Tourism building a sustainable tourist guiding sector

The Department of Tourism in partnership with SANParks and the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA), from 18 - 19 February 2016, celebrated the International Tourist Guides Day with a two-day event including activities and programmes ranging from presentations, motivational talks, excursions and workshops in Skukuza, Kruger National Park, Mpumalanga.

©gvn via 123RF

The theme for this year’s celebrations is “Building a Successful and Sustainable Tourist Guiding Sector” with the aim to capacitate tourist guides on sustainable tourism trends within the adventure, nature and cultural sub-sectors of guiding. The theme also emphasizes the opportunities for integration across these sub-sectors which could contribute to a more self-sustainable guiding sector.

Growth and transformation

The deputy director general, Morongoe Ramphele on behalf of the Deputy Minister of Tourism, said that as we celebrate International Tourist Guides Day, we need to continue being the biggest proponents of our brand in order to move South Africa forward. That, in turn, will, of course, bring more tourists to our country and boost our economy.

“We would also like to commend the significant growth that Tourist Guiding has shown in the past few years. ‘’It is worth noting that the number of registered tourist guides increased over the years from 8,657 in 2009/2010 to 11,367 by the end of 2013/2014 financial year which represents a 31% increase”.

“The steady improvement in terms of transformation in the tourist guiding profession is notable given that the proportion of registered tourist guides from previously disadvantaged backgrounds increased from 2,502 in the 2009/2010 financial year to 3,875 guides by the end of the 2014/2015 financial year. This represents an increase of 55% during the said period’’ said Ramphele.

Enhancing tourist guiding

Ramphele noted that it is essential that efforts are made by the government and other tourism partners to enhance the levels and quality of tourist guiding that is offered across the country. Not only will this ensure the integrity of the tourism sector but it will also result in higher levels of tourist satisfaction whilst ensuring its sustainability.

In terms of the legislative programme of the Department, draft regulations have been developed and will be published for public comments during February 2016. Planned consultations will be held in each province to solicit as many inputs from the guiding sector as possible. Tourist guides were encouraged to participate in these consultation process. "Tourist Guides form a pivotal part of the value chain and the Department of Tourism is committed to fulfilling its mandate by extending further opportunities to increase market access and employment opportunities", Ramphele concluded.


http://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/373/141137.html

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#ExploreBauchi: Win the Weekend of a Lifetime to the Yankari National Park

The Yankari National Park is
offering you a chance to win one
FREE weekend to explore Bauchi,
Nigeria's Pearl of Tourism, and
visit the famous Yankari national
park and other great places.

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Yankari National Park is Nigeria’s biggest national park and one of the most popular destinations for tourists in West Africa. It is a wildlife park located in the south-central part of Bauchi State. It covers an area of
about 2,200 square kilometres and is home to several natural warm water
springs, as well as a wide variety of flora and fauna. It is uniquely located to afford tourists and holidaymakers’ opportunities to watch wildlife in their natural habitat.

Yankari is a beautiful, eye-opening, safe, and affordable destination for holidaymakers, tourists and anyone looking for a place to relax and experience nature. If you would like to visit, please fill the form and we will contact you soon

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Vegetarian? Here’s how to survive a trip to Lagos

As a tourist destination, Lagos ticks all boxes when it comes to a great travel experience: lots of entertainment and attractions, scenic landscapes, impressive neighborhoods, and numerous transport options but one thing its is not known for is its vegan food culture.

The concept of “vegetarianism” is not very popular in Lagos, in spite of how metropolitan the city is. A majority of its people love meat and hardly acknowledge the existence of beets, radishes, lettuce and kale; except during special occassions when they include salad as a side dish. This however does not mean that all hope is lost for vegetarians who dare to visit the city. Meat may dominate menus around, but  we have basic tips on how a vegetarian can survive a trip to Lagos.

Rent an apartment

The best option for a vegetarian visiting Lagos is to rent an apartment rather than a hotel or inn. This affords you the flexibility to cook your own meals and takes away the worry of possibly consuming something that is not completely made from vegetables. It also takes away the stress of having to explain to the hotel kitchen staff the ingredients that should be included in your meal.

Be very clear about what you want

Not everyone will understand what you mean by vegetarian, so rather than simply asking if a restaurant offers a vegetarian menu, be specific about what you want to eat and what ingredients you are looking for. That way they do not just say ‘No’ to your order, when in fact they may have those options you actually are looking for. If there is nothing on the menu, make a request. Simply ask for a meal to be prepared with your favorite vegetable(s) instead of chicken or fish. This usually works with a la carte meals.

Seek out restaurants with vegetarian options

Vegetarian food is not hard to come by in Lagos; you just have to know where to look. Actually, from delis in large shopping malls like Park ‘n’ Shop and Shoprite, to proper restaurants, especially Indian and Chinese, there are plenty of places to get healthy vegetarian meals. There are also some cafés and bakeries that specialize in meatless dishes. You will find vegetarian sandwiches, quiches or other baked products that are way cheaper than whole-meat meals.

Stick to Local beverages

While visiting the city of Lagos, it would certainly be great to try local cuisines and delicacies; especially those available on the streets, however, aside from fruits and leafy vegetables, it will be safer to stick to beverages, as most times the local cuisines have meat and fish or the stock included as ingredients. With beverages however, you are safe as they are mostly made from roots and leafs.

By Jovago team

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How To Deal With Strong-Armed Robbery in Lagos Traffic

Lagos, Nigeria’s most beloved city, is famous for the level of traffic commuters in the city have to endure on a daily basis. While the traffic situation can be quite frustrating and tiresome, it is not the time wasted or energy exerted that terrifies these commuters. What they find most dreadful is the possibility of strong-armed robbery in traffic.

Most areas in Lagos, especially on the Island and Peninsula, are well guarded, however, there are key traffic areas where these robberies occur not just at nights, but in broad daylight,. These areas include Marina, CMS – Costain Bridge, Maryland end of Ikorodu road, Gbagada, Mile 2 – Oshodi bridge and Idumota – Eko bridge. These armed robbers target heavy traffic routes. Although traffic robbery is something  motorists or commuters would not want to contemplate, it is equally something they can easily get caught up in.

Stay Calm

This maybe seem very hard to do, but it is the only way to survive the situation. Some robbers accost their victims by gently tapping on their side window and revealing the butt of their gun, or whatever weapon they have, while others prefer to scare their victims by smashing their side window or windscreen with a hammer. Whatever the case, do not panic, or raise alarm. The numerous witnesses will not assist or give you any protection, neither will the security men on patrol. Take a deep breath and remind yourself that you are still alive and will only have to lose a few possessions. Staying calm can reduce the chance of the offender becoming agitated and reduce the risk of violence.

Do not attack

Do not use your pepper spray or pocket knife. Do not attack the robber. Most of the robbers are not only armed, they operate in gangs and while you might have been initially accosted by one member of the gang, the others lurk around. Attacking the armed robber very rarely ends well.

Avoid direct eye contact 

No matter how low-class the robber may look or seem, behave deferentially. Avoid looking him directly in the eye as that might irritate him. Don’t stare either, as this would be perceived as threatening to the offender. Keep your eyes down and look at the chin of the offender and use your peripheral vision to obtain details. This is less threatening to the offender. Address him as ‘Sir’ or ‘oga’, whichever you find more comfortable. Most robbers have low self-esteem and a little bit of respect might calm them down or even deter them.

Cooperate 

Unless your car is bullet and hammer-proof, do not argue with the armed robber. Cooperate . Ensure you first inform the robber in clear terms that you are willing to cooperate, then respond quickly  to their demands to whatever instructions they give. Speak only if you need to answer the offender and always reply honestly. Do not try any form of heroics.

Speak clearly and with simple language

There is no gain in impressing an armed robber with good grammar. Do not try to confuse him with a foreign language, heavy/polished accent or big grammar. Respond in the simplest English you know. If you are fluent in pidgin or local dialect, whichever the robber starts communication with, continue with it. Trying to sound too polished might give them the notion that you have more than you are giving to them and that would aggravate them, and possibly encourage them inflict harm on you.Also, try not to add to much detail or say anything that is unnecessary as that could increase the pressure, cause a breakdown in confidence and lead to panic. Keep your answers short, precise and positive using simple words and phrases.

Take the robber seriously

While strong-armed robberies can also occur without a weapon- just the threat of physical violence or an actual beating followed by the demand for moneys, it is always important to assume the offender is armed. Whether you see the armed robber’s weapon or not,you can never be too sure. Be cautious, ensure you observe all his movements and listen to every word his utters. Do not underestimate his actions. Stay alert.

By Nkem 

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Nigeria: NSIA, IFC Collaborate to Cut U.S.$1 Billion On Medical Tourism

 

By Martins Ifijeh

The Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, said they are mapping out strategies to increase investments in the nation's health sector, as part of efforts towards ending the over $ 1 billion Nigerians spend on medical tourism.

Speaking at the NSIA, IFC, joint media briefing in Lagos, Chief Risk Officer and Executive Director, NSIA, Mrs. Stella Ojekwe-Onyejeli, said they are seeking to catalyze private sector investment in the healthcare space by establishing Public-Private Partnerships and innovative solutions, which is their core mandate as they are saddled with the responsibility to invest on behalf of the government.

She said NSIA has set aside $400 million for investment in the economy and could use 35 per cent, about $140 million of it on the health sector, which though small, would serve as the start-up capital, hence the need to look for co-investors like the IFC.

On his part, the IFC Country Director, Eme Essien Lore said there was need to support the private hospital sector in Nigeria so that they can deliver affordable, accessible and quality care informed the forum.

To progress in the sector, she said the country will need innovative approaches like public private partnerships (PPPs), among others to mobilise private capital for public healthcare. According to her, longer term outlook indicates that considerable opportunity exists for the private sector to play a viable role in providing affordable healthcare across the country. Lore said,

"IFC is committed to help increase affordable quality healthcare services by financing and facilitating financing for integrated networks. This will support the development of critical healthcare infrastructure and attract private capital into the sector. "We are working with NSIA to boost investment in the healthcare sector and bridge the gap in under supply of quality healthcare in Nigeria."

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South Africa set to dominate Africa Responsible Tourism Awards

Cape Town – South Africa rules the Africa Responsible Tourism Awards (ARTA), as more than two thirds of the long-listed tourist organisations, initiatives, businesses and projects for the upcoming African Responsible Tourism Awards are based in the southernmost tip of the continent.

The final awards will be announced in Cape Town as part of the Africa Travel Week, taking place from 6 -8 April 2016.

The competition awards responsible tourist initiatives that take responsibility for the environment of African destinations and the local citizens.

“We want to celebrate the shining stars of responsible tourism - the individuals, organisations and destinations working innovatively with local cultures, communities and biodiversity,” ARTA said.

“The variety of organisations which have made it through to the long list this year demonstrates just how powerful a force for good responsible tourism is becoming in Africa,” Heidi van der Watt for ARTA said.

Out of a total of 60 African institutions from 13 African countries, these are the 25 South African contenders for the African Responsible Tourism Award:

!Xaus Lodge

Abang Africa Travel

Access2africasafaris

Africa!Ignite

African Bushcamps

ATKV Goudini Spa


Bushmanskloof

Cape Camino

City of Cape Town

Eco Atlas

Elundini Backpackers

Endeavour Safaris

Epic Enabled

Face Adrenalin/ Bloukrans Bungy

Flamingo Tours & Disabled Ventures

Gauteng Tourism Authority

Hermanus Tourism

Kwandwe Private Game Reserve

Leriba Hotel Group

National Department of Tourism/ RSA

Original T-Bag Designs 

Proudly Macassar Pottery
QuadPara Association of South Africa

SaltyCrax Adventures & SAVE Foundation

Sani Lodge Backpackers


Last year, South African tourist initiatives were awarded gold in 6 of the 8 categories.

The jury awarded the South African Gansbaai Tourism organisation in the Western Cape the overall gold winner for making Gansbaai a truly responsible tourist destination with a long row of environmental projects.

Several organisations in Gansbaai were also awarded. Grootbos Private Nature Reserve in partnership with the Grootbos Foundation was awarded “Best for Poverty Reduction” and Marine Dynamics was awarded “Best for Wildlife Conservation”. South Africa definitely has a reputation to live up to this year.

Winners in the Africa category will automatically be nominated for the world’s most prestigious international tourist award World’s Responsible Tourism Award, set to take place in London in November this year.

Share your travel experiences with us. You can email us at sagewonders@gmail.com or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter

http://traveller24.news24.com/Explore/Green/south-africa-set-to-dominate-africa-responsible-tourism-awards-20160218

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Festival of India set to hold in Lagos come August

The festival is a collaboration between International Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) and the India Disapora in Lagos and is designed to bridge the cultural gap between India and Nigeria.

Come August 13, 2016, Lagos will play host to a rich display of Indian culture as the Festival of India holds at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Onikan, Lagos.

The festival is a collaboration between International Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) and the India Disapora in Lagos and is designed to bridge the cultural gap between India and Nigeria.

Speaking at a briefing over the weekend to announce the festival,  CEO of Gaurapad Charities and chairman organising committee, Bolaji Rosoji explained the origin of Festival of India, and its interwoven relationship with Krishna religion.

He also said the goal of the festival is to "celebrate cultural unity and diversity for national and global peace – vasudhaiva kutumbakam (the world is one family). The Festival of India, with the Ratha Yatra (chariot) Festival as its central spectacle, has an inestimable impact on the minds and hearts of literally countless casual visitors and active participants in major cities worldwide. The Ratha Yatra (chariot) Festival originated in the holy city of Puri, India, and has been celebrated for thousands of years. It is a grand culmination of a series of celebrations spread over the summer and the monsoon month and is the most splendid of them all."

According to Rosiji,  the festival would be an international one with dignitaries coming from all over the world while efforts were in place to get President Muhammad Buhari to attend.

He also revealed that his organisation is collaborating with Lagos State, through its Ministry of Culture and Inter-Governmental Affairs, for a successful festival.

Highlights of the festival will include procession display of various Indian costumes, dressing and dance groups representing different states in India.

In addition, the Festival of India will host internationally renowned traditional and contemporary musicians, dancers and dramatic artists from India and Nigeria.

Attendees can also expect things like sumptuous, vegetarian feast, transcendental art and bestselling books on yoga and meditation.

http://pulse.ng/arts_culture/bolaji-rosiji-festival-of-india-set-to-hold-in-lagos-come-august-id4681181.html 

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Ebonyi State: Salt of the Nation

A fairly bustling metropolis combined with some of the most famous salt lakes in Nigeria, this southeastern State is known for being peopled by the very industrious Igbo ethnic group.  Located in the southeast geopolitical zone of Nigeria, Ebonyi State was created in 1996 and it is called “the salt of the nation” because of its huge salt deposit. The state is divided into thirteen local government areas which include Abakaliki, Afikpo South, Afikpo North, Ebonyi, Effium, Ezza, Ezza South, Ikwo, Ishielu, Ivo, Ohaozara, Ohaukwu and Onicha. Ebonyi has its perks which have encouraged tourist to flood the state with a population 1,739,136.

Ebonyi State is indeed blessed with many destinations that are alluring, charming and beautiful. The capital city of Ebonyi  is Abakaliki. Jovago.com, Africa’s No 1 hotel booking portal unleash the sights and sounds of Ebonyi to enable you have a hassle free journey.

Top Four sites

The Abakaliki Golf Course

The Abakaliki Golf Course is both a tourist destination and relaxation spot. It will be a wholesome experience if you can play golf by swinging a few holes alongside friends and other tourists. The Abakaliki Golf Course is of international standard and it is also thoroughly well kept. You can learn how to play golf but if you are not interested in playing, you can simply watch and cheer the players. At the golf course, friends are quickly made which is the more reason you should check it out as it is peopled by top business executives and government functionaries. It is located at the Abakaliki Township stadium and has a clubhouse, practice facilities, as well as a snack bar

Okposi Salt Lake

You have unfinished business with Ebonyi if you do not check out the Okposi Salt Lake. This is because salt is a natural resource in the state which it is known and it is a must see. A visit to the lake will offer you a firsthand experience of the traditional salt making process and how women engage in the thriving business of salt trading.  Salt production has existed for about 400 years in Okposi Okwu. The trade was discovered by two hunters namely Ekwuna Chita and Uta Anoo. You can be magnanimous and buy the salt as a souvenir.

Abakaliki Greater Rice Husks

The igbos are known to be incredibly industrious. Their sense of industry and craftsmanship is amazing. You will find in any legal business. Hence, it is not surprising, they cultivate rice, process it and over the years, until it became a source of livelihood for the people of Abakaliki. You will see  rice husks piled into huge heaps which is a significant proof of how the trade has survived for decades. The rice mill industry serves is the source of the local rice delivered to most Nigerian homes. The rice husks have become sort of landmark for the people of Ebonyi State and they are proud of it.

 

Unwana Golden Sand Beach

These golden sand beaches are one of the top attractions in Ebonyi State. They are usually a beehive of activities at weekends and public holidays as fun seekers gather there for parties and other social events. Both are ideal for relaxation, sport fishing, swimming, sun bathing, yatchting and canoe racing 

Shopping

Most of the stores are located in the capital city. These small scale malls are more popular in the just-evolving state. There are also mega malls you can do your shopping. These stalls stores are King Nancy provision stores, Omeh Okoro ventures and Michael provision.

Sleeping

The hotels in Ebonyi are quite affordable and inexpensive. The price range is between N5,000 and N10,000. Some of the hotels are Salt Lake Hotel, Ebonyi Hotel Abakaliki, Grace Court Hotel & Salts, and Klasson Suites Limited. You can select other amazing hotels among the 72 available ones on Jovago.com.

Unwinding

Abakaliki is the most important city in Ebonyi and it is where all the restaurants and nightclubs-for the night crawlers- are concentrated. You can get a good and tasty plate of goat head or ‘Isiewu’ or a plate of yummy pepper soup with a cup of newly tapped palm wine (the best palm wine is tapped in south-east Nigeria) . With these plates, you are on your way to having an exhilarating time in Ebonyi. If you do not fancy the palm wine and pepper soup or goat head ritual, you can try their delicious local cuisine in the following restaurants – Ogbuefi joint, Flavour Gardens and Restaurant, Paradise Bush Bar,  and D Base Bar.

Fun fact

A popular staple in Nigeria is Rice. In homes and at parties it is a must consumed carb. Despite the Abakaliki rice, Nigerians still prefer to import rice from other parts of the world. Well, perhaps it is good that #BuyNaijaToGrowTheNaira is trending on social media. Perhaps, someday, Abakaliki rice will be the rice eaten in every Nigerian home. The rice is very delicious. 

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5 sure-ways travel can make you super-attractive

A frequent and addicted traveller cannot be compared with someone that has never seen beyond the shores of their home state as the experience garnered from visiting new places is priceless when compared to any other encounter in the world.

A journey from Lagos to Kano by train or via road and even flight is a medley of dauntless and dazzling experience. There is so much to do
and learn throughout your trip.

This lends credence to the fact that whoever travel regularly will be smarter, sexier and fun to be with. Do you want to join this category of
people?  5 ways travel can make
you more attractive. Perhaps this will encourage to travel regularly.

Endless tales and stories

Travellers have endless tales about the various destinations they visited. The tales may include their encounters on the road, interactions with the people they met-their culture, idiosyncrasies, food, dress, and language as well as the travel dangers they had to overcome.

Travellers are friends with nearly everyone because of their explicable travel knowledge. Ignorance is not in the dictionary of a traveller. It improves your smile A smile is a beautiful thing, and people who smile a lot are alluring and pleasant. What can make you smile often? Travel.

A visit to the zenith of Olumo rock will give you a picturesque view of an ancient city. The arresting and overwhelming scenery will definitely make you smile. Of course, when you
take pictures, you will smile. Hence, no matter what you have going on in your life, or what your past is, if you travel, you are bound to experience happiness.

Mysterious and interesting

Everyone loves a little mystery, and that is exactly how you will seem when you are travelling. While you are doing your own thing whether with friends, family or alone, people
will be wondering what you are up to, and the nature of the enthralling things you are doing while exploring a destination like Mount Patti in
Kogi state . Your availability will also
significantly decline, adding to the mystery and soon you will be in high demand for figuring out. You just tell you have been junketing around Nigeria.

It builds your stamina

There are many mountains and hills that travellers can test their survival instinct like the Idanre Hills in Ondo state. People with this type of experience coupled with other high intensity destination travel will largely improve their strength and stamina. So, whenever it comes to
travelling, they are always excited as they look forward to it. You do not need the gym to keep them fit.

Understand the quirks of other ethnic groups

There are over 250 ethnic groups Nigeria cutting across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. A traveller will encounter different languages, shenanigans and traditions that will make them an all-rounded-persons. A good traveller rarely has misconceptions about other tribes.

Jovago.com

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Discover Lighthouse Beach, Lagos

If you plan on visiting Lagos State Nigeria and you also have it in mind to have a day out on the beach, then you have the answer; Lighthouse Beach is the place to be. One very good thing about this beach is what I call the ripple effect; using a stone to kill several birds as there are a number of side attractions on visiting this beautiful beach in Lagos.

 

The historical beach was named after Lighthouse Building. The lighthouse was built at the entrance of Lagos harbor. It emits light from a system of lamps and lenses; it is used as a navigation aid for marine pilots at sea or inland building and functions mainly as an entrance maker. Due to high maintenance cost and advancement in technology, many Lighthouses around the world are no longer in existence, fortunately the Lighthouse building in Lagos Nigeria which is over one hundred and ten thousand years old is still standing erect and shinning.

Situated at the main shore of the Atlantic Ocean around Apapa Wharf, it’s popularly called the Shipwreck because of the large numbers of ship that park on the sea and this makes it distinct from every other beach in Lagos State. As a result of its isolation from other part of the Island, the only access to the beach is by water. Visitors can take boat to the beach from Maroko or at Falomo under-bridge. Boat ride to the beach is bound to be fun on its own as tourists can have an experience of Lagos’ waterway and its views.

Further down the Lighthouse beach is the Tarkwa Bay beach which was created during the formation of the Lagos harbor. Tarkwa Bay beach is more like the congested version of the Lighthouse Beach. For visitors that would like to sit down, enjoy the beautiful scenery and have a feel of the natural breeze at the beach, there are deck chairs and tents for rent.

Not far from Lighthouse Beach is also the Tarzan Jetty, it’s an open bar that opens for 17hrs on every day of the week. It’s a place you would not want to miss on your visit to Lighthouse beach. Just take a Tarzan boat from the Lighthouse beach to Tarzan Jetty. At Tarzan Jetty, you have the best of local and international meals, you will enjoy every bit of time spent and the party does not end there.

At Lighthouse beach, you can buy beautiful beads, paintings, woodcarvings and several other handiworks from locals that hawks.

For security reasons, there is curfew that restricts all boat movement on the water between the hours of 6am and 6pm, the last boat leaves the beach 5pm daily, visitors and tourists are advised to go early so they can have so much fun before departure time.

By Jovago team

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Why People Are Traveling Around The World To See A Doctor

Attila Kisbenedek/AFP/Getty Images

A dental patient is treated in Hungary, where thousands of Western Europeans travel every year for such care.

You've likely heard of medical tourism -- when individuals travel abroad to obtain health care they find too costly or delayed at home. What you might not realize is that this industry, fueled by inefficiencies in national health care systems and an increasingly interconnected world, is estimated to be worth tens of billions of dollars annually.

In his new book, Outpatients: The Astonishing New World of Medical Tourism, journalist Sasha Issenberg takes a look at the practice and its ramifications for the way people around the world receive health care. He examines examples ranging from a Hungarian dentist who has built an empire out of treating travelers, to heart surgery on the cheap in Thailand, to a backlash against foreign patients in Israel.

Though one might assume medical tourism is dominated by wealthy elites flying for elective surgeries, Issenberg explains that it's largely driven by middle class individuals seeking cheaper health care. Through interviews and case studies, the book lays out the sometimes surprising implications of the decision to travel for medical care.
The WorldPost sat down with Issenberg to discuss how medical tourism works and whom it helps and hurts.

What are some of the key factors that have spurred the growth of medical tourism over the past couple of decades?

The first is air travel -- in Europe, specifically discounted air travel. The moment that low-cost carriers make it possible to get to Budapest for 79 quid, the economics for somebody in Liverpool just radically changes.
European integration, too. Serbia would love to compete with Poland [for medical tourists], but until they're a member of the European Union, it'll be just that much harder to get people to travel there from Western and Northern Europe.

Medical tourism would also be functionally impossible without the ability of people to research things over the Internet. It remains a surprisingly do-it-yourself area where almost all the initiative is taken by individuals.

Kuni Takahashi/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Foreign exchange rates are displayed at the Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals facility in New Delhi.

To what extent is medical tourism a naturally occurring thing and to what extent is it driven by a desire to lure foreign patients? You talk in the book about how the Hungarians have been able to brand themselves as the dental capital of the world.

I think it's fairly organic, and governments are currently trying to corral it or steal market share from it.
There's not a lot of marketing that I see anywhere that is convincing people who would stay at home to travel for care. There's no marketing that is trying to turn people into medical tourists. But the Turkish government is trying to get people who would think about going to Greece to go to Turkey.

It seems like in Hungary there's a degree of national pride about medical tourism, but in other countries like Israel there are people condemning it for taking up part of their medical system. How do you account for the differing reactions?

Part of it is what the national expectations about health care are. Have you been as a people conditioned to think of health care as a national guarantee? Have you been conditioned to think there's a natural scarcity, where only X amount of procedures can be done in a year, and if a foreigner gets one, then your countryman does not? Have you been told that there's a shortage of skilled doctors or professionals in your country?
In some places, specifically in single-payer systems, there's a fear of scarcity. Almost invariably foreigners are coming in and paying cash and full retail price. So if you have any sort of medical system where local patients are paying anything less than that, it's going to be really appealing for hospital administrators or doctors to prioritize foreign patients ahead of them.

You see certain amounts of skipping ahead of the line.
Exactly. If people are in a system where they feel as taxpayers they are guaranteed health care and they're not getting it at the speed that they are entitled, and then they see foreigners buying their way into a system they helped build -- which is what is going on in Israel -- that's the resentment.

When it's seen as a competition for public resources, that's where you get a dangerous mix.

In Hungary, dentistry has been private for 20 years. There's not a perception of scarcity and not a government guarantee. Dental coverage is treated far more as a private good.
When it's seen as a competition for public resources, that's where you get a dangerous mix.

When it comes to medical tourism involving organ transplants, is there a different calculus than, say, the dental industry? Because transplants seem to have a bigger benefit for the receiver than for the destination populace.

It's a great question. Definitely ethicists think of organ transplants belonging in a different category.
There's also a level of specialty in organ transplants that means there's far fewer facilities on earth that are able to do organ transplants and it is a reflection of some form of comparative advantage that some countries have developed.

It would be functionally impossible for us to live in a world where every country or big city had an organ transplant hospital. So at some point, people will have to travel for organ transplants.
The question for the world is not do we feel OK with people getting organ transplants in countries other than their own, but how do we develop an ethical way of doing it that recognizes the national boundaries around organ transplants are inherently problematic because there's a lot of places where countries are not capable. 

The question for the world is not do we feel OK with people getting organ transplants in countries other than their own, but how do we develop an ethical way of doing it.

Does medical tourism potentially take pressure off governments to change their own health care policies? An example would be Ireland: Are they less likely to legalize abortion if it becomes easier to travel abroad to do that procedure?

Yeah, I think so. Certainly for the politically, culturally or morally tricky issues like those. I write about a women's health hospital in Sofia, [Bulgaria,] that's relying on Turks and Italian couples to come for in vitro fertilization because for religious reasons, Italian and Turkish law makes it very difficult for couples to get that at home. The political constituency that there would be for reproductive reform in those countries has basically disappeared because they're being satisfied elsewhere.

The deeper problem is not just in the areas that are politically, morally, religiously tricky, but in developing countries where the whole elite reflexively goes abroad for treatment. In the book, I have something about how Nigerians with any money will save up to send family members abroad when they need something, because they're probably rightfully distrustful of the local medical infrastructure in Nigeria.

There is going to be no domestic pressure on Nigerian officials to improve the quality of medical offerings, to remove corruption from the domestic health system, if anybody in Nigeria knows they can get decent health care if they leave the country.

Brent Lewin/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Patients travel to Thailand for care because the cost is often much lower than in the travelers' home countries.

Who are the biggest beneficiaries of medical tourism and who are the biggest losers?
The biggest losers are probably those in developing or underdeveloped countries that could be on the cusp of having governments or civil societies that are able to invest in modern medical facilities, and instead see any political urgency around that dry up because their political, economic elite and their middle class have access to medical care abroad.

I start the book with a great beneficiary of medical tourism, who is [Hungarian] Prime Minister Viktor Orban's dentist. He is probably the greatest beneficiary. So you do have select doctors, dentists and hospital administrators who have done well because of this, but not on a great scale. There's no global corporation that has cornered the market on medical tourism. I've yet to find the hedge fund that's gotten filthy rich off medical tourism.

The beneficiaries are middle and upper-middle class consumers in the developed world, who are no longer trapped by the decisions that their politicians have made about the necessary trade-offs to create a health care system that serves their entire country.

Policymakers have often made a lot of very responsible and reasonable decisions that are in the best long-term interests of a country on how to provide the best possible care for the most people at the least unnecessary cost to society. Different countries have come up with their own solutions, each of them imperfect in their own different ways. But, almost by definition, in the short term those are not going to serve everybody. Some people are going to not get what they want out of that.

Nick Robins-Early World Reporter, The Huffington Post 
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

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Bauchi State Governor encourages Nigerians to visit Yankari Games

Governor Abubakar his administration will take advantage of the slump in international tourism to grow the local economy, and Yankari Games reserve remains pivotal to the growth of tourism.

As the value of the Naira reached an all-time low, and with states struggling to generate enough revenue to pay their workers, the Bauchi state government has come up with a solution to generate more revenue - tourism.

Governor M. A. Abubakar who took to his official twitter handle (@GovMAA) called on Nigerians to holiday in Yankari, Bauchi state, as it is now too expensive to do so in Dubai and London at the prevailing exchange rates.

The governor who posted scintillating pictures of the games reserve, caused a twitter storm.  Most Nigerians seemed to like the idea including former vice-president Atiku Abubakar, and Senator Ben Murray Bruce who retweeted the governor’s tweet. Others however, raised security concerns about visiting the North Eastern state.

The governor in subsequent tweets allayed any security fears, saying that Bauchi is not only safe and secure, the people are also peace loving and accommodating. He further stated that his administration will take advantage of the slump in international tourism to grow the local economy, and Yankari Games reserve remains pivotal to the growth of tourism.

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Glovic boss calls for tourism ministry

Managing Director of Glovic Travels and Tours Limited, Mr Okechukwu Nwaogbo, has called for the creation of a Travel and Tourism Ministry to harness the sector’s full potential.

He said the ministry should be created out of the present Information and Culture Ministry where it is buried.
Nwaogbo, a banker, who holds an MBA, said the government needs to do more to develop travel and tourism Industry.

According to him, state and local government tourism boards should develop tourism sites and hand them over to tourism professionals for efficient management.

Nwaogbo, whose firm is at Kapital Klub and Apartments, 3, Gamel Abdul Nasser Close, near World Bank, Asokoro, Abuja, said access to finance by tourism companies is a challenge.

“There is difficulty in accessing funds for expansion. Another challenge is that some services rendered in the travel industry are not paid for, such as checking for fares, while in developed economies one pays $20 for that,” he said.

According to Nwaogbo, services offered by Glovic Travels include flight tickets (local/International) processing, visa processing, holiday and tour packages, hotel reservation, e-passport procurement, student foreign tours/study abroad, among others.

“What stands Glovic Travels and Tours out is that we charge no extra fees other than our commission from airlines. We offer after sale services to ensure that our customers do not miss their travelling schedule.
“We give quick service delivery and specific treatment to specific customers. Our customers are sure to get the best services.

“We operate 24 hours a day. Therefore, customers can reach us any time and get attended to. Our office is strategically located at Asokoro, in a less busy environment and therefore accessible to customers,” Nwaogbo said.

On his vision for Glovic Travels in the next 10 years, he said: “We aim to be a wholesale tour operator, to have offices in the major cities of Nigeria or at least in all state capitals, and to have at least two offices outside Nigeria.

“We also aim to have in employment 200 staffers to support government’s job creation initiative.”
On his expectation from government, Nwaogbo, a former senior bank manager with 23 years experience, said in line with the diversification policy, institutions concerned with regulation and growth of the industry should be commercialised.

“This will generate more revenue, boost rapid growth of the sector and provide employment to the teeming unemployed youths. The government should make the sector more attractive,” he said.
He also called for the development of infrastructure, such as roads, to make tourism sites accessible to tourists.

Nwaogbo urged tour operators to do more to package local tours for foreigners to Nigerian sites just as they package foreign tours.

This, he said, will boost the industry’s growth and lead to more inflow of foreign exchange.

Posted By: OKORIE UGURU

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Africa: 12th Akwaaba to Host Africa Travel and Tourism Conference 2016

The 12th Akwaaba Africa Travel and Tourism Conference will hold on the second day of Akwaaba, being October 31st and will be open only to registered travel and tourism practitioners. This is an opportunity for all knowledge seekers in area of Tourism, Travel, Aviation, and Hospitality Sector to satisfy their need. Travel and tourism professionals can register at the website, www.africantravelmarkets.com or email akwaabatravelmarket@yahoo.com, either as a hosted buyer or delegate. Delegates are expected from aviation and tourism ministries, commissions and departments, State tourism boards, staff from hospitality firms and agencies and the general public seeking to know more about travels and tourism, and for various trainings and exposures. The organisers would issue certificates to attendees at the end of the event.

Akwaaba Africa Travel Market will be taking place from the 30th October to the 1st of November 2016 at the Eko Hotels and Suites Victoria Island, Lagos.

According to Rita, "Akwaaba is emerging as, not only an exhibition but also, a learning and empowerment opportunity. Global experts, like Dr. Auliana Poon of Tourism Intelligence International, one of the Biggest names in travel and tourism research in the World, EranKetter an Israeli Communication and media expert, and a guru on destination branding Paul Cohen, and Bob Bamgboyi, a hotel digital exponent have in the past been lead Speakers at Akwaaba."

Last Year the 11th edition of Akwaaba featured rated experts like SeyiOlusanya of Once Upon a Destination, who delivered a paper on Planning a Destination Wedding, AdefunkeAdeyemi of IATA Regional Head, Member and External Relations Africa and the Middle East, lectured on Transforming Intra-Africa Air Connectivity and Captain Ado Sanusi, Deputy Managing Director, Arik Air, also delivered a lecture at the Aviation Day that attracted travel agents and tour operators in Nigeria and the West- African Coast, local and international airlines operational in Nigeria, aviation ministries and agencies in Nigeria, aviation analysts and travel, aviation and tourism journalists.

The Hospitality Day featured workshops and presentations by notable individuals in the industry, and topics like Innovation and Payment for the Modern Hotel, Online Booking in Nigeria-How does it Work, Standardising Hotels across West Africa were looked into. And finally rounded up by Wine Tasting lecture, titled: How to know Your Wine, delivered by Chief Jerry Rowland of Westlog Nigeria Limited. African Travel Market is the only international Travel Fair in West Africa, a population of 270 million people with 15 countries, numerous Airports and the largest number of Travellers in Africa. The event takes place in Lagos and held at the end of October each year. Over the years, Akwaaba Travel Market has grown to become the most important travel marketing platform in the region drawing attendance from over7,000 to 10,000 visitors from 20 countries.

This Travel Fair not only boasts a large amount of visitors but also excels in the promotion of the exhibitors from the region's leading hotels, airlines, travel agents, tour operators and similar industry suppliers who participate in the event. A vibrant must attend 3-day business to business event presenting a diverse range of destinations to Africa and international travel professionals, it is a unique opportunity for African travel trade market to meet, negotiate, network and conduct businesses with players from elsewhere.

Akwaaba, approved by the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) as the official travel exhibition in Nigeria, is listed by UNWTO, a partner event of ATA and the only member of ITTFA in West Africa. Tour Operators Union of Ghana, the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agents, African Business Travel Association and the Nigerian Association of Tour Operators have all endorsed Akwaaba African Travel Market.

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Explore Eket, the beauty of the south

A metropolitan borough and second largest city in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, Eket offer a profoundly uplifting travel experience and reveals more than a meager share of nature’s considerable bounty. Popularly referred to as “Idong Mfianwe”, the city is bounded on the North by Nsit Ubium Local Government Area, on the East by Esit Eket Local Government Area, on the West by Onna Local Government Area and on the South by Ibeno Local Government Area and Bight of Bonny. It is certainly a hub of political and economic activities like Calabar, Port Harcourt and Lagos.

Currently a conurbation engulfing separate communities, there are many great things to do in the city. From catching live music at night bars and lounges , gaining a history lesson from the locals and exploring its rich culture, visiting the oil refinery construction , or participating in their numerous festivals, there really are some great things to do.  

While the history and culture make the city interesting, it’s distractions of pure pleasure make it even much more fun: you can dine, drink and dance yourself into happy oblivion in the whirl of self-indulgence.

From events and attractions to fine dining and a great night out; Jovago.com, Africa’s No.1 online hotel booking portal reveals EKET.

TOP 3 SITES

Amakpe Refinery

The Amakpe refinery, currently under construction in the outskirts of the city along the Oron road, is a huge attraction to not just visitors and tourist, but the locals as well as it will be the first major industry in Akwa Ibom state since its creation in 1987

Eket  Township stadium

A stadium, football / soccer stadium located in the city, Eket township stadium is the home to the local football team which hosts tournaments at intervals per year.

Eket Beach

One of the most popular seashores  in the state and country as a whole, Eket beach gets its origin from the Atlantic Ocean and is a huge tourist attraction.

LODGING

Eket  is an expensive city and its hotels cater primarily for  leisure and business travellers . There are a handful of fabulous hotels around town , from low budget to boutique and 4-star hotels. Favourites include : Royalty Apartments, Villa Marina hotel, Utimanik Suites and so much more. You are bound to get a room at any part of the city at a discounted rate on Jovago.com.

SHOPPING

Shopping in Eket is well worth more than one day’s attention. While there are upscale shopping options in this city, the local markets are popular among the locals. From fashion-forward high street brands and boutiques to a tempting range of street stalls, Eket is a good venue for shoppers with taste.

DINING

Whether you are a committed gastronome, a skeptic foodie or vegetarian, Eket restaurants has a number of restaurants with menus that will certainly have your palate pleased. From fast food joints to excellent breakfasts and brunches – there are plenty of very good visitors are bound to get stuck on the array of local food as well as intercontinental dishes.

FUN FACT

The Eket has a caste system which puts members of the society into different classes, and the “Amama”  -notable for undertaking traditional potlucks.

By Jovago team

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How to Organise Package Tours

Package tours are excursions or holidays which “package” a variety of services together to make a single “combined” trip. Commonly they combine such things as transport, accommodation and meals. They may also include the provision of a tour guide and/or leader. Tours can be long or short in duration and distance. They may be a one-day or overnight package, or they could be a period of a month or more.

Packaged tours typically include:

• All transfers between airports/harbours/stations and hotels
• Twin share tourist and first-class accommodation with private facilities, as specified
• Cruises
• Rental cars
• Entrance fees to attractions
• Insurance
• Tickets for entry to events or attractions
• Insurance

Types of Packages

The types of packages available in today’s market are vast and varied. This ensures all consumers’ needs and desires are met. Package tours can be further broken down into specific tour types. Tours available range from Special-interest tours, Adventure tours, City or Regional tours, Group tours and Fully Escorted tours.

Special-interest tours are designed around a particular interest area which could include arts, food and wine, sport, cultural or agricultural. Specialist tours may include an expert or celebrity guide who relates to the theme of a tour (e.g. a gardening expert accompanying a garden tour, or an art expert accompanying an art tour).

Adventure tours are designed to allow the consumer to participate in their area of interest for the length of the tour and more experience based. They generally are physical and require a certain level of fitness, however, can sometimes be modified to meet your needs depending on the other travelers. Some examples of this tour type include diving, rock or mountain climbing, horse riding, skiing or cycling. 

 

City/regional tours normally last for one full day or less. They follow a fixed itinerary and will visit areas of interest in a specific place, whether that is historic, religious or cultural, refreshments or meals are often included.

Group tours also follow a fixed and pre-arranged itinerary. They often only take place depending on the number of travelers i.e. they require a certain number of travelers in order to go ahead or it becomes a financial cost rather than profitable. It is also worth noting there are a maximum number of travelers on group tours too, as determined by the mode of transport – a 56 seater coach can accommodate no more passengers and therefore the number limit is defined. Group tours are generally always escorted or a tour guide service is provided.

 

Fully escorted tours are often a good idea for solo travelers and especially women travelling alone. This type of tour offers a sense of security or overcomes language and cultural barriers. Also, these types of tours are often somewhat educational, the escort providing local, historical and cultural knowledge or insight gives the consumer are more worthwhile experience and understanding of the country (place) visited.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Packaged Tours

From both a travel agent’s and a consumer’s perspective, package tours provide a number of advantages, which often outweigh the disadvantages.

Advantages for the consumer:

• Cost saving and budgeting - the price of a trip when organised as a package is generally less as travel agencies bulk buy their package deals and therefore can sell the tours at a lower and more competitive rate. This is an instant cost saving benefit for the consumer, as the discount travel agencies receive is generally passed on to the consumer. Also, as the tour often includes all meals or trips for example, this reduces any uncertainty about the additional costs and allows the consumer to budget properly for costs associated with their travel. For example, if airport pick-ups or taxi transfers are pre-booked and paid for beforehand there is no potentially expensive surprise when travelling to the accommodation on arrival at the destination.

• Responsibility is on the operator - the lack of responsibility on the traveler is an advantage. If something goes wrong, e.g. a flight is delayed, resulting in the traveler missing a connecting flight, it is not the traveler’s responsibility to arrange a new ticket. The responsibility lies with the airline or tour operator. In a certain respect, travelers can relax knowing if something goes wrong, someone else is there to solve the problem.

• Convenience and time-saving - this is definitely the most convenient way to arranging a vacation or tour. The travel agency deals with all the arrangements relating to airlines, hotels, transfers directly through the tour provider. This saves the consumer the effort and the time of contacting each company/service individually.

• Social - this is frequently a main reason why people may opt to travel on a package tour. The chances of social interaction are higher, allowing the fostering of short or long term friendships. People regularly choose a tour which ensures they are socialising with people of a similar age, for example, young people who like to party may opt for an 18-30 party group tour, some adults may choose to stay in accommodation which caters to the needs of children and will opt for a family tour or some people may choose to go on adult only tours to avoid children completely!

• Quality of service - tour operators (those who provide the travel agency with the tour package) spend a great deal of time assessing the airlines, hotels, sight-seeing operators etc, which they use to make up the tour package. By doing so they ensure a high standard of quality and the consumer can have peace of mind. Tour companies are eager to meet their own business needs and so they ensure that the most frequented areas of interest (cultural or geographical) are included in their tour, thus meeting the needs of the consumer.

Advantages for the travel agent:

Agent commission - travel agents normally receive 10% commission on all tours they confirm. Clearly the financial incentive means travel agencies find it extremely advantageous to sell tour packages and not solely flights and/ or accommodation.

• Savings in time and cost – in order for a travel agent to put together all the components of a package tour, this would take extensive communication with the different service providers, initially to check rates and availability and then to send through deposits and secure bookings. By using a tour provider, the travel agent only needs to makes one call, send one email or use an online booking system once to confirm the tour package. Clearly this saves a great deal of time, freeing up the agent to work for other consumers, thus increasing sales and commission.

• Wide variety of package tours available - this means the travel agent can always make suggestions on tours which match the needs of the consumer. The high number of very different packages available allows people with possibly lower budgets to still enjoy tours.

Disadvantages for the consumer:

• Inflexibility - when a traveler purchases a tour they commit to follow the itinerary, flight schedule and accommodation arrangements. Generally they are unable to change or reschedule their tour and whilst on the tour they cannot change their plans as they wish. For example, they must be at a point of pick-up at a certain time and if they are not there they delay the rest of the tour (if they are booked onto a group tour that may create problems and possibly complaints from other travelers). Also, if travelers have any special requirements, again for example, dietary requirements, but they are out camping in the bush overnight, the tour provider may not be able to meet their needs but substituting the food provided. It is the responsibility of the travel agent at the time of booking to ensure all possible issues are raised and the traveler’s needs are addressed due to the inflexible nature of a tour package

Disadvantages for the travel agent:

• Control - travel agents have little or no say over the tour operator’s choice of services, restaurants, accommodation or attractions included in a tour package. As a result they must ensure they carefully choose the correct package which provides a high standard of quality, or is the most appropriate for the particular market. Also the business of tour packages and the number of tour providers is vast. This makes is very difficult for all travel agents to become and remain knowledgeable of all the available tour ‘products’ and so extensive time must be spent researching choices and selecting the best one for the consumer.

The saving in time and money a travel agent saves a consumer is invaluable. Contacts in the industry regarding reservations and availability then acquiring the best prices to suit an individual cannot be overlooked when considering travelling.

Travel agencies receive 10% commission on most packaged tours; however if the agency has a preferred product arrangement with a certain company this amount could be higher. As a commission is taken out before forwarding the final payment to the tour operator, the agency is able to receive the reward for its effort without delay.

Tour operators and wholesalers often reserve the right to alter their itineraries for various reasons such as weather, strikes or the outbreak of fighting in a particular area. Any price changes that might occur prior to departure are likely to be passed on the client.

credit: http://www.acs.edu.au/info/hospitality/tourism/package-tours.aspx

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