Ecotourism and Medical Tourism in Emerging Markets

Welcome to class of Ecotourism and Medical Tourism in Emerging Markets by Dr Satyendra Singh University of Winnipeg Canada www.uwinnipeg.ca/~ssingh5 Honk Kong attracted 28m international tourist in 2014 London attracted 18m tourists (2 largest attraction in the world) Tourist arrival in Cuba, 2010 Darbandsar, Iran… Darbandsar, Iran Why Study Tourism? • Attain peace and prosperity – Freedom to travel, low passport control – EC (WWII), USSR, China (1978), Cuba, S Africa (2004) • Promotes understanding and trust – When travel  get info about personality, beliefs, aspirations, perspective, culture, politics… • Economic development  very imp for EMs – Creates jobs, foreign exchange, face-to-face contacts • Significant demand and consistent growth – 500m int’l travelers, 10% of world’s GDP, $3 Trillion – Low-cost air travel, trading blocks, less barrier Revenues and Pitfalls • Revenues – Ecotourists are from developed countries – Willing to spend large sum of money to view abundant and unique natural resources • Kenya (Masai Mara)  $100,000 per month  Entry fee $20 for foreigners and $3 for Kenyans • S Africa (Dukuduku community)  $300,000 annually  By selling traditional Zulu baskets and sleeping mats • Cuba (La Moka)  ecotourist resort  $200/day room • Pitfalls – Ecotourism can be problematic if not managed properly • Ecotourism uproots native people from their normal habits of farming, hunting, mining, and forestry • Income does not trickle-down to locals • 50% of the income goes to airline, hotels, tour operators Benefits of Ecotourism • Economic – Direct revenue from ecotourists! – Direct employment – Ecotourists may patronize for add-ons  culture show • Environmental – Incentive to protect environment  commitment ↑ – Ecotourists assist in habitat enhancement • Excessive tipping, donations, policing, maintenance • Socio-cultural – Good public relations  face-to-face contacts – Aesthetic/spiritual benefits – Fosters environment awareness among ecotourists and local population  slash and burn agriculture  Finland • Economic Costs of Ecotourism – Start up expenses • Acquisition of land/infrastructure, establishment of protected areas – Ongoing expenses • Maintenance of infrastructure, promotion, wages – Revenues  Uncertain due to its nature • Environmental – Environmental capacity is limited  Rapid growth – Difficult in indentifying, measuring, monitoring impact of ecotourism • Socio-cultural – Intrusion upon local isolated areas – Displacement of local cultures by parks – Erosion of local control  foreign experts! Travel abroad to obtain medical services Why Countries Participate? • Increase GDP • Upgrade medical facilities • Create jobs • Can create more tourism • International relations What Countries get? • Revenues can be reinvested to make medicine affordable to citizens • Upgraded facilities • Different impacts depending upon the country’s policies • Need to assure own citizens receive benefits What patients get? • 1st class service at 3rd world price • Not affordable in home country • Desire privacy • Avoid long waiting lines • Can be more luxurious Medical Tourism • • • • • • • • • • • • Argentina (cosmetic) Brazil (cosmetics/plastic) Cuba (all) Costa Rica (cosmetic) Hungary (surgery) India (all) Malaysia (cardiovascular, dental, eye) Mexico (obesity, dental) Panama (dental, eye) Philippines (all – hospitals at beaches) S Africa (all) Thailand (obesity, alternative medicine, gender alignment) Singapore (all) • China (modern and traditional treatments) [...]... Structural Adjustment Programs (SAP) for emerging markets contain an ecotourism component • Also called Staff Monitored Program Types of Ecotourism • Non-consumptive ecotourism – Ecotourism does not consume natural resources • Tanzania (Serengeti) to observe Zebra • Nepal to climb mountain • Belize (Community Baboon sanctuary) to see monkeys • Consumptive ecotourism – Ecotourism is based on renewal resources... traditional Zulu baskets and sleeping mats • Cuba (La Moka)  ecotourist resort  $200/day room • Pitfalls – Ecotourism can be problematic if not managed properly • Ecotourism uproots native people from their normal habits of farming, hunting, mining, and forestry • Income does not trickle-down to locals • 50% of the income goes to airline, hotels, tour operators Benefits of Ecotourism • Economic – Direct... uncompetitive climate • Tourism makes it possible to maintain Ecosystem – Set aside land parks, reserve, sanctuary, trees (God)… – Indigenous people/dance/music/artifacts/heritage sites… Other Definitions of Ecotourism • Travelling to undisturbed or uncontaminated natural areas to study, admire, enjoy  scenery, animals, • Tourism activities in harmony with nature  opposite of mass tourism • Benefits... renewal resources (debatable) • Shooting elephants, rhinoceroses and antelope • $20,000 to shoot a single elephant in Zimbabwe • Leads to substantial revenue, and has minimal adverse impact on local populations Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) www.cites.org Examples of Ecotourism in EM • Uganda  Bwindi forest gorilla reserve – $145/person for one hr... opposite of mass tourism • Benefits to indigenous people • Conserves environment, sustains the local people • Conserves ecosystem and host communities • Foster respect for different culture & human rights UN, EM and Ecotourism • Several international agencies promote ecotourism – UN Global Environment Facility (GEF)  funds for environment-related projects, particularly in EMs • 500 projects in 120... Socio-cultural – Good public relations  face-to-face contacts – Aesthetic/spiritual benefits – Fosters environment awareness among ecotourists and local population  slash and burn agriculture  Finland • Economic Costs of Ecotourism – Start up expenses • Acquisition of land/infrastructure, establishment of protected areas – Ongoing expenses • Maintenance of infrastructure, promotion, wages – Revenues  Uncertain... mountains  flora and fauna • Cuba  La Moka (UNESCO protected site) – Bioreserve  harmony between people and nature Creative eg UN World heritage status Revenues and Pitfalls • Revenues – Ecotourists are from developed countries – Willing to spend large sum of money to view abundant and unique natural resources • Kenya (Masai Mara)  $100,000 per month  Entry fee $20 for foreigners and $3 for Kenyans... Difficult in indentifying, measuring, monitoring impact of ecotourism • Socio-cultural – Intrusion upon local isolated areas – Displacement of local cultures by parks – Erosion of local control  foreign experts! Travel abroad to obtain medical services Why do Countries Participate? • Increase GDP • Upgrade medical facilities • Create jobs • Can create more tourism • International relations What do Countries...Why is Tourism Important now? • Need for exchanging ideas and exploration – Environmentalists, developers, economists, movie producers, political leaders, professors…need to travel • Need for cutting cost on defense – Cannot spend 15% of GDP on defense (USA used to), and yet meet the need of domestic needs – USA 1945 40% of world’s Economy