The Importance of the Fashion Industry in the South African Tourism Context

 The nexus of fashion and tourism is analyzed in this investigation. This study unpacks the creative event industry in the South African context, making a case for it as an emerging, and potentially powerful contributor for tourism development. Using semi-structured surveys conducted with key role players (models, agents and other related professionals) across fashion events in South Africa, the research uncovers the importance that the fashion industry has on South Africa’s tourism economy. Findings show that the creative fashion industry attracts both domestic and international crew participants, who have a high earning power and spend money on shopping and visiting local attractions. Additionally, they tend to stay longer than the traditional tourists, and visit other local destinations after the event. The study concludes that the fashion industry represents a hidden aspect of the South African event industry that must be taken seriously by destination managers in the planning and development of tourism as it has significant implications for marketing, strategy and policy

The importance of the fashion industry in the South African tourism context

Abstract: The nexus of fashion and tourism is analyzed in this investigation. This study unpacks the creative event industry in the South African context, making a case for it as an emerging, and potentially powerful contributor for tourism development. Using semi-structured surveys conducted with key role players (models, agents and other related professionals) across fashion events in South Africa, the research uncovers the importance that the fashion industry has on South Africa’s tourism economy. Findings show that the creative fashion industry attracts both domestic and international crew participants, who have a high earning power and spend money on shopping and visiting local attractions. Additionally, they tend to stay longer than the traditional tourists, and visit other local destinations after the event. The study concludes that the fashion industry represents a hidden aspect of the South African event industry that must be taken seriously by destination managers in the planning and development of tourism as it has significant implications for marketing, strategy and policy

Age Related Patterns of Disease and Mortality in Hospitalised Adults in Malawi

<div><p>Background</p><p>The epidemic of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in low and middle income countries (LMICs) is widely recognised as the next major challenge to global health. However, in many LMICs, infectious diseases are still prevalent resulting in a “double burden” of disease. With increased life expectancy and longevity with HIV, older adults may particularly be at risk of this double burden. Here we describe the relative contributions of infections and NCDs to hospital admissions and mortality, according to age, in Malawi’s largest hospital.</p><p>Methods</p><p>Primary diagnosis on discharge/death, mortality rates, and HIV status were recorded prospectively on consecutive adult medical in-patients over 2 years using an electronic medical records system. Diagnoses were classified as infections or NCDs and analysed according to age and gender.</p><p>Findings</p><p>10,191 records were analysed. Overall, infectious diseases, particularly those associated with HIV, were the leading cause of admission. However, in adults ≥55 years, NCDs were the commonest diagnoses. In adults <55 years 71% of deaths were due to infections whereas in adults ≥55 years 56% of deaths were due to NCDs.</p><p>Interpretation</p><p>Infectious diseases are still the leading cause of adult admission to a central hospital in Malawi but in adults aged ≥55 years NCDs are the most frequent diagnoses. HIV was an underlying factor in the majority of adults with infections and was also present in 53% of those with NCDs. These findings highlight the need for further health sector shifts to address the double burden of infectious and NCDs, particularly in the ageing population.</p></div

Predicted probablility (with 95% confidence limits) of a death, by age, in adult inpatients, Blantyre, Malawi- 2013 to 2014.

<p>Predicted probablility (with 95% confidence limits) of a death, by age, in adult inpatients, Blantyre, Malawi- 2013 to 2014.</p

Predicted probablility (with 95% confidence limits) of a non-communicable disease diagnosis, by age, in adult inpatients, Blantyre, Malawi- 2013 to 2014.

<p>Predicted probablility (with 95% confidence limits) of a non-communicable disease diagnosis, by age, in adult inpatients, Blantyre, Malawi- 2013 to 2014.</p

Mortality and case fatality rate by age and diagnosis (ranked by total mortality burden).

<p>Mortality and case fatality rate by age and diagnosis (ranked by total mortality burden).</p

Demographic and clinical characteristics and risk of death among adult inpatients at QECH 2013–2014.

<p>Demographic and clinical characteristics and risk of death among adult inpatients at QECH 2013–2014.</p

HIV testing and status by age and diagnosis in adult inpatients at QECH, 2013–2014, ranked by total proportion HIV positive.

<p>HIV testing and status by age and diagnosis in adult inpatients at QECH, 2013–2014, ranked by total proportion HIV positive.</p

Annual incidence of inpatient admissions per 1000 population, by age and sex, Blantyre District, Malawi 2013–2015.

<p>The grey line represents ‘Male’, the light blue line represents ‘Female’.</p