Internet & Tourism
By David Lon
The advent of the Internet in the tourism sector has quickly transformed the balance between operators and the ways in which consumers buy travel products.
Airlines were the first to invest considerable resources on the web, with the aim of transforming their website into their main selling tool for the consumer, excluding the traditional system of intermediation in hand so far to tour operators and travel agents. Airlines, and generally the major transport operators have thus created a channel of direct negotiation with the client. The hotel industry has instead found more difficulties in detaching themselves from traditional intermediation channels due to high fragmentation and therefore strong weakness of single structures in respect to the market. These structures are difficult to reach directly, but can be reached by a multitude of more or less convincing intermediaries. In particular, consumers are often confused with the great number of websites that offer the same structure at different conditions.
Travel portals sell the same products at different prices. So, while for a structure site X can be more convenient, for another, site Y could more convenient. It follows that the consumer who wants to buy the most advantageous rate is forced to make long and complex research. On the web it often happens that who wins are websites that invest a lot in advertising rather than websites with the best prices.
In the UK, tariff comparison portals do not draw the same success they have in other countries (I speak from personal experience, because I am promoting a site that operates in several European countries), but they can certainly make life easier for all those people who are looking for savings on the Internet and are therefore willing to devote more time to the reservation of their vacation. This kind of site really does not sell travel, but collects all rates available on other websites. Therefore they are a starting point for the consumer, who will then be directed to web pages to complete the purchase, with the undeniable advantage of convenience, simplicity and speed.
But a question is still unanswered. Why if I go directly to an hotel to stay one night I pay more than If I would have booked a room on the Internet? This is due to the fact that the supplier grants lowest fares to companies who sell on the Internet (always speaking from personal experience, as a tourist). As we said before, in the hotel industry the direct channel with the customer fails to replace the intermediation one, and even if the supplier sells directly it will not do it below web fares. Clearly, the supplier cannot sell below web rates otherwise major contracts would be cancelled.
Online booking helps corporations maintain strategic travel by lowering costs. While most companies have had to reduce travel spending, many are strategically using online technology to reduce the cost of travel rather than purely eliminating trips. Online business travel bookings are currently dominated by air travel, but online hotel reservations and car rental bookings will increase over the next few years.
About the Author: David Lon – http://uk.ebookingcentral.com
Source: www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=214074&ca=Travel
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Medical Tourism
By Derek Miller
With more than 300 days of sunshine each year there is no better place to go on vacation than Thailand. With its breath taking beaches and old traditional cultures and warm and welcoming people there is not better place to experience true Asian hospitality. Now you need not only come to Thailand to experience true hospitality and visit old world renowned temples, but you can also get some of the best and latest medical procedures while on holiday. Whenever you mention the words Asia or cheap medical procedures you are always left with the idea that it is sub standard. Well that is not true.
What is true is the fact that medical procedures in Asia are cheaper than in the West as the cost of living not medical standards are lower than in any Western country. What would you pay today for a medical check up as an example in your home country? Let’s keep everything relative.
Last year I paid on average about $15 for a medical check up at an international hospital in Thailand. The facilities were first class and second to none. But then I was not the only westerner attending the hospital either. Language is no barrier; most international hospitals in Thailand as an example have doctors who are able to speak English very well as many of them had been trained overseas. With the growing rise in medical tourism, many of first class hospitals in Thailand have translators not only for the English language but as diverse as Dutch, Russian and even Nordic languages and many boast ISO standards. Expensive does not mean better. Let me give you an example.
Two years ago I developed a blood clot in my leg. At 11 at night I was to wait no more than 10 minutes to see a surgeon who spoke English and who was able to drain the clot provide me with medication and sent me on my way an hour later. What would that cost in your home town? The visit to the hospital which conforms to international standards set me back a mere $40 for consultation, a minor procedure and medication.
There are countless incidents such as these. Many foreigners call Thailand home, not only because of the excellent weather and warm and welcoming people, but because the cost of first world medicine is so much cheaper and far more affordable. What is stopping you from joining where others have already treaded a well worn path to better and more affordable health care?
About the Author: Interested in this subject? Try this link for http://www.healthcare-holidays.com
Source: www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=36621&ca=Medical+Business
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THE BEST IN MEDICAL TOURISM BUISNESS: INDIA
The act of traveling abroad for medical purposes has not only evolved into a norm but is proving to be beneficial for one and all. There are many hubs of medical tourism offering a helping hand to those who need it, but the one that deserves a specific mention is India. Having become a pioneer in the field, the nation’s best hospitals are among those leading the cause of global healthcare. India receives medical tourist from over 50 countries across the world. Many attributes collectively go on to make what India the best in the business of health tourism. It has been successfully seen and experienced by millions that the results for clinical examinations are at par with the West’s best medical centers, courtesy internationally qualified and experienced doctors. Expenses happen to be the most important reason why citizens of the world choose India as a preferred destination for medical services. They end up spending just one-fifth or one-tenth of the total cost involved, and this is an all-inclusive figure, comprising your travel expenditure, accommodation charges, treatment cost and after-care services. What you can also expect from your medical visit to the country is a nice and enjoyable vacation, that is, after you are done with your treatment. There are many individuals who are not comfortable talking about their illnesses and conditions and would like to get treated under anonymity. That’s exactly what you get when you choose to undergo medical procedures outside your homeland. Affordable surgical abroad sans the long waiting periods and the exorbitant price tag, India as a medical destination offers you this and much more. the vast reservoir of doctors and specialist combined with lost cost of medical care in India make it a very viable option for not only those coming from the developed nations but also from places where medical facilities are not that up to the mark. A growing economy, fast-paced technological advancements, and scientific breakthrough have given India the necessary push required to be placed on a bigger platform. A patient coming from anywhere in the world is greeted with world-class infrastructure, top-of-the-line medical equipment, trained nursing staff, luxury accommodation facilities, and an efficient administration. You can also be assured of the authenticity of the private hospitals operating in India, as they are all duly certified by international body like Joint Commission International.
Having spoken at length about the hospitals and other aspects that make them a top medical tourism destination, we now shift the focus to the medical procedures themselves. Apart from the mainstream medical care and services, varied types of alternative therapies and treatments could also be found. Be it urgent or elective, the healthcare providers in India have a comprehensive list of procedures for a number of specialties. These include neurology, urology, orthopedics, ophthalmology, ear, nose & throat treatments, gynecology, oncology, cardiology, weight loss surgery, organ transplants, pediatrics, infertility treatment, stem cell therapies, Ayurveda, naturopathy, and Unani medicine.
Original post: THE BEST IN MEDICAL TOURISM BUISNESS: INDIA
The phenomenon of medical tourism
There’s nothing more precious the one’s health and one should take good care of it. But, in these urban times, the pressures of daily life coupled with a poor diet and lack of exercise puts us in the high risk factor. While many get trapped in the clutches of debilitating illnesses, only a few go scot-free. Apart from this can you even begin to imagine the amount of pollutants that you are ingesting? Nothing is pure and unadulterated these days and chemicals have a way of finding us, and as a result, ill-health happens. Add to this, the rather heavy burdens of costly medical services, or long waiting periods, and you are in for a more stress. The rich and wealthy have access to medical facilities anywhere they like, but what about the middle-class? This was the story the world over a few years back, but the scene has pretty much changed since the advent of medical tourism. Affluent or not-so-affluent, we all like to take a vacation every now and then, how about combining this vacation with a medical treatment overseas? The phenomenon of medical tourism does exactly that, helping millions across the world overcome their illnesses and lead them to a better life, a small yet fulfilling vacation being a sidekick. Traveling to a foreign country for healthcare procedures has come to be an accepted norm these days, and why shouldn’t it? With rising costs of medical treatments in the developed nations combined with a good-for-nothing insurance policy has made many look towards global healthcare. Middle-class makes up for a large section of the western society with many having a rather modest insurance cover. The medical system in the west doesn’t suit everyone, where one might have to endure long waiting periods before they can even meet a specialist or bear out-of-pocket expenses despite coverage.
Health tourism is benefiting not only the people from the west but also those coming from under-developed nations where certain medical facilities are not available at all. Being a medical tourist has not just one but several advantages. For one you get access to best quality medical care at the fraction of the cost. Don’t be surprised if statistics tell you that the entire medical tourism package that includes travel expenses, expenditure for medical services, accommodation cost and after-care services cost half of what it would have been in the west. Apart from the hugely important price factor, private hospitals catering to the global medical tourist have world-class infrastructure, state-of-the-art medical equipment, highly experienced specialists, trained nursing staff, decent accommodation facilities, and an efficient administration. Be it elective or urgent, no matter the medical procedure that you require, you are bound to find a comprehensive list of medical services in a health tourism hub.
Originally posted here: The phenomenon of medical tourism
MEDICAL TOURISM IS FOR ONE AND ALL
When the call of ill-health comes calling, you ought to sit up and take serious notice. Why? The sole reason being the fact that health is the most precious wealth you’ve got, no matter how affluent or poor you otherwise are. One of the chief needs of human beings happens to be healthcare and a quality one at that. But, unfortunately, quality medical care is not available everywhere. Many places and people in this world still have yet to see basic health services, let alone advanced ones. Secondly, even if quality healthcare is present somewhere, the exorbitant cost acts as a deterrent for many wanting to avail them. Keeping these two essential propellants in mind, many private hospitals in various developing countries have furthered the cause of making healthcare affordable to one and all. India, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Costa Rica and Turkey being some of the major medical tourism hubs. World-class facilities replete with state-of-the-art equipment, qualified and well trained medical practitioners and supporting teams are some of the characteristics of a global healthcare center. Catering to millions of patients from the world over, medical tourism is the best way to seek affordable elective and urgent procedures. A comprehensive and exhaustive list of medical facilities and services are offered by medical tourism hubs, including consultation, diagnostics, long-term treatments, and after-care services. Cardiac care, organ transplant, orthopedics, gynecology, oncology, neurology, urology, diabetes management, ophthalmology, stem cell therapies, and general surgery, no matter which the urgent requirement, you are bound to find them here. Coming to the non-urgent or elective ones, you can seek cosmetic treatments, weight-loss management, alternative therapies like ayurveda, naturopathy, oriental medicine, or general wellness and spa therapies, you name it and it is here.
It really can turn out to be quite frustrating when you are made to wait for long periods of time. What if you don’t have that time or just no patience to wait that long before you saw a specialist? This is exactly what people in countries like USA, UK and Canada go through. Adding to the woes is the insufficient insurance covers. Imagine having to bear out-of-pocket expenses for a treatment just because your insurance policy doesn’t pay for it? These conditions, too, prove to be straining, not only financially, but mentally as well. Millions have reaped benefits of being a global medical tourist, it’s time you did, too. The best way to go about traveling overseas for treatment is to search for a medical tourism facilitator. Doing a thorough research will make sure of certain things, you’ll get a true picture of the actual cost involved, seek total transparency, know about the authenticity of the chosen hospital, and guaranteed satisfaction. There are many medical tourism facilitators that use modern technologies like telemedicine, e-health and web conferencing that make the entire process, seamless, secure and extremely efficient.
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