimisation must be incorporated in your website, and that is just to get you started. Remember, updating your content regularly will encourage the search engines to keep coming back and re-indexing your page. Send out press releases and articles about your hotel to other websites to form in-bound links to your site. Remember, relevant links are key. They serve to increase your site’s position over time and they will enable you to receive traffic to your site from new sources as well. Using social media to promote your hotel will equally increase your inbound links and is great for creating communities engaged with your hotel brand. The clear message to take from this is that your website is your most important sales tool and should be evaluated, amended and re-designed if necessary. Your hotel’s website should be your potential guest’s first of many experiences of your hotel, not the last and the only experience.

By Samantha Hasler Samantha leads the Digital Marketing Team at GlobRes www.globres.com pleased direct all press queries to marketing@globres.com. GlobRes provide hotel reservations and marketing solutions for hoteliers globally. GlobRes offer hotel website design for free when purchased with hotel reservation systems. Complete our online contact form for more information.

P rof essi onal : Sur f ing the Wor l d Wi d e Web

The Expanding Role of User-Generated Hotel Reviews ers provide, their word-of-mouth communications translate into significant profits for the hotel. In one example the positive word-of-mouth from a happy customer was worth $1,559 in profit for an upscale hotel. This additional revenue highlights the growing value of customers both while they are on property, and after they check out.

Who reads hotel reviews?

The

role of user-generated reviews is exploding. TripAdvisor(TM) attracts nearly 30 million monthly visitors and 88% of these visitors are influenced by content they read. Word-of-mouth adds a layer of credibility and is more effective than other more formal forms of promotion. Why is this important? Because with an increasing number of user-generated reviews and people reading and acting on them, the impact of guest satisfaction and dissatisfaction is multiplied and has a quicker economic impact. It used to be said that an unhappy customer would tell 3 others about their poor experience; now they tell 3 million (with less effort). The guest experience has never mattered more. Market Metrix research has demonstrated that beyond the additional revenue that repeat custom-

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According to the latest Market Metrix Hospitality Index(TM) results, one in five hotel customers read a review about a property before booking that hotel. Luxury guests (25%) and Timeshare guests (23%) were more likely to read a review before purchase, perhaps due to the variability among these properties. Casino guests were least likely (14%) to read reviews, which may be due to the high rate of repeat guests in this segment. Guests who read a review prior to their stay were more satisfied with their experience (+2) and were more likely to recommend that hotel (+4) compared to guests who did not read a review. This is not surprising. Reviews often provide guests with clearer and more realistic expectations for their hotel experience. Younger leisure travelers and women are more likely to read reviews prior to hotel selection. Among luxury hotels, more Le Meridian guests read reviews prior to their stay (32%) compared to guests of other luxury brands. Interestingly, Le Meridian also had the lowest rate of loyalty for the same period suggesting that reviews are helpful for new or uncommitted guests.

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Did you write a 'customer review' based on your stay? On average, 9% of all guests wrote reviews about their hotel stay. Although these persons reported twice as many problems, they were more satisfied (+4) with their stay and much more likely to recommend the hotel (+10%) compared to persons who did not post a review of their stay. This is consistent with TripAdvisor's claim that more than 80% of their user reviews are positive. More Timeshare guests wrote about their hotel experience (15%) while guests of Midscale w/o F&B hotels were least likely to write reviews (7%). Among luxury hotels, more Waldorf Astoria guests wrote reviews about their stay (18%) compared to guests of other luxury brands (11%). Waldorf Astoria also scored highest in guest loyalty for the same period indicating a logical connection between happy guests and more (positive) reviews.

P rof essi onal : Sur f ing the Wor l d Wi d e Web

What should you do? Hoteliers need to engage every guest on their experience before they speak to the world. Beyond providing great service, hotels need to listen better. And even more importantly, respond to guest feedback instantly. Consider asking the guest about his experience even before he leaves the property. If, even after you have engaged a guest with negative feedback, he posts negative feedback on a site, respond appropriately either on the blog or site if its conventions permit. If responding on the site is not an option, respond politely to the guest directly and attempt to resolve his problem or provide an appropriate compensation or promise for future visit. In service recovery, you shift the cost from constantly courting new customers to cutting customer defection. A company's effort to ensure that its customers are satisfied over the long term is rewarded by an increase in profit through repeat business, referral sales, decreased customer maintenance costs, and reduced exposure to price competition. By Jonathan Barsky & Lenny Nash The authors are principles with Market Metrix LLC, a firm that provides multi-channel survey, analysis and service improvement tools and benchmarking data for the hospitality industry. http://www.marketmetrix.com

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P rof essi onal : Sur f ing the Wor l d Wi d e Web

6 Lessons from the Best Marketing Campaign Ever

ast month an unlikely underdog stunned the marketing world at the International Cannes Advertising Festival. At the show, a single marketing campaign took home a Grand Prix award in three categories simultaneously – direct, cyber and PR – something that had never happened before in the 50+ year history of the show. Contrary to what you might expect, the unanimous winner of this unprecedented victory was not a Fortune50 brand with an advertising budget of millions, but a small Tourism board promoting a little known island off the Great Barrier Reef.

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The winning campaign was called the "Best Job in the World" and was essentially a big online job search conducted through social media for a new "caretaker" for Hamilton Island in Queensland, Australia. Done on a comparatively paltry marketing budget of just $1.7 million dollars and reliant on fortuitous PR and word of mouth, the campaign achieved stunning results, including over 34,000 video entries from applicants in 200 countries, and more than 7 million visitors to the site who generated nearly 500,000 votes. On July 1, the winner of the competition – a 34-year-old British man named Ben Southall started blogging and touring around Queensland, finally bringing the competition to a close. For the next six months, he will be touring around Queensland, sharing his adventures through a video blog, writing, Twitter account and Flickr photos – generating even more interest in Hamilton Island and all of Queensland in the process. The tangible results for the island are rolling in as well: Amway Australia chose it as the site of their upcoming annual conference, and domestic Aussie airline Virgin Blue just started flying a direct flight between Sydney and Hamilton Island, due to the rise in demand from travelers wanting to get to the island. I realize that tourism and the travel industry may seem far removed from your business. Unfortunately, we don't all have the natural beauty of Hamilton Island to fall back on when starting our marketing campaigns. Still, a big part of the reason for the amazing success of this campaign

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was not what they were marketing, but how they used social media to do it. In that, there are some lessons anyone trying to promote a product or service could use: 1. Make it believable. Many marketing groups would never make a claim if they can't provide substantial evidence. How might Tourism Queensland prove that their job is the best in the world? They can't. But it is believable because it is a beautiful place and fits what many people's definition of a dream job might be. 2. It's not about how much you spend. One of the major benefits of smart public relations and

Who Uses Social Networks?

According to the “Consumer Internet Barometer” report from TNS and The Conference Board, 43% of US Internet users visited social networking sites in Q2 2009. That figure was up 16 percentage points from the previous year. Nearly one-half of females visited social networking sites, compared with 37.6% of men. More than 70% of Internet users under age 35 browsed social networks. That percentage decreased as users got older, with only 43.1% of those ages 35 to 54 and 18.9% of users ages 55 and older visiting social networks. Still, those represented huge climbs from usage in Q2 2008. The most popular social networking sites came as no surprise: Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn and Twitter, in that order. eMarke ter.c om

P rof essi onal : Sur f ing the Wor l d Wi d e Web

social media is that it scales in a way that advertising typically doesn't. In other words, you don't have to pay more to get more. The real trick is to have something worthwhile to say that people can't help talking about. You need a good story. 3. Focus on content, not traffic. The typical marketing campaign focuses on traffic to some kind of site. For Tourism Queensland, the biggest payoff of this campaign was having over 34,000 videos on YouTube from people around the world talking about how much they love Queensland. Aggregate the views of all those videos, and multiply them over the long term and you'll start to understand the true impact of their campaign. 4. Create an inherent reason for people to share. Another element of this campaign that worked extremely well was the fact that there was voting enabled on the videos. What this meant was that after someone submitted their video, they had an incentive to share it with everyone in their social network online to try and get more votes. 5. Don't underestimate the power of content creators Most recent statistics point to some number between 1% and 10% of the user base of any social network are the active content creators. S e ptemb er, 2 0 0 9

Though these percentages may seem small, the potential impact of some of these individuals is vast online. It could easily become the secret weapon for your next marketing campaign. 6. Give your promotion a shelf life. The best thing about this campaign may just be the content yet to come. Ben, the winner, just started blogging and sharing videos and photos, but the content is already engaging, high quality and inspires you to dream of making it to Queensland yourself. Over the next six months, his itinerary will take him across the state of Queensland and unlock many other unique opportunities. Best of all, this content will live on far beyond the time span of the campaign. By Rohit Bhargava Rohit is the author of the best selling marketing book, Personality Not Included. He is an SVP with Ogilvy Worldwide, authors the top rated marketing blog Influential Marketing and works often in the travel industry. He is a frequent keynote speaker on marketing trends in travel and is available at reasonable fees for speaking engagements around the world. For more information, please visit www.aboutrohit.com. http://www.fastcompany.com/tag/influential-marketing

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A dve n t u re Traveling to the Animal Kingdom Whales! Aren’t they magnificent? They are not the only fauna treasures you can see by the Vancouver Island. If you go further to the north you will reach the polar bear capital of the world and see the white loners yourself. For all horse lovers – check out the unique trails in the Central Europe. And we have something even for those who dare to watch bats and ‘devils’!

A dv e n t u re : Trav eling to the Animal King d om

Vancouver Island’s Teaming Waters: The Serengeti Plains of the Marine World N

ature-loving vacationers place a high priority on seeing marine mammals in the wild. If you are lucky enough to be in the right place, they are large enough to spot and even photograph without special expertise, and most people already know something about whales and other marine creatures. Many species are clearly under siege on the planet, with some rare and endangered. This makes them an even greater privilege to encounter, with no better place in the world to do so than the narrow waterways between Vancouver Island and the British Columbia mainland. Born and raised in Canada’s Pacific coast wilderness, for me the thrill of seeing whales, sea lions, seals, dolphins and porpoises never diminishes. My recent visit to the northeast coast of Vancouver Island and a stay in the village of Telegraph Cove offered an up-close chance to observe the densest concentration of marine diversity in the world. Six hours drive north of Victoria or accessible by ferry and road from Vancouver, the village is reached on dead-straight highways, beckoning 10,000 visitors annually between early June and mid-October to this pristine piece of British Columbia wilderness.

Historical Telegraph Cove

Today, the whole of Telegraph Cove is tourismfocused and a charming history lesson in miniature. It also has some fine restaurants and a large inter-

Historic MV Gikumi is the pride of Telegraph Cove’s wildlife watching fleet. (Jackie Hildering, www.orcellaexpeditions.com) S e ptemb er, 2 0 0 9

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A dv e n t u re : Trav eling to the Animal King d om active museum educating visitors of all ages about BC’s marine world. Set in a circular bay with only a small opening into the island-dotted straits beyond, this antique sawmilling village was originally settled in the 1920s and 30s. During the past 30 years, it has been expertly restored to reflect the style of pioneer life up to the 1950s. From the floating hospital and the mill owner’s mansion to the bachelor bunkhouse (now divided into five rooms each with bath) and the many colourful cottages that once served as home to each working family, there is plenty of “sleeping with history” accommodation. Buildings are linked together around the cove by an invitingly stroll-able yellow cedar boardwalk, dotted with sawmilling and logging artifacts and a profusion of flowers. Occasionally, you may also meet a furry visitor – after all, this is the wilderness!

Adventurous Days on the Water Since the primary focus of any trip to northeast Vancouver Island is to explore the Blackfish and Broughton Archipelagos that serve as a stepping stone to British Columbia’s mainland, the shipbased experience is a high priority. Stubbs Island Whale Watching, owned since 1980 by marine mammal authorities, Jim and Mary Borrowman, offers half- and full-day marine wildlife tours from mid-June through the end of September aboard the modern, aluminum Lukwa with its spacious lounge areas, picture windows and easily accessible decks. The Lukwa is especially comfortable for families and guests with physical challenges. Also operated by the Borrowmans is Orcella Expeditions offering four multi-day, all-inclusive Magnificent Seven Marine Mammal tours during the peak migration and viewing season of September aboard their lovingly-restored vessel, Gikumi. For the first time in 2010, guests will have the option of living aboard the Gikumi with a different remote anS e ptemb er, 2 0 0 9

Orca or Killer Whales are not whales at all, but the world’s largest dolphins. (Jim Borrowman, www.orcellaexpeditions.com)

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A dv e n t u re : Trav eling to the Animal King d om chorage each night, or they may select a Magnificent Seven tour with historic land-based accommodation and five full-day explorations on the water. With either option, the super-fresh gourmet cuisine created daily by Mary, is a huge bonus to the trip. Telegraph Cove has been the Gikumi’s home since it was built in 1954 for the owner of the sawmill and the town until his retirement in 1980. This stable 60-foot/18-metre treasure, complete with galley, cabins for six guests and lots of polished brass and warm wood, was originally built to tow logs to the sawmill. The Borrowmans adopted the boat in 1980 for its whale watching trips, and Jim has dedicated many hours to making it a guest-friendly vessel without compromising its authenticity.

Dolphins, Whales, Seals... With each day being memorable for its wildlife encounters, clearly our final Magnificent Seven day on the water proved that the Serengeti nickname is not an exaggeration. We started the morning in a bay surrounded by over 300 Pacific white-sided dolphins who churned up the surface around our quietly-drifting vessel for nearly two hours, breeching and diving with endless energy. Bald eagles and sea birds were in an eating frenzy of their own as dolphins drove fish to the surface. Dozens of harbour seals and sea lions sunned themselves on smooth warm rocks along tree-lined shores while we passed within metres. We were escorted for a time by a handsome troop of a dozen Dall’s porpoise, whose crisp black and white markings sometimes lead guests to think they are baby killer whales. And we marvelled at the curiosity of an enormous herring ball “glued” together on the surface, attracting a noisy collection of seabirds as well as an adult humpback whale looking for an easy meal. After identifying our first Minke whale of the trip, someone spotted a humpback whale making a leiS e ptemb er, 2 0 0 9

A breaching humpback whale. (Jim Borrowman, www.orcellaexpeditions.com)

surely beeline straight for the drifting Gikumi. This magnificent creature, as long as our vessel, showed no sign of turning aside when just 6 metres/20 feet from our camera lenses, it flipped its tail high out of the water and made a graceful shallow dive right under the hull. The number of photographs taken that day had to be uncountable! By Alison Gardner An ongoing source of new and established operators and richly-illustrated feature articles covering all types of senior-friendly alternative travel is Travel with a Challenge web magazine at www.travelwithachallenge.com. Editor, Alison Gardner, is a global expert on nature travel suitable for seniors.

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Austin Congress Bridge Bats

The

Congress Avenue Bridge spans Town Lake in downtown Austin, TX and is home to the largest urban bat colony in North America. The colony is estimated at 1.5 million Mexican free-tail bats that migrate each spring from central Mexico. Each night from mid-March to November, the bats emerge from under the bridge at dusk to blanket the sky as they head out to forage for food. During the best flights, up to five columns of emerging bats can be seen for miles as much as 45 minutes before sunset. In 1980, while reconstructing the Congress Avenue Bridge in downtown Austin, bridge engineers had no idea that new crevices created beneath the bridge would make an ideal place for a bat roost. Even though they had lived there for years, it was headline news when bats suddenly began moving

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A dv e n t u re : Trav eling to the Animal King d om

in under the Austin bridge by the thousands. After the novelty of this unusual occurrence had worn off, the public began to react in fear. Many activists within the Austin community began petitioning to have the colony eradicated. About that time, a group now know as Bat Conservation International, stepped in and began an educational process about the bats. They educated Austinites to the fact that they are gentle and incredibly sophisticated animals, and that they eat from 10,000 to 30,000 pounds of insects, including mosquitoes, each night. The campaign proved to be successful as Austin came to appreciate its bats and even erected a bat sculpture in honor of this unique and spectacular mammal. They emerge at different times every night, but the hotter and drier the weather gets, the

I n teresti n g Bat Facts

• Bats Season is Mid-March to Early November • Bats can live to be 30 years old. • Mother bats give birth to a single pup each year. The pups birth weight is nearly 1/3 that of its mother. • Bats are mammals and nurse the pups from mammary glands. Each female recognizes her pups voice and smell and will nurse only her pup. • During migrations to Mexico and back, bats may reach an altitude of 10,000 feet and velocities of 60 miles per hour.

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earlier they will get hungry and set out for food. August is the best viewing month, not only because they come out before sundown, but because the newborn bats (called pups) are just beginning to forage with their mothers. Most of the colony is female, and in early June each one gives birth to a single pup. The pink, hairless babies grow to be about three to four inches long, with a wingspan of up to a foot. In just five weeks, they'll learn to fly and hunt insects on their own. The bat flights have become one of the most spectacular and unusual tourist attractions in Texas. There are several points from which to view the event, and an information kiosk is located on the north bank of the river, just east of the bridge. A study made in 1999 by Dr Gail R. Ryser and Roxana Popovici concludes that the economic impact of the bats to Austin city is $7.9 million each year. Today, businesses are using the bats as a symbol for Austin. Photos: TR, Flickr http://www.austincityguide.com http://www.io.com/house/bats.html

A dv e n t u re : Trav eling to the Animal King d om

Czech Republic: Horse Riding Holidays Growing in Popularity

an old proverb says ‘The most beautiful view of the world is from horseback’. Naturally, not all of us want to become professional jockeys, jump over obstacles, or go horse racing. However horse riding holidays are one of the most beautiful types of vacation bringing pleasure of riding as well as many unforgettable experiences and joy to anyone. S e ptemb er, 2 0 0 9

People from cities who decide for holidays in a saddle can enjoy not only the sport itself but also the surrounding picturesque wilderness. They often develop close relation to horses who for some of them become an important part of their lives and they keep coming back. Thanks to the popularity of horse riding vacations in the Czech Republic the number of recreational horses is growing. Currently in the country a marked network of horse trails is being developed, which will enable the riders to smoothly go through various areas. It is evident that on the marked trails mutual respect is required as well as observance of several rules to secure safety of everybody. Soon it will be possible for horse riders to go through the whole Europe knowing there are enough accommodation facilities for themselves as well as their horses. Such network of facilities providing accommodation and food for the tourists as well as stables and feed for their four-leg friends is necessary for further development of agrotourism. Such stations might enable the riders to stay even for several days when they are interested in the local landscape and monuments. In the Czech Republic it is possible to ride through the whole country thanks to three interconnected trails – Elbe Horse Trail, Central Bohemia Horse Trail and South Bohemia Horse Trail. The Elbe Trail passes through the Bohemian Central Mountains, and then continues to Bohemian Switzerland where it is possible to join the German riding trails. The protected landscape area Bohemian Central

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Mountains is situated in the northern Bohemia, on both sides of the lower flow of the Czech part of the Elbe River. The taper shapes of hills that are typical for this region are the result of Tertiary volcanic activity. The Central Mountains are one of the richest areas in the country with respect to the number of species of flora and fauna. Over the centuries there has developed unique, harmoniously shaped landscape with typical relief; landscape of fruit orchards, interwoven by numerous tiny villages with picturesque traditional folk buildings and imposing historical monuments. The romantic name of Bohemian Switzerland refers to the region of captivating table mountains, sandstone rock towns and deep river canyons between the cities of Decin and Krasna Lipa. On both sides of the border between the Czech Republic

A dv e n t u re : Trav eling to the Animal King d om

and Germany the visitors can enjoy the unique national parks called Bohemian and Saxon Switzerland respectively. One of the stations on the Elbe Horse Trail that use the system of marked horse trails is a familyrun farm called Trebusin-Zababec Farm. For three years the family guides week-long horse riding trips on the trails in the region. Since the organization of such tours is not easy – especially securing quality accommodation and meals for the riders as well as horses – there are not many companies offering similar services. “The first two years we organized weekly tours on horseback only around our farm in Bohemian Central Mountains. This year we wandered also to the German border where we went for one-day trips on the German trails,” said Dagmar Vostova, the S e ptemb er, 2 0 0 9

farm manager. Although most of the tour’s participants were foreign tourists from Netherlands, UK, Denmark and Belgium, all of them enjoyed unique views of north Bohemian landscape – colorful meadows, forests as well as timbered cottages. “What they especially liked was our hilly landscape because most of their native country is flat. They were also fascinated by the flocks of deer, fallow deer and wild boars that they saw,” said Ms. Vostova. The farm plans to further develop and expand their services and offer tours up to Dresden in Germany where they currently look for potential partners. Horse riding holidays have become a growing niche market in this region that has so far been rather off the beaten path. http://www.farmazababec.cz

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A dv e n t u re : Trav eling to the Animal King d om

The Polar Bear Capital of the World

sometimes 40 or more polar bears can be seen on a given day. Hundreds of them then wait on the vast peninsula until the water freezes on Hudson Bay so that they can return to hunt their primary food source, Ringed Seals. This is Churchill’s prime tourist season with 12,000 or more visitors passing through in six weeks. The easiest way to see polar bears in their natural habitat is from Tundra Buggies. These curious ve-

The

small community of Churchill is a town on the shore of Hudson Bay in Manitoba, Canada. Located along the treeline or the northern edge of the Boreal Forest, Churchill attracts arctic and boreal species of wildlife, birds and plants. Commonly seen species include Arctic and Red Foxes, Arctic Hare, Caribou, Gyrfalcons, Snowy Owls, Ptarmigan and even the occasional Lemming!

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However, internationally known as the ‘Polar Bear Capital of the World’, Churchill is most famous for the many polar bears that move toward the shore of Hudson Bay from inland in the autumn. Polar bears swim ashore in mid-July and can be seen in the summer but it is not until October that they begin to gather in numbers along the coast. Churchill’s ‘bear season’ begins in early October and numbers build until in early November when

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P olar bear jail

Local authorities maintain a so-called “polar bear jail” where bears (mostly adolescents) who persistently loiter in or close to town, are held after being tranquillised, pending release back into the wild when the bay freezes over. Polar bears were once thought to be solitary animals that would avoid contact with other bears except for mating. In the Churchill region, however, many alliances between bears are made in the fall. These friendships last only until the ice forms, then it is every bear for himself to hunt ring seals. Wi k ip e d i a . or g

A dv e n t u re : Trav eling to the Animal King d om

P olar bears are f earless a n d v ery c u ri ou s

My favorite moment came when our driver opened the inner door of the tundra buggy, leaving only the steel-bar outer gate in place. A curious bear who had come up to the vehicle, took advantage of an opportunity to see what was inside by sticking his head and paws in through the openings, much to our delight. Although their demeanor reminds one of large, sloppy friendly dogs — huge white-furred black-eyed mutts— their charm disguises their power and the potential danger they represent. While we were all awwwwww-ing and ooooooo-ing, the bear was probably looking at us as potential food. No matter who we are, how profound our thoughts, how saintly our deeds, we are only meat to a polar bear. Although fortunately not their first choice. Chem.ucla.edu

hicles started out as buses that were then modified by adding (when needed on smaller models) an indoor toilet-cubicle and viewing platform. They were then re-mounted on giant under-inflated tractor tires. The huge, soft tires provide needed elevation to put passengers out of reach of bears. The very soft tires also lessen damage to the very delicate tundra environment. The top speed of a Tundra Buggy is approximately 45 km/h (28 mph) on a smooth trail, but

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usually travels much slower. The Buggies are relatively self sufficient with onboard air compressors, tool kits, extra fluids and oils, lavatories and propane heaters which are independent of the engine. As well Tundra Buggies include comfortable seats, windows that open and a large observation deck. The two main tundra vehicle companies are Great White Bear Tours (primarily booked by Natural Habitat and Churchill Nature Tours) and Tundra

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Buggy Adventure/Frontiers North. The vast majority of tours during this time period are group tours although some ‘day trips’ are still available for independent travellers. It is best to book these tours early, up to a year in advance.

Photos: TR, Flickr http://www.churchill.ca

A dv e n t u re : Trav eling to the Animal King d om

Devil Restaurant: Dinner with the Devil

Tasmania's remote north-west coast, Geoff King runs a wildlife tour with a difference. King's devil restaurant offers a rare glimpse of Tasmanian devils feeding in the wild. On an isolated stretch of coastline, just north of the Arthur River mouth, stands a modest hut. Sheltered from the fury of the Southern Ocean by hulking granite boulders, the fisherman's hut is local cattle farmer Geoff King's outlook on the mysterious world of the Tasmanian devil. King, 51, has farmed around Marrawah all his life. Conscious of the damage his cattle were doing to the fragile coastal land, he removed his stock from the 320ha run in 1997 and established his wildlife tours in 1999. S e ptemb er, 2 0 0 9

As darkness descends on the hut, King ushers his guests inside. In a mound of native grasses outside the hut's only window King has hidden a sound monitor. The microphone sits on the mantle above the fireplace. Suddenly there's a rustling noise and deep snarls. "Shhh!" says King as he raises his finger to his mouth. Gently, he draws open the curtains to reveal a road-killed wallaby carcass staked to the ground. The scene is lit by a spotlight outside the hut. A Tasmanian devil creeps up to the carcass. "She's in excellent condition," remarks King, admiring her raven black, shiny coat. Devils live a mostly solitary life after being weened from their mothers at about nine months of age. Just as she settles in for a snack, a curious shape emerges from the shadows – another devil moves up for a feed.

Fact f ile

King’s run wildlife tours operate from Marrawah in Tasmania’s northwest. In order to prevent devils becoming dependent on King’s feeding the tour operates no more than five days a fortnight and no more than three days in a row. (phone: (03) 6457 1191, email: jonesking@tassie.net.au)

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Tasma n ia n De v il ( S arc ophilu s harrisii )

The Tasmanian devil, although only the size of a small dog, can look and sound incredibly fierce. Powerful jaws (nine times as strong as a dog’s and comparable to a shark or crocodile) and teeth enable it to completely devour its prey–bones, fur and all. The only thing devils won’t eat are echidna quills. Devils once lived in mainland Australia but today are found only in Tasmania. Devils can be seen at the Narawntapu National Park, Mount William National Park, Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park, the Arthur River and highland lakes area. Viewing season: young emerge in September, October and November.

Five devils come to dine this night. As we bounce back across the undulating heathlands at the end of the evening, King shines a spotlight into the heart of the darkness: swarms of Bennetts wallabies and pademelons scamper in all directions. This is wild Tasmania at its best. Photos: TR, Flickr http://www.discovertasmania.com

M edical Medical Wellness vs. Health Spas Medical spa, health spa, curative spa â&#x20AC;&#x201C; so many terms, so many concepts. Spas in Europe and the USA often use the same words with different meaning. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s focus on the differences within the spa industry between various regions as regards the terms, concepts, systems, historical background as well as the latest trends.

M edical : Me di cal Wel lne ss v s . He alth Sp a s

Medical Tourism Worldwide from Past to Present

ence of natural methods, privacy, expertise, and the list goes on. This article will take you through medical tourism from the past and present.

Ancient Greece The Asclepia Temples were dedicated to the mythological Greek god of medicine. These temples were often located near natural healing sources such as mineral springs. Most of these temples housed snake nurseries where snakes were farmed for mystic healing rituals. People from all over would journey to these temples in order to receive medical treatment. Today, Greece is still actively participating in the medical tourism industry by meeting western standards while offering low cost cosmetic and dental treatments. As for the snakes, there is a spa in Northern Israel which offers snake massages using six non-venomous snakes. This treatment is said to alleviate muscle pain and tension. The big snakes provide a deep tissue massage, while the little ones lightly massage the skin.

efore the days of conventional medicine there was a strong relationship between religion and healthcare. Depending on the natural resources available, each region developed unique healing methods. Since medical progress varied depending on the region, when word spread of effective treatS e ptemb er, 2 0 0 9

ments, people travelled to cure their ailments out of necessity. Today medical knowledge is accepted and shared on a global level. This offers potential patients an opportunity to choose the most suitable treatment, whether the choice is based on finances, prefer-

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India â&#x20AC;&#x201C; As Early As 3000 B.C. With the establishment of the Harappan Civilization, India became a trade center for travelers seeking spices, jewels, cotton, and ivory. The knowledge of Indian religion including the therapeutic mental and physical meditation system of yoga as well as

M edical : Me di cal Wel lne ss v s . He alth Sp a s was some form of health “sharing” between these cultures. Today spas in Switzerland, Austria and many other countries attract tourists seeking to ease their muscle and joint pains in the mineral rich hot springs.

Medieval Japan Hot mineral springs called Onsen became popular throughout the nation due to their healing properties. The warrior clans soon took notice of these springs and began using them to alleviate pain, heal wounds, and recuperate from their battles. Today people still go to Japan’s mineral springs to treat muscle pain. Japan has also become known for their cosmetic surgeries and treatments.

Egypt – 1248 A.D. the healing methods of Ayurvedic medicine slowly started to spread throughout the Eastern and Western worlds. Medical travelers and spiritual students traveled to India to seek out such treatments. Today, in addition to specializing in the traditional methods, India has become a medical tourism hub. Tourists are now flocking to India’s high standards, low costs and well known modern medical care facilities.

Switzerland & Austria – 2000 B.C. The hill tribes in what is presently known as St. Moritz, Switzerland recognized the health benefits of drinking and bathing in iron-rich mineral springs. Archeologists found the same bronze drinking cups used by these tribes in the thermal springs of France and Germany. This indicates that there

S e ptemb er, 2 0 0 9

In 1248 the Mansuri Hospital in Cairo was erected. This hospital was the most advanced healthcare facility of the time. With the capacity to care for 8,000 in-patients, the Mansuri hospital stood on a creed to serve everyone regardless of their race, religion or status. People came from all over the world to be treated at Cairo’s hospital. Today, Egypt is not one of the major players in the industry, but they are developing their medical tourism services.

Turkey – Early 1800s In the early 1800s hot springs were found in the Kangal region of Turkey. Thermal pools were built in the 1900s, and they were opened to the public in 1963. The most unique element of these thermal springs are the tiny little fish living in them known

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as garra rufa–more commonly referred to as the “Dr. Fish”. Doctor Fish feed on dead, unhealthy and scaly skin cells offering an effective treatment for dermatological conditions such as psoriasis and eczema. The mineral rich springs are known for treating skin diseases but have also been reported to treat rheumatic disease, neurologic disorders, orthopedic problems and several more. To this day, people travel from around the world to receive treatment in Turkey. These fish have become so wide spread that many spas in Japan and other countries around the world have incorporated them into their services. Photos: JNTO, TR http://www.health-tourism.com/

M edical : Me di cal Wel lne ss v s . He alth Sp a s

World Wise Wellness – Global Options in a Mobile Society… M

edical Tourism is one of the fastest growing international industries, with growth anticipated to be $100 billion by the year 2012. More and more countries around the world are emerging into Medical Tourism destinations, from Asian countries like India and Thailand to North Americas Cuba and to European countries like Hungary. With most of the world experiencing a healthcare crisis, patients and wellness consumers are traveling abroad to seek the best quality care and alternative options available. Health Tourism is also one of the fastest growing segments of the Medical Tourism industry and typically refers to alternative medicine and spa treatments. Health and wellness consumers are traveling worldwide and engaging in health tourism by visiting health spas, medical spas, wellness retreats and destination/day spas. In addition to the general health and wellness focus, the antiaging trend fueled by baby boomers around the world are finding medical and health spas an appealing option in slowing down aging degenerative effects whether they be cosmetic or cellular. In the case of cosmetic surgery alone, its cost in countries such as India, Thailand or South Africa can be one tenth of how much it costs in the United States or Western Europe.

Navigating Culture Codes … The bright side of the health crisis is the global attention preventative, integrated and holistic care is receiving. Wellness Culture is now taking center S e ptemb er, 2 0 0 9

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M edical : Me di cal Wel lne ss v s . He alth Sp a s stage and consumers are increasingly exploring global options and practices. The wellness phenomenon and preventative approach has been under way in recent years for the American spa market and for centuries in Europe and Asia. With diverse cultural drivers and motivators, people around the globe are now embracing Medical Tourism and reaching outside of their borders for treatment and therapies. Medical Spas, Health Spas and Wellness Centers exist all over the world and operate uniquely in accordance with their focus and local culture. International associations such as IMSA and DSA are defining guidelines comprehensively yet cultural codes and standards still vary from country to country. The distinct differences in cultural standards may very well be the marketing appeal of medical tourism and the destination spa experience. Having access to complimentary treatments and modalities that may not be available to you at home or your country is one of the benefits of traveling across international borders.

Defining the World of Wellnessâ&#x20AC;Ś The Spa experience is about enhancing overall well being through a variety of professional services that encourage the renewal of mind, body and spirit. The psychographics of the spa goer and wellness consumer is diverse and there is a broad range of business entities marketing wellness lifestyle. The difference between a Health Spa and a Medical Wellness Spa is the latter specifically integrates spa AND medical services. Medical Spas are designed for guests seeking to maintain good health, as well as for dealing with serious medical concerns. In the United States, The Pritkin Longevity Center & Spa in Florida and The Cooper Wellness Program in Texas are renowned for their carefully structured and fully supervised programs monitored by a team of physicians and wellness experts. Wellness Programs follow a sciS e ptemb er, 2 0 0 9

entific approach to health and fitness and combine traditional medical services with preventative measures. Like many industries, the Medical Spa channel has several sub-sets of business models. Today you can find Dental Spas, Fertility Spas and even medical spas specifically serving menopausal women. The International Medical Spa Association has defined the following guidelines for identifying Medical Spas: Beauty/Skin: A facility that is owned by an individual or corporate entity with an office/treatment area of a licensed health care professional or medically trained aesthetician and therapists. Therapeutic: A facility that is owned by an individual or corporate entity with an office/treatment

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 40 â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

area of a licensed health care professional located on the premises offering services that include therapeutic modalities focused on specific medical issues such as cardiovascular disease and bariatric. Medical Centers/Hospital Based: Facilities that offer an advanced level of diagnostics services employing conventional and complementary therapies delivered in a specially designed healing environment. Wellness Centers: Owned by physicians or entrepreneurs and encompass many of the same services as medical/hospitals facilities if physician owned. If privately owned, facilities will often have a licensed healthcare professional as Medical Director.

M edical : Me di cal Wel lne ss v s . He alth Sp a s trotherapy, ultrasound therapy light therapy etc), Homeopathy (a system of therapeutics using natural substances such as plants, herbs and minerals), or Botanical medicine. You will also find treatments such as Climatherapy (focus on air purity for treatment of respiratory conditions), Balintherapy (a general term for water based treatments treating circulatory, musculoskeletal and immune sensitive illnesses) and Crenotherapy (treatment carried out with mineral water, mud or vapor). The attention to “place” and natural healing properties are paramount to the European wellness culture.

“Bon Voyage” Takes on New Meaning…

A Healing Sense of Place and Milieu… In Europe (where the spa experience originated) you can find Medical Spas run by physicians and integrative practitioners who may combine holistic and alternative therapies to address everything from chronic health conditions to anti-aging prevention. The essential framework of the European spa industry is mainly based on the curative use of natural resources and healthy climate with contribution from medical and therapeutic care. Budapest already renowned as the “City of Spas” presents Medical Spas offering the healing benefits of mineral hot springs treating chronic musculoskeletal problems. Often the spa physicians have a specialty in Rheumatology or Internal Medicine as well as Physiotherapy (series of cures using elecS e ptemb er, 2 0 0 9

Voltaire, the French philosopher and writer of the Enlightenment wrote “The art of medicine consists of amusing the patient while nature cures the disease”. This philosophy is still relevant today and is the essence of a European or Asian wellness inspired vacation. Medical and Health tourism is no longer a novelty and is quickly becoming a lucrative global trend. As wellness culture spreads around the world, expect to discover a cultural cocktail of treatments and services. Crossing borders allows the wellness consumer to enjoy the affordable cost of various healing options often much higher priced in their own home region. The opportunity to experience a new culture in an exotic locale while healing, recuperating or revitalizing is a seductive proposition many wellness consumers will explore in the coming years. Bon Voyage has truly taken on new meaning and international travel could be considered a life saving and enhancing experience. By Laura Connolly Laura is Communications Specialist at Trendscapes Media – Serving Wellness Lifestyle & Culture. Contact her at info@trendscapesmedia.com http://www.dayspaassociation.com http://www.medicalspaassociation.org

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M edical : Me di cal Wel lne ss v s . He alth Sp a s

Health Spa vs. Medicine: Similar Terms, Different Concepts The

health economy is booming despite the global financial crisis. At the “Capital Congress for Medicine and Health” 2009 in Berlin, one of the world’s largest medical conventions, the sector was even described as a “cyclical and political stabiliser”.

Medical vs. Health Tourism A major share in this development can be attributed to health or medical offers directed specifically towards tourists. They attract people who want to maintain or regain their health far away from home. The reasons for such a journey are multifarious. While some people want to benefit from a particular expertise or treatment not available at home, others are looking for alternative healing methods, an exotic ambiance or simply for an opportunity to save money. Health treatments abroad can sometimes cost a fraction of the price one would have to pay at home. There are different primary reasons for the journey. If the purpose of the journey is to receive a certain medical treatment, for example eye surgery in Turkey or dental treatment by the Black Sea, insiders call it “medical tourism”. If guests just want to relax and at the same time improve their health, it is called “health tourism”. The transition between the two is fluid. Journeys can range from a short spell of intensive care to a cure lasting several weeks or just a holiday weekend. S e ptemb er, 2 0 0 9

Photo: Hans C. Schink, Leipzig

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M edical : Me di cal Wel lne ss v s . He alth Sp a s

Active vs. Passive Wellness Programmes In Germany the differentiation between active and passive wellness programmes is becoming more and more established. The former include all applications in which the guest undertakes special training programmes in order to reform his or her lifestyle. As a rule they usually begin with a medical examination. Typical examples of such “Medical Wellness Programmes” include medicallysupervised fasting cures with a change in diet, burnout vacations with anti-stress training, or special programmes with individual motor-activity-training. By contrast, passive wellness programmes focus primarily on relaxing, recreation and recuperation. These can include massages, beauty treatments, thermal spa water applications or deep relaxation in floatation tanks, soft packs or special vibration couches. In all cases, pleasant and comfortable surroundings are very important. Specially furnished areas which evoke new atmospheres, memories, cultural or natural environments are a more recent and growing phenomenon. The focus is on creating a sense of authenticity. Preventative health programmes that aim to improve general level of health and quality of life, as opposed to preventing diseases, are also becoming ever more popular. For example, the term “cure” denotes a period of recuperation lasting several weeks involving medically prescribed applications that aim to prevent, or rather with medical means to alleviate, individual ailments. The terms used to describe these emerging oases of well-being are as varied as they are ambiguous. This is due to the different ways in which they are understood around the world. New facilities that aim to actively attract international customers have begun to abandon the term “wellness” in favour of establishing their own brand. S e ptemb er, 2 0 0 9

Photo: Messe Frankfurt, Michael Rücker

“Abroad, no one really gets what we mean by wellness” says Renate Brune, the owner of “Gut Klostermühle”, a health resort which opened in autumn 2008. Located in the former East German lakelands, it comprises a hotel, a day spa and medical center. The health resort markets its services all together under the name Brune Balance med & spa: “The name expresses how both facilities coexist alongside one another, how our medical center for integrative medicine and our spacious spa with plenty of space to relax, rest and revitalise, work together,” explains Brune.

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Europe vs. USA: Different Terminology Generally, guests don’t always know what is meant by the different terms. A further cause of misunderstanding is people’s different experiences of their respective public health care systems. While in Germany, services in the socalled second health care market are generally viewed as additional benefits, guests from Western Europe and overseas fail to see the strict separation into private-pay and health insurance patients.

M edical : Me di cal Wel lne ss v s . He alth Sp a s

Photo: Toskana Therme Bad Sulza

In the USA, “wellness” is seen as a holistic package of measures for health promotion, whereas in Germany it is commonly seen as merely “passive” pampering. Because the term “wellness” is both over-used and imprecise, being used to describe all manner of offerings, a new term has been introduced that can be used more specifically: “Medical Wellness”. By comparison, the term “spa” is used as a generic term describing health and wellness facilities in the German-speaking countries, while in the rest of Europe it denotes a therapeutic bath or is synonymous with a therapy concept (health through water). S e ptemb er, 2 0 0 9

Those who wish to attract international guests are, therefore, well advised to steer clear of ambiguous terms and to describe their offers clearly and distinctly. Today’s customers seek emotional experiences that thrill and appeal to the senses; they do not need to be taught or convinced! By Steffen Wilbrandt (translation Johanna Rulf) Steffen Wilbrandt was the chief editor of the German magazine “medical+wellness” for several years and now works as freelance journalist and management consultant in Berlin (redaktion@wilbrandt.de). The article was written for British International Spa Association contact their Chairwoman Marion Schneider at spahouse@spaassociation.org.uk. http://www.spaassociation.org.uk

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M edical : Me di cal Wel lne ss v s . He alth Sp a s

Health Tourism in Eastern Europe – A System Change Needed

International medical tourists, cure guests and medical-wellness tourists and their acquaintances are the target groups of health tourism providers (according to latest McKinsey estimates, there are 60-80 thousand medical tourists worldwide a year). The TUI market research predicted already in 2004 that the German medical wellness tourism market alone will increase to 2 million tourists a year until 2010 which equals an annual growth of ten percent in this time shield. According to the UNWTO there is a qualitative and quantitative trend from relaxation holidays towards holistic health and active sport holidays. This is also a good opportunity for Eastern Europe (EE).

Eurobarometer: Ready for Treatment Abroad

distinction from leisure holidays is fundamental. The primary travel motives and holiday contents are the prevention and cure of illness. As the Latin word ‘curare’ and the tradition of various European and Oriental cure baths prove, this tourS e ptemb er, 2 0 0 9

ism stream has a long history. Today it is a global business sector with many neglected potentials, but also providers whose survival is threatened by the forces of the markets, which need to focus on innovative, market-based strategies.

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According to the survey Eurobarometer (2007) on patient-mobility, 4% of the interviewed EU-citizens (EU27) received a treatment in other European countries over the last twelve months (at the time of the survey). Cross-border patient mobility is most significant in Luxemburg, where every fifth citizen sought healthcare outside the country’s borders. Seventy percent of the EU27 population tend to believe that costs of healthcare treatment received elsewhere in the EU will be reimbursed for them by their health authority. Slightly more than half of EU citizens are open to travel to another EU country to seek medical treatment (average 54%). However there were significant differences between the individual countries. In this regard not

M edical : Me di cal Wel lne ss v s . He alth Sp a s

Incompatibility of Domestic and Foreign Destination

only geographical but also cultural distances play a major role. The most prominent reason for medical tourism is a hypothesized unavailability of the necessary treatment in the domestic healthcare system. The hope of better quality (generally, or through a specialist residing elsewhere in Europe) and the promise of quicker access to the necessary treatment are also important motivating factor for patients. Europeans are least likely to look for cheaper treatment when considering the option to obtain health service from another EU country, but still, it plays a role for 48% of those who are open to travel for such a purpose. Better quality of treatment is a more important driver of mobility in the new Member States than in the old ones, while there are less marked differences in the other aspects investigated. The 42% who are not willing to travel abroad for treatment are motivated by distinctly different reasons in the old and the new Member States. Generally, the survey found that citizens in the EU15 zone are deterred by their satisfaction with domestic services, and the convenience of local treatment (which are the dominant reasons of a sedentary patient attitude at the EU27 level too), while those in the NMS zone are more likely to be discouraged by affordability problems. S e ptemb er, 2 0 0 9

Although this general openness for treatments abroad is impressing numerous restrictions reduce the real demand for health care services abroad. These are especially system-inherent incompatibilities of the homeland and the travel destination abroad. Additionally there are differences in the service-product maturity in the EE-country and the country of origin of the potential client. Can the expectations of the foreigners be met? Comprehensive reforms, which are partly supported by the EU, aim at decentralization and partial privatization of health-systems. The mostly centralist-communist history of the EE-countries resulted in partly missing, partly strongly outdated infrastructure and still missing market-based mindset. People work at many points to reduce these restrictions.

National-orientated Health Insurance The social codes and health-systems of the home-countries of potential health tourists are in many cases not global-, but national-orientated. With the Europeans Commission’s adoption of an EU-directive on cross-border health care as a part of the Social Agenda on the 2nd of July 2008 the patient transfer within EU-borders should become easier and systematic. If the health insurance is not ready to finance a treatment abroad, the readiness to travel to another EE-country for social cures or prevention programs falls. On the German health insurance market different policies can be found. One of the major players, the statutory health insurer AOK (~ 25 million insured) is not interested in contracting cure-providers from EE-countries. There would be a lack of transparency which results in uncertainty on the demand side due to an unmanageable quantity of

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providers. As the social code book gives patients the possibility to receive unique necessary treatments abroad, the AOK uses a case-by-case solution for the reimbursement. The same procedure is valid for the German Pension Fund (Deutsche Rentenversicherung), which tries to process all its treatments in its own hospitals/clinics in Germany. The Austrian private insurance Merkur offers prevention-weekends/-checks in Austrian hotels, but does not plan to expand their product-portfolio with co-operations in EE-countries. Another German TK health insurance company in co-operation with the European Spa Association is actively testing the foreign providers and has a special catalogue for cures abroad, which also includes EE-providers. Many company health insurance funds (BKK) bundle their demand (~14 million) via specialized, outsourced service providers, which make the contracts also with EE-providers and have a strong bargaining position.

Successful Strategies of Eastern European Top Providers Health tourism is a question of system-change in Eastern European Countries (EEC). The providers, which played a role in the old socialist central systems nowadays, are forced to rethink their strategies and follow a market-based, customer-oriented point of view as they face a global competition. Meanwhile a small group of top-cure and medicalwellness-providers with a high reputation (ever since) have very good chances – especially those with globally-unique natural resources. These are the ones, which are most likely to be found in the approval lists of the health insurances and also in the catalogues of specialized travel agents and tour operators like fitreisen or Euromed or on the lists of the Arabian health ministries, which partly finance complete health journeys. Besides Germany and Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia and

M edical : Me di cal Wel lne ss v s . He alth Sp a s

Uncertainties of Small Providers Small providers often feel uncertain with respect to the supply of clients. They are confident only about the national insurance landscape and don’t have a comprehensive knowledge of the products of competitors from abroad. Therefore they do not have the skill to set incentives for foreign health insurances or well-experienced self-payers. But the traditional insured patients are a dying customer segment due to reduced financial reimbursements. The trend towards more prevention and medical wellness and the growing group of self-payers produce market mechanisms and preferences, which are not in line with ailing facilities with a high need of refurbishment and with a rational-medical-mindset alone. Consequently the primary customer group for these facilities remains the insured patient who generates a low income, as the national health insurances are not paying the price premium which is charged for foreign health insurers or self-payers ‘from time to time’.

Attractive Domestic Market and System-Modernization Slovenia are frequently found in the catalogues of the cure market. Established top providers like the Thermae Piestany (Slovakia) have an extensive marketing and sales know how, and a developed network of relationships to decision makers on the highest political level, travel agents, airlines in diverse countries. They strive for an exclusive market position and want to be in the evoked set with destinations like Baden Baden or Monte Grotto. The Austrian Rogner benefits from his reputation in his homecountry and has two resorts in the Hungarian cure destinations Hévíz and Sárvár (Franchise). The knowledge about the countries of origin, certifiS e ptemb er, 2 0 0 9

cates from Austria and Germany and cooperation with a health insurance company facilitate a high demand and occupancy rate, although the legislation is demanding when it comes to the use of thermal springs. Other local providers with outdated facilities suffer enormous decreas in demand like some of the hotels of the Hungarian Danubius group, a former state-owned enterprise, which owns a big number of spa hotels and facilities in the EE-countries. What is also important are available flight routes and the distance from the airports. Visa-regulations like Schengen complicate the entry of specific target groups.

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The domestic market is getting increasingly attractive. But despite the higher level of prosperity the national supply only partly profits from increasing numbers of domestic clients due to greater interest in travelling abroad and the wide choices. The challenge to keep the financially strong domestic clients within own borders is immanent. The top cure providers try with great effort to adapt the old, centralistic systems to the international, market economy and competition. One manager said: “Today I often feel like a trainer with a fit team in a full stadium, in which every spectator knows better than me, how to play the game.” Managers – often of Western origin – invest much time to product development for the mid-agers (55+), sport clubs and foreign guests with short-trips and the inclusion

M edical : Me di cal Wel lne ss v s . He alth Sp a s of wellness-products. These products however involve inherent potential target group conflicts between healthy and sick customers and can lead to blurred market positions. Terms and conditions for tourists from some countries (e.g. Schengen Visa) complicate the entry of certain target groups. Other problems for providers in the field of price policy are high levels of inflation in some countries which lower the growth of profits and in the HRM the emigration of qualified personnel to wealthy neighbor states.

Price and Quality Competition In the self-payers market – like often the dental medicine or esthetic surgery – besides quality the reduction of costs plays an important role when choosing the travel destination. Here some CEE/ SEE countries have instant advantages due to the location (low taxes, low personnel costs) in comparison to countries like Great Britain, the USA, Germany or Austria, which are still comparatively infrequently exploited. Internet portals are specialized on the soliciting of medical tourist and foreign providers. They often primarily underline the price difference between the treatments abroad and the domestic costs. Besides two well-known platforms based in Great Britain for instance the EU-candidate coun-

try Turkey has a portal which advertises the first local clinics having international certificates. In this context a very popular accreditation for hospitals is the one of the Joint Commission International (JCI), an American NPO. Due to the Euro-implementation and a growing harmonization of the legislation in the countries within EU-borders, price differences in the single European market will be relative in the long-term. The quality of services will be the buyers’ focus. This gives new chances for top providers in countries like Austria and Germany. All in all there are system-related challenges and modernization requirements which hinder an effective exploitation of the existing market potential today. With an adjustment of outdated strategies and structures on national and entrepreneurial levels following the (new) market conditions these potentials could be used as several excellent providers and their destinations already impressively exemplify. Photos: TR, CzechTourism By Matthias Buchholz KOHL & PARTNER International Tourism Consultancy, matthias.buchholz@kohl.at. http://www.kohl-int.com

15-17 November

Al Bustan Rotana, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

15-17 November

Al Bustan Rotana, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

15-17 November

Al Bustan Rotana, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

A Global Event dedicated to the complete supply chain of the Medical Travel Industry “We’ve had good visibility A Global Event dedicated to the complete supply chain here. We’ve had a lot of This event brings hundreds of experts,Industry executives and senior of the Medical Travel exchange of experience A Global Event dedicated to the complete supply chain management teams together on a ground breaking platform that is both targeted towards and truly representative of the total travelhundreds industry. of experts, executives and senior This medical event brings

“We’ve had good visibility amongst colleagues from here. We’ve had a lot can of around the world….I exchange of experience “We’ve had good visibility only assume that it will amongst colleagues here. had a lotfrom of attractWe’ve more delegates around theofworld….I can” exchange experience and exhibitors next year only assume that it will amongst colleagues from attract delegates around the world….I can NASER more SALEH and exhibitors next year ” only assume that itand will Director of Marketing Sales American Hospital, Dubai, attract more delegatesUAE 2008 Exhibitor NASER SALEH next year ” and exhibitors

of the Medical Travel Industry

management teams together on aatground breaking platform Discover New Opportunities Healthcare Travel that is both targeted towards and truly representative of the Exhibition & Congress This event brings hundreds of experts, executives and senior total medical travel industry.2009: management together on a ground platform Network withteams up to 40 international industry breaking experts and speakers that is bothNew targeted towards andat truly representative of the Discover Opportunities Healthcare Travel Attend high-level conference and workshops total medical travel industry. Exhibition & Congress 2009:

Share best practices with your peersHealthcare and showcase your brand Discover New Network with upOpportunities to 40 internationalatindustry expertsTravel and speakers Develop alliances with health and tourism organisations from Exhibition & Congress 2009: Attend high-level conference and workshops the Middle East, and Asia industry experts and speakers Network with up toEurope 40with international Share best practices your peers and showcase your brand Attend Develophigh-level alliances conference with health and and workshops tourism organisations from Share best practices with and yourAsia peers and showcase your brand the Middle East, Europe Develop alliances with health and tourism organisations from the Middle East, Europe and Asia

Gain more by exhibiting

Book your stand today Gain more by exhibiting Book your stand today Gain more by exhibiting T : +971 4 336 5161

E : healthcare-travel@iirme.com

Book today T : +971 4your 336 5161 stand E : healthcare-travel@iirme.com T : +971 4 336 5161

S e ptemb er, 2 0 0 9

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E : healthcare-travel@iirme.com

Director of Marketing and Sales American Hospital, Dubai, UAE NASER SALEH 2008 Exhibitor Director of Marketing and Sales

Organised by:

American Hospital, Dubai, UAE 2008 Exhibitor

Organised by:

W : www.healthcare-travel.com

Organised by:

W : www.healthcare-travel.com W : www.healthcare-travel.com

M edical : Me di cal Wel lne ss v s . He alth Sp a s

In the Style of Singapore: Environment-Friendly Spas

ingapore is proving to be a dynamic regional hub not only in conducting business but also as an ideal location to restore the mind, the body, and the spirit. Dubbed as the spa hub of Southeast Asia, the spa industry in Singapore continues to enjoy a buoyant business despite the current ecoS e ptemb er, 2 0 0 9

nomic downturn. With increased demand for spa services, spa operators are often exploring areas for providing value added services to the customers. In fact, its focus on introducing environmental initiatives to fight against global warming serves not only to protect the environment but also the health and well-being of customers. Many spa establishments are advocates of environmentalism and in their objective to go “green” continue to strive in minimizing operational impact on the environment through resource conservation. The industry typically uses environmental resources such as water and energy for a myriad of treatments and hydro-therapy facilities such as saunas, steam rooms, whirlpools, jacuzzis and/or vichy showers. It has now become essential that the spa industry be vigilant and express care in reducing environmental waste in its effort to raise awareness on the benefits of health and wellness. More and more spas are also showing their commitment to incorporate sustainable earth policies in running their businesses by providing robes made of natural fibers, recycling containers, use of natural lighting or switching to energy-efficient lightbulbs, the use of faucet aerators and showerheads to reduce water consumption, to eco-friendly chemicals for cleaning and yet not compromising overall hygiene. It is also a well-known fact that the use of natural products helps in the rejuvenation of the body. Spas even go beyond the main concept of offer-

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ing spa treatments in natural ambience but also including the use of naturally made products for treatments. The use of organic products provides total wellness transformation that is less chemically intensive and enhances the value-added factor in the overall satisfaction of the consumer. This has not been a practice before due to the scarcity of organic products. However, this is no longer the case as organic and other naturally made products are now readily available in the market. In finding the greenest ways to run spa establishments, the primary goal is not only to reduce carbon footprint but also to serve as centers for healing and wellness. Spas can dedicate to provide the best service to the customers while still remaining profitable. The importance of caring for the environment is becoming more embedded in our daily lifestyle and awareness for the environment has taken new heights. Without compromising the services provided to the customers, spa operators are adopting environmentally safe practices in an effort to “green-up” their daily operations to serve as wellness centers and spas. Spa establishments are indeed open to learning and adopting new policies to stay “green” and this will be a philosophy to stay for many generations to come. By Spa Association Singapore http://www.spaassociation.org.sg

M e d i c a l To u r i s m F a c i l i t a t o r s | E U R O P E

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Danmark

Austria PREMIUM HEALTH SOLUTIONS | Horst Bruggraber Operngasse 2 Vienna, 1010

POLENTAND | V/ Europe Service & Info Guide Hareskovvej 19 DK - 4400 Kalundborg

Belgium

France

ELECTIVE SURGERY EUROPE | Wouwstraat 94 B-2540 Hove

ERCO TRAVELS Pvt Ltd | 43bis, rue du Dauphin 69 003 Lyon

EYESURGERY BELGIUM | Begijnhoflaan 115 9000 Gent

INDIA TOURISM PARIS | 11-13, Boulevard Haussmann 75009 Paris

Canada

Germany

AXIOM HEALTH SOLUTIONS | 177 Westfield Trail Oakville, ON L6H 6H7

INDIA TOURISM FRANKFURT | Baseler Str. 48 60329 Frankfurt

GOSCULPTURA INC | 1200 Sherbrooke West Office 2200 Montreal, Quebec, H3A 3L6

SURGICAL EXPERTS INTERNATIONAL | Harderstrasse 11 85049 Ingolstadt

IMPERIAL AMERICAN EXPRESS TRAVEL SERVICES | 5757 Cavendish Blvd, Suite 410 Montreal, QC. H4W 2W8

BIG SMILE INTERNATIONAL | Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery Universitetsklinikum Sigmund-Freud-Strasse 25 53127 Bonn

MEDSOLUTION | #2001-7495 132nd Street Surrey, British Columbia, V3W 1J8

Greece

MEDTOURWELLNESS INC | 1035 McNicoll Ave, Toronto, ON M1W 3W6

ADVANCED AESTHETICS GREECE | Sygrou Avenue 284 Athens 17673

OVERSEAS MEDICAL SVC CANADA INC | Aruna Th-Hollingshead 1771-1 Ave NW Calgary, AB T2N 0B2

COSMETIC SURGERY ABROAD | 17 Dim. Soutsou str. Mavili square, Athens

SLOVAMED INTERNATIONAL NORTH AMERICA | 3854 Jenn-Lynn Court Orillia, Ontario L3V 6H2 SURGICAL TOURISM CANADA | 3620 Catalina Blvd. North East Calgary, Alberta T1Y 6W6

Hungary BUDAPEST HEALTHCARE | Budapest, 1023, Oktober 6 u. 3.

Croatia

DANUBIUS GRAND HOTEL MARGITSZIGET | 1138 Budapest Margitsziget 4th / 8

COSMETIC SURGERY DR. TONCIC | Kresimirov trg 15 10 000 Zagreb

PERFECT CONTOURS KFT. | Kovori u. 1 Budapest 1028

Cyprus

Irel and

PICTURE PERFECT MEDICAL COORDINATORS | P.O. Box 59528 4010 Mesa Geitonia Lemesos

REVAHEALTH.COM | Rear Westland Court 44 Westland Row Dublin 2

Czech R epublic

Italy

BEAUTY IN PRAGUE | Truhlarska 24 110 00 Prague 1

INDIA TOURISM MILAN | Via-Albricci-9 21022 Milan

MEDICAL PRESTIGE, S.R.O. | Na Nivech 21 Praha 4 141 00

L at via

MEDOPT (MEDICAL OPTION TRAVELS) L.T.D.| cs. Legic 131 503 46 Trebechovice pod Orebem

BALTIC LINK LATVIA | Riga , Darzauglu 1 - 106, LV - 1012

PRAGUE MAKEOVER | Pod Kastany 19 Suite 522 160 00 Prague 6

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M e d i c a l To u r i s m F a c i l i t a t o r s | E U R O P E

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L ithuania

Spain

BALTIC MEDTOUR | 24B Olandu St. Vilnius LT-01210 MEDICAL TRAVEL LT | L. Zamenhofo str. 7 Kaunas, LT-44287 TEAM HOLIDAY | Siaures av. 101-40, Kaunas LT-49238

Netherl ands

COSMETIC SURGERY BCN | c/ Escuelas Pias 103, 08017 Barcelona J&C MEDICAL CONSULTANTS, S.L | Avda.Ricardo Soriano, 65 - 5/ 2 Edif.Rincon del Mar - 29600 Marbella MILLS & MILLS MEDICAL GROUP S.L. | MHC International Private Hospital Casa Sta. Isabel Urb. Las Mimosas 29660 Nueva Andalucia Marbella

Tunisia

ERCO REIZEN | Dordtselaan 144d 3073 GL, Rotterdam INDIA TOURISM AMSTERDAM | Rokin 9-15 1012 KK Amsterdam

Norway

Surgery & Holiday by newLook | 14, rue Imem Abou Hanifa B4 2078 La Marsa COSMETICA TRAVEL | Immeuble MINIAR Rue des Lacs de Mazurie apt1, B1 Les Berges du Lac 1053

SCANHEALTH SCANDINAVIA | Haraldsgt 139, entrance Sorhauggaten Postbox 175 5501 Haugesund

Turkey CTG HEALTHCARE | Akdeniz cad. Akdeniz ishani No:5 D:201 Pasaport Izmir (35220)

Pol and

DEKO Health Tourism and Organization | Cayhane Sokak No:7/12 Gazi Osman Pasa / Ankara

DENTAL TRAVEL AGENCY | Old Town Krakow

TURSET REISE & DIALYSE ORGANISATION | Perge Bulv. 124/5 07100 Antalya

EUROMEDITRAVEL | Ul.Szczecinska 15-16 54-517 Wroclaw

FOUNTAINMEDICAL | 40-730 Katowice HEALTH TOURISM | ul. Knapowskiego 17/4 60-126 Poznan

BALTIC LINK | 3. Spencer Parade, Office No 3,Northampton, NN1 5AA

IQ MEDICA | Ostrobramska 101 street 04-041 Warsaw

BEAUTIFUL BEINGS | 10 Birch Road, Stowmarket Suffolk IP14 3EZ

MEDICA TRAVEL | UL Msciwoja II nr 5 80-384 Gdansk MEDICONSULT | Srowacka 13d / 3 71-771 Szczecin MEDITOUR | ul. Komandorska 118/120 53-345 Wroclaw

Romania

BODY BEAUTIFUL COSMETIC HOLIDAYS LTD | Legal Chambers, 119 Yorkshire Street, Rochdale, Lancashire, OL16 1DS BRITISH-HUNGARIAN MEDICAL SERVICE | 178 Elmbridge Avenue Berrylands, Surbition, Surrey, KT5 9HF CONTINENTAL MEDICAL SOLUTIONS | I-CSC House 7 KIngsley Way Whiteley Fareham Hampshire PO15 7NL CTG HEALTHCARE - UK Office | 1 Northumberland Avenue Trafalgar Square London WC2N 5BW

MEDICAL TOURS ROMANIA | Pitesti, Nicolae Balcescu, L5/ B/ 4

DENTIST ABROAD | 26A Parkway London NW1 7AH

Slovakia

DENTIST4UK | 6 Richmond Road Sutton Coldfield B73 6BJ

SLOVAMED INTERNATIONAL | Palirikova 17 Bratislava 811 04

DIRECT HEALTHCARE INTERNATIONAL LIMITED | C/O 26 York Street London W1U 6PZ. EUROHEALTH | Old Malden Lane Old Malden Surrey KT4 7PX EUROPA INTERNATIONAL | Czechmate International Ltd. (1995) T/As Europa International 3 Ludlow Avenue, Luton LU1 3RW

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EUROPEAN OBESITY CARE | The 401 Centre 302 Regent Street W1B 3HH London EUSURGERY, LTD. | 21A Penwidth Road Earsfield, London SW18 4QB GLOBE HEALTH TOURS LTD | 55 Constitution Street Edinburgh EH6 7BG

THE MEDICAL TOURIST COMPANY | PO Box 467 Harrow HA2 2AX THE TAJ MEDICAL GROUP LIMITED | The TechnoCentre Coventry University Technology Park Puma Way Coventry CV1 2TT TOURISM RESEARCH & MARKETING | 115 Hartington Rd, London, SW8 2HB

INDIA TOURISM LONDON | 7 Cork Street WIS 3LH London

FRENCH COSMETIC SURGERY LTD | 286B Chase Road London N14 68F

INTUITION COMMUNICATION LTD | 3 Churchgates The Wilderness Berkhamsted, HP4 2UB KERALA MEDICAL | Catsbrain Farmhouse, Worminghall Rd, Oakley, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP18 9UL

USA

LINDA BRIGGS | Phoenix House, Main Street Welney, Norfolk, PE14 9RB

ARABMEDICARE | P.O. Box 12547 Research Triangle Park, N.C.27709

LOTUS MEDICARE LIMITED | 68, Cranbrook Rise Ilford, Essex IG1 3QH

ASSURANT HEALTH | 501 W. Michigan Street Milwaukee, WI 53203

MED DE TOUR | Regus House, 268 Bath Road, Slough, Berks SL1 4DX

ATLANTIC HEALTH GROUP | 1415 North Loop West Houston, TX 77008

MED TRAVEL WORLD | HarrowUnit-C2, 477-479 Whippendell Road Watford, WD 187 PU, London

AXIOM HEALTH SOLUTIONS | 9508 Barroll Lane Kensigton, MD 20895

MEDIBROKER LIMITED | Medibroker House 17 Seatonville Road Whitley Bay Tyne & Wear, NE25 9DA

CLINIC INTERNATIONAL | 11201 122nd Ave N. #239, Largo, FL. 33778

MEDICAL TREATMENT OVERSEAS LTD | 28, Monk Rd Wallasey Merseyside CH44 1AJ

COLUMBUS MEDICAL CORPORATION | 668 N Coast Hwy # 262, Laguna Beach, CA

NEW YOU ABROAD | 48 Havelock Street Swindon Wiltshire SN1 1SD

COMPANION GLOBAL HEALTHCARE, INC. | I-20 at Alpine Rd., AF-324 Columbia, SC 29219

OPERATIONS ABROAD | 285 Ormskirk Road, Holland Moor, Lancashire, WN8 9AH OXYGEN ZONE UK | 14 Gray's Inn Road, London WC1X 8HN

COSMETICVACATIONS, LLC | Park Plaza Professional Building 120 East Oakland Park Blvd #105-1A Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33334

PERFECT PROFILES | 30 Bedford Road Houghton Regis Bedfordshire LU5 5DJ

GLOBAL MED NETWORK, LLC | 5823 Middlebelt Road, Suite #100 Garden City, MI 48135

POLISH MY SMILE | 48 Bridge Avenue Hanwell London W7 3DJ

GLOBAL MEDICAL SERVICES INC | 135 Weston Road Suite 132 Weston, FL 33326

REVITALISE BRAZIL LTD | 29 Gildredge Road Eastbourne East Sussex BN21 4RU

HEALTHBASE ONLINE INC | 287 Auburn Street, Newton, MA

REVITALIZE-IN-TURKEY | Tunnelli Tourism Ltd, 1440/6, Balpa, Balcova, Izmir SAHARA GLOBAL UK | 7 Soho Square London - W1D 3QB

HEALTHCARE TOURISM INTERNATIONAL, INC. | P.O. Box #251444 Los Angeles, CA 90025-1444 HELLOMD.COM | 7561 FM 1960 East, #202 Kingwood, Texas 77346

SMILE SAVERS HUNGARY LTD | 18 A Portland Place Brighton BN2 1DH

INDUSHEALTH, INC. | 7413 Six Forks Rd. #362 Raleigh, NC 27615

SUPEREPS INTERNATIONAL | High Holborn House, 52 - 54 High Holborn, London WC1V 6RB

LOTUS MEDICARE LIMITED USA | 2220 Spruce Street, Apartment 4B Philadelphia, PA 19103

SURGERY ABROAD INTERNATIONAL LTD | Concorde House Trinity Park Solihull West Midlands B37 7UQ

MED JOURNEYS | 2020 Broadway, Suite 4C New York, NY 10023

SURGIGO | Woodrow Medical Centre Woodrow Redditch Worcesterhire B98 7RY

MED TRAVEL WORLD, LLC | 8618 NW 44 Street Sunrise, Florida 33351

THE ADVENTURE TOURISM TRAVEL HEALTH CLINIC | Leith Mount Surgery, 2 Lindsay St, Leith, Edinburgh, EH6 4EG

MEDICAL DISCOUNTS INTERNATIONAL | 322 Paseo Tesoro Walnut, CA 91789 MEDICAL EXCURSIONS | 4607 Highgate Drive, Delray Beach, FL

THE DENTAL TOURIST | 3 Hall Cliffe Road, Horbury, Wakefield WF4 6BX

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MEDICAL TOURISM CORPORATION | 7000 Occidental Road, Plano, Tx, 75025

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M e d i c a l To u r i s m F a c i l i t a t o r s | E U R O P E

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USA MEDICAL TOURISM INTERNATIONAL, LLC | 3053 Fillmore Street #218 San Francisco, CA 94123 MEDICAL TOURS INTERNATIONAL NEW YORK | 6 Forge Gate Dr. G 7, Cold Spring, N.Y 10516 MEDRETREAT, LLC | 2042 Laurel Valley Drive Vernon Hills, IL 60061 NEW MEDICAL HORIZONS | The Empire State Building 350 Fifth Ave, Suite 2612 New York NY 10118 PANACEA MEDITOURS | 8202 Tamarron Drive Plainsboro, NJ, 08536 PLENITAS | 2030 Western Avenue, Suite 502 Seattle, WA 98101 PREMIUM MEDICAL TOURISM | 4708 Grainary Ave, Tampa, FL RECOVER DISCOVER HEALTHCARE | 2112 Baltusrol Dr. Austin, TX 78747-1202 SAHARA MEDICAL TOURISM SAHARA GLOBAL NEW JERSEY | 379, Thornall Street 5th Floor, Edison, NJ 08837 THE TAJ MEDICAL GROUP - New York Office | 408 W 57th Street Suite 9N New York New York 10019 UNIMAR, LLC | 2899 E. Big Beaver Rd. 245 Troy, MI 48083 WE CARE MEDICAL MALL | 23441 Golden Springs Road, Diamond Bar, CA WORLDMEDASSIST, LLC | 1230 Mountain Side Court Concord, CA 94521

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D e s ti n ati o n Bangladesh Beautiful Bangladesh! The land of Royal Bengal Tigers and the greatest mangrove forest of the world. Visit the Sandwip Island, a former pirate stronghold, or Srimangal with miles of tea gardens. Visit the heaven of eco-tourists!

Desti nati on : B ang l ad e sh

Bangladesh: History and Natural Beauty

angladesh is located in the north-eastern part of South Asia. The majestic Himalayas stand some distance to the north, while in the south lays the Bay of Bengal. There is West Bengal border on the west and in the east lie the hilly and forested regions of Tripura, Mizoram (India) and Myan-

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mar. These picturesque geographical boundaries frame a low lying plain of about 1,47,570 square kilometer criss-crossed by innumerable rivers and streams. Mighty rivers are the Padma (Ganges), the Brahmaputra (Jamuna) & the Meghna and the Karnafuli.

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 55 â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

Bangladesh offers many tourist attractions, including archaeological sites, historical mosques and monuments, longest natural beach in the world, picturesque landscape, hill forests and wildlife, rolling tea gardens and tribes. As much of the country has been relatively untouched by modern technol-

Desti nati on : B ang l ad e sh

i • In 2008 Bangladesh drew over 400,000 tourists compared to 2007 when there were 200,000 visitors. • The prime tourist attractions in Bangladesh include the Sundarbans (the world’s largest natural mangrove forest), Cox’s Bazaar and the capital city Dhaka. • Bangladesh has three sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List: Historic Mosque City of Bagerhat, Ruins of the Buddhist Vihara at Paharpur, and The Sundarbans (1997).

ogy and development, tourists find the rich flora and fauna and colorful tribal life very enchanting. Each part of the country offers distinctly different topography, flavors and food. It is home to the Royal Bengal Tigers, freshwater pink dolphins, historical temples made of red earth. Some of the better known tourist attractions are: Srimangal, where miles of tea gardens are located,

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Mainamati, Mahasthangarh, Paharpur for archaeology, Rangamati, Kaptai and Cox's Bazar for sight seeing, and the Sundarbans for wild life and the greatest mangrove forest of the world, as well as Foy's Lake for scenic beauty. Photos: TR, Flickr http://www.bangladesh.gov.bd/

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Desti nati on : B ang l ad e sh

Euromonitor International: Travel and Tourism in Bangladesh

extensive damage to the country and had an obvious negative effect on tourism, especially since most of the infrastructure in the coastal areas was destroyed in the cyclone.

Poor International Image Dampens Prospects for Immediate Recovery Unfortunately, tourism is one of the most neglected markets in Bangladesh. The Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2009 of the World Economic Forum (WEF) ranked Bangladesh as 129th amongst 133 countries. The lack of government support has resulted in poor infrastructure such

Unstable Political Situation Deters Tourists Political unrest and the adverse security situation within Bangladesh deterred both domestic as well as foreign tourists from exploring the country. International tourists feared going to a country with political uncertainty, and even local tourists found S e ptemb er, 2 0 0 9

it safer to venture abroad for tourism, rather than explore Bangladesh.

Natural Disasters Add to Woes Two spells of devastating floods in July and September 2007 were followed by the country's worst cyclone, Sidr, in November 2007. These caused

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TOP 10 Source Countries for Bangladesh Tourism (‘000 people)

Arrivals from India Other countries of origin Arrivals from United Kingdom Arrivals from USA Arrivals from China Arrivals from Nepal Arrivals from Japan Arrivals from South Korea Arrivals from Canada Arrivals from Pakistan ©2009 Euromonitor Internati ona l

2008

105,9 32,6 20,9 11,5 6,8 5,1 5,0 3,1 2,6 2,0

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Bangladesh Accommodation

Forecast 2007 2008 2009 Travel accommodation

Forecast

2008 2010 2012

Hotels

14,6

18,7

22,6

Other travel accommodation

4,5

5,9

7,2

Internet Others

Local Tourists Venture Outwards Instead of Exploring Their Own Country

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7,7 92,3

8,9 91,1

10,4 89,6

as the poor condition of transport and power. The airline sector has also negatively affected tourism due to limited flights, inefficiency at the airports and flight delays. Local travel is hampered by lack of amenities on the highways, as well as poor road conditions.

Outbound travel far exceeds inbound travel in Bangladesh. Increasing disposable incomes led Bangladeshis to explore long haul destinations – both for leisure trips and business. Religious trips and medical tourism are also strong reasons for travel. The prime tourist attractions in Bangladesh include the Sundarbans, Cox's Bazaar and the capital city Dhaka. Despite the presence of some premier Buddhist sites, as well as unexplored ecotourism potential, the poor image of tourism has led to limited awareness of these unexplored tourist attractions. In addition, tourism is seasonal in Bangladesh, with about 25% of arrivals being in the months of December and January. There is also a lack of campaigns to encourage travel outside peak periods.

Bangladesh: Travel Online Sales

Eco-tourism Is a Buzzword Eco-tourists are increasing exponentially worldwide. Therefore, the Bangladesh government has been seriously looking at exploring eco-tourism; taking advantage of the presence of the world's largest natural mangrove forest, the Sundarbans. Adequate water transport and accommodation facilities in the forests are to be created to attract local and foreign tourists; with adequate facilities

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and opportunities, there is immense potential for the Sundarbans and other rural areas for earning through tourism. Tourism in Bangladesh has the potential to spur overall economic development of the country and result in: growth of the Gross Domestic Product; human resource development; poverty alleviation through development of rural livelihood and employment of women; even promotion of local cuisine. It requires extensive preparation with a huge financial backup. It is possible for Bangladesh to use tourism development as an integral tool for economic progress, provided that the necessary infrastructure is put in place. With the realisation of tourism's multi-dimensional potential, including balance of payments, economy diversification, revenue expansion and direct and indirect employment opportunities, it makes perfect sense for Bangladesh to give its tourism industry top priority. (Extract from Euromonitor International’s report “Travel and Tourism in Bangladesh”) Photos: Ambdhaka http://www.euromonitor.com

Desti nati on : B ang l ad e sh

The Sundarbans: World’s Largest Mangrove Ecosystem

economic activities, such as extraction of timber, fishing and collection of honey. The area of Sundarban experiences a subtropical monsoonal climate with an annual rainfall of 1600-1800 mm and severe cyclonic storms. Enormous amount of sediments carried by the three rivers contribute to its expansion and dynamics. Salinity gradients change over a wide range of spatial and temporal scales. Interestingly, the Bangladesh and Indian portion of the forest are listed in the UNESCO world heritage list separately as the Sundarbans, i.e. the “beautiful forest”, and Sundarban National Park respectively, though they are simply parts of the same forest. The Sundarbans is intersected by a complex network of tidal waterways, mudflats and small islands of salt-tolerant mangrove forests, and presents an excellent example of ongoing ecological processes.

The

Sundarbans, covering about one million ha in the delta of the rivers Ganga, Brahmaputra and Meghna at the point where it merges with the Bay of Bengal, is the single largest block of tidal halophytic mangrove forest in the world shared

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between Bangladesh (62%) and India (38%), which supports a large, biodiversity-rich unique ecosystem. With its array of trees and wildlife the forest is a showpiece of natural history. It is also a center of

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Desti nati on : B ang l ad e sh

The area is known for its wide range of flora and fauna. The most famous among these are the maneating Royal Bengal Tigers, but numerous species of birds, spotted deer, crocodiles and snakes also inhabit it. The mangroves have been extensively exploited over centuries for timber, fish and prawns, honey, fodder, or converted for paddy and aquaculture and now it faces the serious challenges for its existence. Javan rhino, wild buffalo, hog deer, and barking deer are already extinct from the area. While conservation efforts have focused on wildlife, parS e ptemb er, 2 0 0 9

ticularly tiger, through creation of several sanctuaries and a biosphere reserve, reduced freshwater inflows are a serious threat as salinity is rising. Heritiera fomes (from which Sundarban derives its name), Nypa fruticans and Phoenix paludosa are declining rapidly. Other threats to biodiversity come from the growing human population, pollution, and a rise in sea level.¨ By Md. Saidur Rahman http://srmilan.tripod.com

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Desti nati on : B ang l ad e sh

SWOT Analysis of the Bangladeshi Tourism Sector

STRENGTHS

Bangladeshi middle and high class and the expatriated community. Inbound tourism registration exist for the period 1996-2005. Average number of inbound tourists in the period was 203.015 tourists. The lowest number of inbound tourists was 165.887 tourists recorded in 1996, the highest was 271.270 tourists in 2004.

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What is the current level of patronage, and how does this compare with past trends? Tourists in Bangladesh are inbound tourists, Bangladeshi middle and high class or expats. There is a lack of knowledge about demand in the Bangladeshi tourism business, particular regarding the

What products are accentually and potentially available? Due to historical isolation Bangladeshi culture and history is distinct from many countries. Bangladesh offers a variety of natural and cultural tourist destinations, some on the UNESCO Heritage List. The national transport, whether it is by air, land or water, is cheap although the existing slow transportation by road, rail and water can be an adventure with the right positive attitude. A variety of tourist accommodation facilities are offered in rural and urban Bangladesh. Most investment has been done in the business related tourism and the metropolitan cities. Bangladesh is concerned with safeguarding a heritage damaged by increased salinity and climate change. Nevertheless sustainable commercial use of these resources is often low, which affects the standard for preservation, development and level of international appeal. Bangladesh is a fairly new and rarely visited inbound tourist destination, which can attract an adventure searching tourist market. The world image of Bangladesh can be inspired by several new sustainable tourist attractions to increase the understanding of the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s history and developing challenges. The interest in the effects of global warming can affect the inbound travel market in Bangladesh, as the country is one of the 10 countries most vulnerable to a rise in sea level. The tourism potential in Bangladesh can be developed through implementation of multilateral and

Desti nati on : B ang l ad e sh inter-regional projects or co-operation with foreign travel companies. Who are the customers, and how are they segmented? Bangladesh attracts inbound tourists from many countries; several pull-factors are expected and the tourist activity is spread throughout the year. South Asia and Europe are the larges inbound regions and India, UK and USA are the largest inbound countries. Local travel market is part of the growing urban population, which lives similarly to their Western counterparts. 12 million passport holders and a decrease in annual working days since 2005 are estimated to have a positive effect on the local travel market. Expatriated Bangladeshis represent a word of mouth access to several potential national target markets. Moving back to their native country some of them also represent a valuable skilled workforce in the tourism sector. The urban expatriated community in Bangladesh represents a variety of nationalities. The average years of stay are between 2-5 years. What are the activities and behavior of the costumers? In terms of existing tourist products, both inbound and home market, Rajshahi, Sylhet, Chittagong and Khulna Division are the main tourist divisions. Sundarbarns, Coxâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Bazar and Chittagong Hill Tracks are some of the most popular tourist destinations. To what extent are costumers satisfied with the available products? Several travel experienced expats argue that the best experiences in Bangladesh are to be found outside Dhaka. What are the available financial and human resources? The tourism industry has low construction, running and salary expenses. Labor force is reliable S e ptemb er, 2 0 0 9

and abundant. English is commonly used by the tourism industry. The national aviation industry are expanding, as the Bangladeshi aviation industry followed the globally growth rate in 2007.

WEAKNESSES

What products are available? Several factors, e.g. amount of garbage and the condition of several attractions, indicate that the existing tourism business is not sustainable. The accessibility to tourist destinations and accommodations is negatively affected by non-availability of adequate infrastructure, including domestic and international transportation. Existing beach life,

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Bangladeshi style, includes mud flats destinations loathed during high season. This can not be sold as a typical western mass tourism destination. The existing low inbound tourism demand indicates that fundamental product and promotion improvement is required. Tourism products should relate to the fact that Bangladesh is a modern Muslim society and a densely populated developing country, which has been historically isolated. Sustainable tourism product is one such solution. Tourists, especially inbound tourists, need a guide or high level of knowledge to travel safely and responsibly (culture and nature awareness) in Bangladesh. To what extent are costumers satisfied with the available products? Several tourist products do not live up to a western concept of quality and service. Travelling time and safety are relevant obstacles to the local expat target market. Social insecurity: Local people do not have experience with tourists, so visitors sometime feel uneasy in some places. Several expats, who have no experience with urban Bangladesh, base their perception of rural Bangladesh on their impressions of the capital city. What are the available financial and human resources? The Bangladeshi level of investments in travel & tourism is not exceptional, compared with regional and worldwide annual investment. The tourism industry is vulnerable due to a short high season and a large local market share. There is a lack of educated staff. The tourism industry is still quite young in Bangladesh, and its development has been predominantly left to the local market forces. The tourism development is largely uncontrolled as no marketing or developing policy exists, in spite of the fact that the Bangladeshi government and private tourist sector are represented by several organisations (Parjatan and TOAB).

Desti nati on : B ang l ad e sh There is a lack of knowledge about the demand, supply and competitors in the Bangladeshi tourism business. There is a low level of co-operation and innovation in the tourism sector. Tourism industry lacks marketing professionalism, which is severely crippling the industry’s inbound tourism growth. In the home market every company is generally on their own when they want to promote the destination. It is expensive and ineffective for local operators to reach the worldwide market at the current time. The inbound tourism marketing is primarily preformed by few foreign tour operators. This fact indicates that the Bangladeshi tour operators are losing income to their foreign competitors.

Inbound travel pattern to nearby tourist countries correspond to the best travel season in Bangladesh. Bangladesh has a strategic stopover position in the region to the largest inbound tourist destination in the region, India, as well as two prominent world ecotourism destination, Nepal and Bhutan.

THREATS Infrastructural development is required; especially the state of the roads and rails is a significant obstacle for the tourism sector. Technological development is also required. The climatic changes through out the year (and in the future) have considerable implications for travelling in Bangladesh since the country occasionally experiences harsh storms, floods and earthquakes. The country also has a worldwide image of poor land with numerous natural catastrophes and corruption. The national tourism sector is negatively affected by the lack of social and political commitment. The preservation of natural and historical attractions is just one of the challenges that the Bangladeshi society has to face.

OPPORTUNITIES Bangladesh is a democratic Muslim state more interested in national development challenges than in the conflicts between the ‘Western’ and ‘Muslim’ world. The country embraces liberal democracy, has a generally homogeneous society and one dominant religion. The interim government provides travellers with a form of relative stability while fighting corruption and bureaucratic procedures. Despite some unfathomable hindrances national economy is improving and the country is showing positive development. The seasonal weather is relatively stable; especially the cold season is comfortable for travelling. The population speaks Bangla and English – the latter by the well educated urban people. Strong linguistic, cultural and

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historical connections exist to England, Pakistan and India. The number of tourists in Bangladesh is estimated to increase due to generally growing local, regional and world tourism travel activities. Responsible tourism is a growing world market niche.

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(Excerpt from “Introduction to the tourism industry in Bangladesh” by Majbritt Thomson) Photos: Ambdhaka http://www.ambdhaka.um.dk

Desti nati on : B ang l ad e sh

Discover the Hidden Treasures of Sandwip Island

land. The entire island is 50 kilometers long and 5-15 kilometers wide. Sandwip Island in Bangladesh has a great historical legacy. The island itself is about 3000 years old and it has been ruled by many different people over the centuries, including Delwar Khan. It was a Portuguese and Arakanese pirate stronghold during the 17th century and even today some of the architecture on the island reflects this part of the island’s history. However, the governor of Bengal saw fit to put an end to this in 1665 as part of attempts to stop his people from being misled by the wild fancies of these unreligious and thieving individuals. Under British rule its location proved to be a bit of an administrative problem. Today it is well and truly a part of Bangladesh. It is not very developed, but where it is developed you may see remnants of its interesting past.

andwip Island may not be everybody’s idea of a great holiday destination but the more adventurous might want to seek it out and discover its many hidden treasures. The island is located in southeastern Bangladesh and is quite different from other parts of the country. So how exactly is this island different from other parts of the country? For starters, it is an island so it has been more or less separated from

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mainland Bangladesh for many years – even if inhabitants could use a boat to travel between the island and the mainland. What makes it especially unique is that this is not a coastal island – it is a river island that is situated in the Meghna River estuary. Despite its location the island is so big that it is home to almost 400 000 people! There are also as many as fifteen different wards, 62 mahallas and 34 villages on Sandwip Is-

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Desti nati on : B ang l ad e sh

One of the nice things about Sandwip Island in Bangladesh is that it has been formed by silt deposits from the Meghna river. This makes it an incredibly fertile island – something which the people of the island have been exploiting for years. Large crops of rice, dal, vegetables, coconuts, battle leave and wheat have all been grown on the island at some point in its history. Today the main crops are melons, mangos, pineapples, gaab, jam, coco-

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nut and various crops. Sandwip has also gained a reputation for being a premier ship manufacturer. There are a lot of different things to see on this incredible little island – why not visit it and discover them for yourself? Photos: Ambdhaka http://www.bangladesh.com

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I n b o u n d To u r O p e r a t o r s

Desti nati on : B ang l ad e sh

A. B TOURS – Bangladesh 18, Rajhuk Avenue , 3rd Floor, Lal Bhaban, Motijheel, Dhaka – 1000.

HOLY TRAVEL & TOURS – Bangladesh G&A Market (Gr. Floor), 13/1, Paribagh Sonargaon Road, Dhaka -1000

A. INTRACO (BANGLADESH) LTD. – Bangladesh House # 25, 1st Floor, Road # 4, Block # F, Banani, Dhaka – 1213

HOTEL LAKE CASTLE LIMITED – Bangladesh House # I A, Road# 68/ A, Gulshan-2, Dhaka – 1212

ABAKASH PARJATAN LTD. – Bangladesh Al-haj Shamsuddin Mansion(9th Floor), 17 (280 Old) New Eskaton Rood, Mogh Bazar, Dhaka – 1000

HOTEL SUFIA INTERNATIONAL – Bangladesh | Khthaltali, Rangamati IDEAL TOUTISAM SERVICES – Bangladesh House# 146, Room# 2, Block #A, Section # 12, Pallabi, Dhaka – 1216

ADVENTURE CLUB – Bangladesh | 75, HMM Road, Jessore

IMPERIAL HOTEL INTERNATIONAL – Bangladesh | 33, Bangabandhu Avenue, Dhaka – 1000

AL-GAZI TRAVEL LTD. – Bangladesh | 8/2, North South Road, Purana Paltan, Dhaka – 1000

KANIZ TRAVELS – Bangladesh 10-11, Surma Super Market, Airport Road Ambagkhanam, Sylhet – 3100

AMAZING HOLIDAYS – Bangladesh Hotel Victory Building (13th floor), 30/A, Naya Paltan, V.I.P Road, Ramna, Dhaka

KUSHIARA TOURISM LIMITED (KTL) – Bangladesh House # 40, Road # 3, Sector # 13, Uttara Dhaka -1230

AUTHENTIC TOURISM NETWORK – Bangladesh 1557 Hajipara, Singapore Market, (5th floor), Room # 609, 610, Chittagong

MEGHNA VILLAGE (HOLIDAY RESORT) – Bangladesh 1, Azimpur Natun Paltan, Dhaka – 1205

BAN- VOYAGE (TOUR OPERATOR) – Bangladesh House# 28, Road# 3, Sector#4 Uttara Model Town, Dhaka – 1230

MUSA OVERSEAS EXPRESS – Bangladesh | Dargah Gate, Sylhet PRIME TOURISM NETWORK LIMITED – Bangladesh Room# 506, 4ffi Floor, Motaleb Mansion 2, R.K. Mission Road, Dhaka – 1203

BANGLADESH ECOTOURS – Bangladesh | 263, Jubilee Road, Tinpol, Chittagong-4000 BANGLADESH RESORTS & HOTELS LTD. – Bangladesh Marine Drive, Kolatoli New Beach, Cox's Bazar

RIVER AND GREEN TOURS – Bangladesh M.R. Center (6th Floor), House-49, Road-17, Banani C/A, Dhaka -1213

BANGLADESH TOURISM INTERNATIONAL – Bangladesh 13/A, Planner Tower, Suit # 14, Floor # 13, Sonargaon Road, Dhaka – 1000,

SHAH KAMAL TRAVELS AND TOURS – Bangladesh Sylhet Road, Kamalpur Bazar, Moulvibazar – 3200

BANGLADESH TOURS TRAVELS – Bangladesh 332, Free School Stree, Sonargaon Road Hatirpool, Dhaka – 1205

SUNDARBAN TOURISM PLUS – Bangladesh | 299/3, Sonargaon Road, Dhaka – 1205 SURESWAR TRAVELS – Bangladesh 204, Shohid Syed Nazrullslam Sarani, Aziz Co-operative Market (Gr. floor), Room # 31-32-33, Bijoynagar, Dhaka – 1000

BANGLADESH TRAVEL HOMES LTD – Bangladesh House # 20, Road-12, Sector-1 (Ground floor), Uttara Model Town, Dhaka – 1230 BHRAMAN BANGLA – Bangladesh Hotel Farooq (3rd floor), 174 Nawabpur Road , Dhaka – 1100

TIME & TRADE INTERNATIONAL LTD. – Bangladesh Crescent Centre (3rd floor), 36, Topkhana Road, Dhaka

CENTRAL TRAVELS – Bangladesh | 154, Motijheel C/A (Near WAPDA), Dhaka – l000

TRAVEL POINT – Bangladesh | 13, New circular Road, West Malibagh, Dhaka – 1217

GENESIS – Bangladesh Hotel Raj Complex, 154, Kazi Nazrul Islam Road, Sadargahat, Chittagong – 4000

VISIT BANGLA – Bangladesh | 139, Bara Moghbazar, Dhaka – 1217 ZAM ZAM INTERNATIONAL – Bangladesh 5, Hossain Shaheed Suhrawardi Road, Chittagong

HOLIDAY RESORTS BANGLADESH LTD. – Bangladesh Hotel Farooq, 172, Nawabpur Road, Dhaka – 1000

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Fairs & Exhibitions T r av e l / T o u r i s m

i n

SE P T EM B ER

2 0 0 9

b y

r e g i o n s

Fairs & E x hibiti on s : S E P T E M B E R , 2 0 0 9

Western Europe

The TRADE (Travel Retailing and Destination Expo) Show Location

Las Vegas, NV / Andorra

Start / End

13 September 2009 / 15 September 2009

Provider

American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA)

Contact

asnider@astahq.com

Top Resa 2009 Location

Paris - Porte de Versailles / France

Start / End

22 September 2009 / 25 September 2009

Provider

Reed Travel Exhibitions, Reed Exhibitions Companies

Contact

commercial.topresa@reedexpo.fr

Tourism and Climate Change

Norvei Caravan & Fritid Location

Lillestrom / Norway

Start / End

10 September 2009 / 13 September 2009

Provider

Norges Varemesse

Contact

post@upl.no

Scandinavian Caravan Show Location

Jonkoping / Sweden

Start / End

10 September 2009 / 13 September 2009

Provider

Elmia Fairs

Contact

jorgen.nystrom@elmia.se

PSP Southampton Boat Show

Location

London / UK

Start / End

22 September 2009 / 22 September 2009

Provider

Tourism Society

Contact

flo@tourismsociety.org

Group Leisure & Travel Trade Show Location

Birmingham / UK

Start / End

23 September 2009 / 24 September 2009

Provider

YPL Exhibitions

Contact

emma.c@yandellmedia.com

Züspa Location

Zurich / Switzerland

Start / End

25 September 2009 / 04 October 2009

Provider

MCH Swiss Exhibition (Zurich) Ltd.

Contact

zuespa@messe.ch

MITM Euromed, Meetings & Incentive Travel Market

Location

Hampshire / UK

Location

Oviedo / Spain

Start / End

11 September 2009 / 20 September 2009

Start / End

28 September 2009 / 29 September 2009

Provider

National Boat Shows

Provider

info@boatshows.co.uk

G.S.A.R. Marketing

Contact

gsar@gsamark.com

More events related to Travel/Tourism can be found here If you are an event provider you may consider to place your event in the above category, please click here If your event already is in the list you may consider using the enhanced listing. For replacement just click here

— 68 —

Fairs & E x hibiti on s : S E P T E M B E R , 2 0 0 9 Universite dete du Tourisme Rural Location

Vichy / France

Start / End

10 September 2009 / 13 September 2009

Provider

30 September 2009 / 02 October 2009

Contact

Source

Trends and Perspectives for Accessible Tourism Location

Vienna / Austria

Start / End

30 September 2009 / 01 October 2009

Provider

ENAT

Contact

info@enatcongress2009.info

— 69 —

Fairs & E x hibiti on s : S E P T E M B E R , 2 0 0 9

CENTR AL Europe

LUXURY Leisure Moscow Location

Moscow / Russia

Start / End

22 September 2009 / 24 September 2009

Provider

Euroexpo

Contact

luxury@euroexpo-vienna.com

MIBEXPO Russia Location

Moscow / Russia

Start / End

22 September 2009 / 24 September 2009

Provider

Euroexpo

Contact

mibexpo@euroexpo-vienna.com

SPA & Health Conference Moscow

Hotels & Restaurants

Location

Moscow / Russia

Start / End

23 September 2009 / 23 September 2009

Provider

Euroexpo

Contact

luxury@euroexpo-vienna.com

International Travel Show TT Warsaw Tour & Travel

Location

Novosibirsk / Russia

Start / End

08 September 2009 / 10 September 2009

Location

Warsaw / Poland

Provider

The Siberian Fair

Start / End

24 September 2009 / 26 September 2009

Contact

welcome@sibfair.ru

Provider

Miedzynarodowe Targi Polska

Contact

ttwarsaw@mtpolska.com.pl

DOtdykh Leisure Moscow Location Start / End

Moscow / Russia 22 September 2009 / 25 September 2009

Provider

Euroexpo

Contact

leisure@euroexpo-vienna.com

INWETEX – CIS Travel Market Location

St. Petersburg / Russia

Start / End

30 September 2009 / 02 October 2009

Provider

“RESTEC™ Exhibition Company”

Contact

main@restec.ru

Slovenska Zima Location

Banska Bystrica / Slovakia

Start / End

22 September 2009 / 24 September 2009

Provider

BB EXPO s.r.o.

Contact

bbexpo@isternet.sk

— 70 —

Fairs & E x hibiti on s : S E P T E M B E R , 2 0 0 9

North America

THETRADESHOW Location

Las Vegas / United States of America

Start / End

13 September 2009 / 15 September 2009

Provider

THETRADESHOW

Contact

attend@thetradeshow.org

Travel Leadership Summit Location

Washington D.C. / United States of America

Start / End

16 September 2009 / 17 September 2009

Provider

U.S. Travel Association

Contact

mgong@ustravel.org

Travel Distribution Summit North America

La Cumbre - The Americas Travel Industry Summit

Location

Chicago, IL / United States of America

Start / End

16 September 2009 / 17 September 2009

Provider

Eyefortravel

Contact

helen@eyefortravel.com

Louisville Travel, Adventure & Culinary Experience

Location

San Juan, Puerto Rico / United States of America

Location

Louisville / United States of America

Start / End

09 September 2009 / 11 September 2009

Start / End

25 September 2009 / 27 September 2009

Provider

Reed Travel Exhibitions

Provider

kelly@incredible.travel

Contact

deboralachter@prensalacumbre.com.ar

Contact

RocketStar Shows

HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings National Conference and Exhibition Location

Washington, DC / United States of America

Start / End

09 September 2009 / 10 September 2009

Provider

HSMAI

Contact

info@hsmai.org

St. Louis Travel, Adventure & Culinary Experience Location

St. Louis, MO / United States of America

Start / End

11 September 2009 / 13 September 2009

Provider

Rocket Star Shows

Contact

kelly@rocketstarshows.com

— 71 —

Fairs & E x hibiti on s : S E P T E M B E R , 2 0 0 9

Asia & Pacific

JATA World Travel Fair Location

Tokio / Japan

Start / End

18 September 2009 / 20 September 2009

Provider

Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA)

Contact

expo@jata-wtf.com

PATA Travel Mart 2009 Location

Hangzhou / China

Start / End

22 September 2009 / 25 September 2009

Provider

PATA

Contact

ptm@PATA.org

Hotel Australia Location

Sydney / Australia

Start / End

07 September 2009 / 10 September 2009

Provider

Diversified Business Communications

Contact

mconstant@divexhibitions.com.au

CIBTM - China Incentive, Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition Location

Beijing / China

Start / End

08 September 2009 / 10 September 2009

Provider

Reed Travel Exhibitions

Contact

gardiner@cut-coms.co.uk

India International Travel Mart - Mumbai Location

Mumbai, Maharashtra / India

Start / End

11 September 2009 / 13 September 2009

Provider

Travel Media Networks

Contact

info@iitmindia.com

— 72 —

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Destination

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Problems

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People

Events

Special

TR Partner

Media Partner

Alarm

Advice

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