Thailand’s Fabulous 40+ Photo Contest Looking for Ladies: Fit, Fabulous, and 40+

Posted on September 8, 2013 | Comments Off on Thailand’s Fabulous 40+ Photo Contest Looking for Ladies: Fit, Fabulous, and 40+

BANGKOK :

As part of its international “Find Your Fabulous” wellness and medical tourism campaign, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is unveiling a friendly global competition intended to salute ladies who are still fit and fabulous after their 40th birthdays.

The Fabulous 40+ Photo Contest invites women from around the world to submit images showing off their fabulous form, and the contestant showing the most youthful, age-defying appearance will be rewarded with an exclusive 3-day Find Your Fabulous trip to Bangkok.

For 40+ foxes fixing to put their likenesses proudly on display, the excitement begins on Facebook. Candidates become fans of ThailandMedTourism and the Find Your Fabulouscampaign; then, they submit their most fabulous photos – with their name, age range (40+, 45+, 50+), current location, and a photo description. Submissions should show the fresh face and figure, confidence, poise, and charisma that defines the modern, fabulous woman today in her 40s, 50s, 60s and beyond.

The winners of the Fabulous 40+ Photo Contest will be determined by the number of “votes.” The one with the most votes will be the winner, followed by the first and second runners-up respectively. The winner will receive a 3-day/2-night exclusive health and beauty package for herself and one friend.

In addition to a full medical checkup, dermatology treatments, and a spa package, the grand prize also includes two roundtrip air tickets and a deluxe 2-night stay at the stylish 5-star Sofitel So Bangkok, with daily breakfast. The first runner-up will receive the health & wellness packages for two as well as accommodation, while the second runner-up will receive the health and wellness packages for herself and a friend. All the awards – 3 awards for 2 persons each – bring the total value of the prizes to over USD $30,000.

The contest runs between now and the 30th of September, 2013, with the winners’ announcement via Facebook scheduled for the 3rd of October. Awards are redeemable between the 15th of October and the 15th of December, 2013.

The TAT hopes that the Fabulous 40+ Photo Contest will further illuminate Thailand’sthriving medical and wellness industry and the wealth of top-quality, convenient, and affordable aesthetic treatments on offer for international tourists of all shapes and sizes.

For more information, please visit www.facebook.com/thailandmedtourismfanpage

For media information, please contact findyourfabulous@thailandmedtourism.com or Tel +6688 640 2910.

source: http://www.sys-com.com / Sys-Con Media / by PR Newswire / source: Tourism Authority of Thailand / August 28th, 2013

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Posted in Associations/Organisations/Government/NonGovernment, Health /Medical Treatment For Overseas Treatment, Medical Tourism/Health Tourism, Travelling For Surgery Abroad / Medical Surgery Overseas

Industry Standards for Spa and Wellness Entities in CARIFORUM Territories released

Posted on September 7, 2013 | Comments Off on Industry Standards for Spa and Wellness Entities in CARIFORUM Territories released
 BarbadosCT07sept2013

Bridgetown, Barbados :

The Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export), in collaboration with the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DfID) has officially launched the Industry Standards for Spa and Wellness Entities in CARIFORUM Territories and the Caribbean Spa and Wellness Sector Strategy 2014-2018 for the region.

During the month of August Caribbean Export has conducted the Spa & Wellness Strategy road show which has taken the team to Belize, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Saint Lucia and finally Barbados where they have announced the implementation plan for the Development and Promotion of Caribbean Health and Wellness Tourism Sector, a project funded by CDB under the Caribbean Aid for Trade and Regional Integration Trust Fund (CARTfund) Programme, with financing from UK-AID that will benefit the wider Caribbean.

“The Health and Wellness Sector is considered a specialized sector within tourism and in our view presents an opportunity for diversifying the tourism product offering across the wider Caribbean region” commented Executive Director of Caribbean Export, Pamela Coke-Hamilton at the opening of the launch event held at the Radisson Aquatic Resort, Barbados on August 28, 2013.

As part of the road show Caribbean Export in conjunction with the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) and CARICOM Regional Organization for Standards and Quality (CROSQ), conducted a workshop for Spa & Wellness practitioners and stakeholders that coversed three main components of the project topics; Strategic Development, Marketing and Brand Development, and Standards and Quality DevelopmentDG.  “It is imperative for the growth of the Spa and Wellness Tourism sector here in Barbados and as a region that we secure endorsement from national policy makers and other stakeholders who can effect change to raise our standards and make the region more competitive internationally” stated David Gomez, Manager of Trade & Export Development at Caribbean Export at the recently held launch event in Barbados.

The Industry Standards for Spa and Wellness Entities in CARIFORUM Territories was developed with by the University of the West Indies withand Dr. Damien Cohall serving as the, Chief Consultant for the assignment, University of the West Indies Health and Wellness Standards Consultancy Team. He expressed, on behalf of the UWI Consultancy Team, their pleasure in being able to provide input to the Health and Wellness project and viewed that “the efforts to build this segment of the Caribbean’s tourism product has not maximised the region’s full potential”.

The growth of the health and wellness segment of the Caribbean tourism industry will inevitably lead to job creation and corresponding economic growth of the CARIFORUM countries. According to a recent Commonwealth Study the global Health and Wellness industry is a US$40 billion international market and is growing at 30% per annum, the study has also predicted export earnings of around US$175 million for the Caribbean.

“Health and wellness has been identified as one of the region’s growth sectors.  The sector features a high percentage of women entrepreneurs and its products and services contribute directly to the health and wellbeing of its largely female client base” stated Ms. Valarie Pilgrim, Operations Officer, Caribbean Development Bank and importantly, “this Regional Spa & Wellness Sector Strategy is intended to be a working document.  We are committed to not just the development of the strategy but more importantly – its implementation.

source: http://www.thebahamasweekly.com / TheBahamasWeekly.com / Home> News> International> Caribbean News / by Caribbean Export Development Agency / August 29th, 2013

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Posted in Reports,Features, Statistics, Wellness Tourism

Gallery

Medical Concierge Tourism International (MCT) Announces New Website for Companies and Municipalities Seeking Medical Cost Containment Options in Health and Dental Care

Posted on September 6, 2013

This gallery contains 1 photos.

Medical Concierge Tourism International is a Medical Cost Containment company serving companies, municipalities, unions and their members to control costs while providing world class dental and medical care. MCT announces their new website to handle corporate and individual accounts. The Medical … Continue reading →

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Out-of-box suggestions on Kerala tourism from panel of MPs

Posted on September 5, 2013 | Comments Off on Out-of-box suggestions on Kerala tourism from panel of MPs

House panel says cruise tourism should be part of Incredible India campaign

HouseboatCT05sept2013

Spice route tourism and tea tourism are among the options suggested by a Parliament panel for Kerala , to attract international and Indian travellers.
A place where tourism makes for nine per cent of the gross state domestic product, Kerala is being projected as a one-stop location for at least eight types of tourism.

A report by Parliament’s standing committee on transport, tourism and culture, headed by CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury, has listed cruises, wellness, medicine, wildlife, tea, spice route, heritage and film shooting as areas for developing tourism in Kerala.

Cardamom, pepper, nutmeg, tea, coffee, clove, ginger and turmeric might assume a new meaning if spice route tourism is promoted. The committee has backed an initiative in this regard from the state. It would not only revive India’s heritage but give “a larger foothold for garnering world tourism revenue”. The other countries in the spice route would include Afghanistan, Myanmar, China, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Malaysia, Pakistan and Portugal. Kerala Tourism has proposed to link 31 spice destinations in the world, to create a new travel experience.

Also, the cruise potential of Cochin port could be included in the Incredible India campaign’, the panel has recommended. Other ports should also be explored for cruise tourism opportunities, it has said.

Pitching Munnar as one of the prime tourist destinations in India, the committee has said the widespread tea plantations are the region’s unique selling proposition. Tea tourism could be a niche area in Kerala to woo tourists for a special experience. “The tea estates and the bungalows just add another tweak to this perfect serenity.”

Although wellness tourism is already there in the state, the committee says this should be developed as a unique brand to attract tourists from over the world. “The committee would like the state and central government to come up with solution-providing ideas so that wellness tourism in Kerala is developed as a brand.”

To promote medical tourism, the panel has sought support from the Centre, especially around areas such as ayurveda, sidha and unani treatment. Also, medical visa issues need to be addressed.

While praising the state government initiative to develop wildlife and ecological tourism in Kerala, the committee wants vehicular traffic to be restricted inside the Periyar Wild Life Sanctuary. It has also recommended pollution-free and less noisy boats at the sanctuary.

As for film shooting in the state, the committee has recommended a directory of potential locations. The state should also hold workshops and tours for film production executives.

Seeking reduction in tax levels, the committee has noted that Kerala’s tourism revenue in 2012 was Rs 20,430 crore with foreign exchange earnings of Rs 4,548 crore.

ATTRACTIONS AT GOD’S OWN COUNTRY
A report by Parliament’s standing committee on transport, tourism and culture has listed these areas for developing tourism in Kerala

* Cruises
* Wellness
* Medicine
* Wildlife
* Film shooting
* Tea
* Spice route
* Heritage

source:  http://www.business-standard.com / Business Standard / Home> Economy & Policy> News / by Nivedita Mookerji / New Delhi – August 29th, 2013

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Posted in Associations/Organisations/Government/NonGovernment, Health /Medical Treatment For Overseas Treatment, Medical Tourism/Health Tourism, Medical Treatment/Health Treatment Subject By Speciality, Reports,Features, Statistics, Travelling For Surgery Abroad / Medical Surgery Overseas, Wellness Tourism

MEDICAL TOURISM TO BRAZIL : Your vacation in a Brazilian hospital

Posted on September 4, 2013 | Comments Off on MEDICAL TOURISM TO BRAZIL : Your vacation in a Brazilian hospital

Is it a resort or a hospital? Tourists and patients from all over the world think it’s both.

Forget the beach. How about going to Brazil to visit a hospital? Growing numbers of tourists are doing just that.

This is one of the most reputable and expensive hospitals in Brazil. It’s out of reach for the vast majority of Brazilians, but like other top medical centers here it’s been attracting a growing number of foreign patients. Medical tourism is growing worldwide and Brazil wants a bigger chunk of this market.

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Kelly Matos Idelfonso, Hospital Sirio-Libanes, said, “Health services have been growing a lot over the last years. Hospitals invested a lot in technology, so we are have some of the best facilities in our part of the world. Most foreigners come to Brazil for cosmetic surgery, but our hospital is also a reference in cancer treatment.”

Tourists traveling for medical reasons spend between 40 and 60 billion dollars a year—and the market is growing around 20 percent a year. Brazil receives about 50 thousand medical travelers a year from different parts of the world—mostly from neighboring Latin American countries like Ecuador, Bolivia and Uruguay and mostly for cosmetic surgery.

Reporter: “Foreign patients who come to Brazil for treatment can be roughly divided into two groups. There are those from rich countries – mainly Europeans and North Americans who come here because medical procedures are cheaper – and there are those from poor and developing nations, from Latin America and Africa, who come because of the top quality hospitals that exist here for those who can pay.”

Currently Brazil has 25 hospitals accredited by the Joint Commission International—an organization that certifies the quality of medical services worldwide. Sao Paulo is the most sought after destination.

Bernardo Ignarra, Sao Paulo Turismo S.A., said, “We have an occupancy rate between 80% and 100% in the eight JCI accredited hospitals of Sao Paulo. So this is actually something that has to be sorted – this health system needs to be expanded if we are to grow in medical tourism. But we now these hospitals are planning to invest about one billion dollars over the next two years to expand their facilities and services.”

Brazil is still far from able to provide quality health care for most of its people, but in yet another reminder of this country’s stark income inequality, Brazil has become a popular destination for wealthy foreigners looking for good medical services.

source: http://www.eturbonews.com / eTN Global Travel Industry News / August 21st, 2013

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