Tourism and Health

Paper Summary:

This paper is concerned with the subject of travelling for direct and indirect health benefits and examines the conditions in Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand, which have taken a lead in developing this sector. The author highlights the approaches towards healthcare tourism by the three countries being considered and compared, and illustrates insights into commercial opportunities and management challenges. He concludes that there are some wider concerns that need to be addressed relating to selling healthcare to tourists.

Outline:
Healthcare Tourism in Malaysia
Healthcare Tourism in Singapore
Healthcare Tourism in Thailand
Summary and Differences between the Three Countries
Arguments
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Tourism and health share a close relationship in which their interactions can be both negative and positive. Attention has been given to hazards confronting international tourists (May, 1989; Petty, 1989) and the World Health Organization (WHO, 2002) cites risks they may encounter. Dawood (1989) concludes that the health of as many as 50% is likely to be adversely affected by the experience of travel overseas. Sexually transmitted diseases are another anxiety connected to the spread of HIV/AIDS (Porter, Lea, & Carroll, 1996). The most appropriate ways of educating tourists about the dangers they might encounter is a subject for debate (Lawton & Page, 1997), and some commentators have suggested that the industry is reluctant to accept its responsibilities and deliver appropriate warnings due to fears about alarming customers and losing business, although perceptions of risk are personal and frequently socially constructed. It must also be acknowledged that tourism can disturb the lives of residents with implications for their health as well as that of visitors (Rodriguez-Garcia, 2001)."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Ahmad, R. (2002a, September 19). Malaysia lures sick and wealthy foreigners. The Straits Times Interactive. Retrieved April 15, 2008, from http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/storyprintfriendly/0,1887,144147,00.html
• Ahmad, R. (2002b, November 30). KL bids for healthy $1b slice of health tourism pie. The Straits Times.
• AIEST Congress. Revue de Tourisme, 44(4), 6-7.
• ASEAN tourism forum: Hospitals on board. (2001, January 11). The Bangkok Post, p. 9.
• Bangkok offers first class to 'medical tourists.' (2002, July 14). The Boston Globe, p. 7.

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