LOW COST AIRLINES IN SOUTH EAST ASIA: A VIEW FROM SINGAPORE

The paper is concerned with the concept and characteristics of low cost airlines which are a well established sector in North American and European civil aviation industries, but a fairly recent phenomenon in South East Asia. Trends within the region are discussed with particular reference to the case of Singapore which has seen an expansion in low cost airline activity. Further growth seems possible and likely, although new entrants are shown to face both opportunities and problems. The Western business model appears to be applicable in a regional context, yet some modifications may be necessary to suit the different conditions in the market and those prevailing more widely.

Selling the past: Heritage hotels

This research note is concerned with the phenomenon of heritage hotels. It reviews interest in and understanding of the idea by the hospitality industry and indicates how heritage is perceived as a commercial asset of some value which can be incorporated into products and marketing. Nevertheless, there are economic and other costs to consider in attempts at realising its potential and tensions between redeveloping and conserving. Important avenues for future research are identified

TOURIST DESTINATIONS AND DISEASE: VIETNAM’S TOURISM INDUSTRY AND THE SARS CRISIS

Tourism crises are becoming increasingly common, triggered by events within and outside the industry. Understanding the crisis process and managing it effectively are thus important issues for those involved in tourism. Vietnam confronted one such crisis in 2003 when the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) virus, which affected a number of countries in the region, was discovered in Hanoi. Fears of the disease led to a sudden fall in tourist arrivals and prompted a response from the industry in the areas of health and safety, finance, human resources and marketing. Management of the crisis appeared generally successful, although recovery was aided by wider developments. Information obtained from interviews with industry representative is presented and a crisis management campaign model is proposed to help assist in future crises which seem inevitable in the modern world

Tourism In Saudi Arabia And Its Future Development

The Middle East is relatively undeveloped as a tourist region, but future growth is anticipated and Saudi Arabia provides an interesting case study of a country which has recently moved to begin to exploit its untapped potential as a destination. After a brief review of tourism in the Middle East and Saudi Arabia in order to set the scene, this paper reports on the results of an independent effort to forecast aspects of the future of the Saudi Arabian tourism industry based on the deliberations of two independent Delphi panels. The methodology is explained and factors identified as likely to have an impact on tourism in Saudi Arabia are assessed. The implications of these changing circumstances for the planning and marketing of Saudi Arabian tourism are discussed in a final section. Opportunities ahead are highlighted, but the constraints to be overcome are also recognized

The Politics of Tourism: A Perspective from the Maldives

The nature of the relationship between politics and tourism, encompassing the politics of religion, is examined in this paper with particular reference to the case of the Maldives. Although marketed as a tropical island paradise, the country is experiencing political uncertainty due to challenges to the long standing government from a democratic movement and religious radicalism. These trends and their impacts on tourism, which itself is a topic of political debate, are explained and the tourism industry is seen to overlook discordant political and religious realities in its promotion. However, it is argued that a destination’s politics cannot be ignored and that there must be awareness amongst all stakeholders and appropriate responses to political events if tourism is to deal successfully with turbulent times

Tourism and terrorism : a hotel industry perspective / Joan C. Henderson...[et al.]

The paper examines the consequences of terrorism for tourism with particular reference to the hotel industry and the case of Singapore. Terrorist activity is shown to have adverse impacts for destinations where it occurs and hotels to be attractive targets for attacks. The risks are recognised and management is attempting to secure properties against damage. Such a task can be daunting and is illustrated by a discussion of circumstances in Singapore based on information collected from hotel security managers and other experts there. There is a need for constant vigilance. Tools to combat terrorism directed at hotels are both technological and human and internal and external communications, cooperation and collaboration have an important part to play in effective resistance

Evaluation of imaging ordering by general practitioners in Australia, 2002–03 to 2011–12

Introdução: A deteção dos abusos contra crianças não é fácil para o médico, pois a história clínica recolhida é muitas vezes enganosa, os achados físicos são muitas vezes inespecíficos e os médicos, na maioria dos casos, não incluem o abuso no diagnóstico diferencial dos quadros clínicos com que se confrontam. Este diagnóstico é particularmente complexo no caso das queimaduras, cujas consequências, pelo menos do ponto de vista psicológico, são sempre graves. Daí a necessidade de cada vez se conhecerem mais profundamente estas situações, nas suas diversas vertentes, em cada país e comunidade, para que as medidas de detenção, diagnósticos e prevenção se possam adequar a cada realidade. Objetivo: Contribuir para conhecer melhor esta realidade e para reforçar a ideia da necessidade urgente da organização dos serviços em Angola, para que as equipas multidisciplinares possam existir e intervir adequada e atempadamente, para bem das vítimas, da comunidade e da justiça. Material e Métodos: Foram estudadas 230 crianças admitidas por queimaduras na Unidade de Queimados do Hospital Neves Bendinha, em Luanda. A ficha de recolha de dados foi preenchida durante o período de internamento das crianças, incluindo dados constantes do processo clínico hospitalar e outros obtidos através da entrevista de um dos progenitores ou representante legal da criança. Resultados e Discussão: As vítimas eram muito novas (50% até aos 5 anos; média de idade 7 anos), encontrando-se 99.6% a cargo dos familiares os quais, em apenas 69% dos casos, foram as pessoas que as levaram ao hospital; 57% não foram levadas ao hospital no dia do evento, sendo que em 77% dos casos este aconteceu em casa. Estes aspetos podem estar relacionados com a tentativa de ocultação dos cassos abusivos. De acordo com os registos clínicos, 47% das queimaduras associava-se a negligência, 33% a acidente e 20% a abuso. A queimadura provocada por imersão em água quente verificou-se em 75% dos casos alegadamente abusivos. Os locais mais atingidos foram os membros superiores (22%), tórax/mamas (22%) e membros inferiores (18%), para todos os casos, verificando-se que a região genital e nádegas sofreu mais queimaduras nas situações alegadamente abusivas (7%). As queimaduras figuradas, apesar de muito escassas no geral, surgiram em 50% dos casos de suspeita de abuso, bem como a distribuição bilateral e simétrica das lesões (em 57% destes casos), o que é altamente sugestivo de lesões intencionalmente infligidas. As queimaduras foram de 2º grau em 65% dos casos, sendo as mais graves nos casos supostamente devidos a abuso; no entanto, foi nestes casos que houve menos atingimento da área corporal (74% até 10% da área corporal), talvez porque a queimadura intencional foi aplicada a uma área concreta. Em 63% dos alegados abusos encontraram-se outras lesões distintas das queimaduras e em 28% cicatrizes de lesões (o que pode traduzir reiteração do abuso). A denúncia da suspeita de abuso foi apresentada em apenas 26% dos casos, o que está de acordo com a ocultação típica destes casos. Os supostos abusadores seriam maioritariamente familiares da vítima e do sexo feminino (58% e 56%), respetivamente, com idade média de 24 anos (20% menores de idade) e em 62% dos casos havia referência a consumo abusivo de álcool. Estes casos seriam melhor apoiados se conseguisse: (1) promover a sua deteção precoce pelos profissionais que trabalham com crianças; (2) incentivar a sinalização/denúncia da sua suspeita por esses mesmos profissionais; (3) a colaboração de especialistas em medicina legal para apoiar o diagnóstico mais seguro dos casos; (4) definir normas procedimentais e protocolos que apoiassem o diagnóstico por esses especialistas e a sua boa articulação com os outros profissionais os quais, no seu conjunto, deveriam constituir uma equipa multidisciplinar de intervenção nestes casos.Introduction: It is difficult for a doctor to detect a children abuse, due to the fact that the history about the event is sometimes not true, the physical findings are usually unspecific, frequently doctors don´t include the abuse in the differential diagnosis. This diagnosis is particularly difficult to perform in burns, which consequences, at least from the psychological point of view, are always severe. That´s why is important to know deeply this situations, in their several strands, in each country and community, so the detection measures, diagnosis and prevention can be adjust to each reality. Objective: To contribute to better understand this reality and to reinforce the necessity to organize the services in Angola, so that the multidisciplinary teams can exist and act in accordance and within a suitable way and schedule, for the welfare of the victims, community and justice. Material and Methods: 230 children were studied; they were admitted in the burn unit from the Hospital Neves Bendinha, in Luanda, Angola. The collection of data forms was fulfilled during the inpatient period; it includes information from their medical historical process and others collected through an interview to the children´s parents or their legal representative. Results and Discussion: The victims are very young (50% until the age of 5; average: 7 years-old), in 99.6% their relatives were in charge, and in only 69% of the cases, the relatives took the children to the hospital; 57% were not taken to the hospital in the day of the event, and in 77% of the cases the event happened at home. These aspects can be related with the attempt to hide these abusive cases. Accordingly to the clinic registrations, 47% of the burns were associated to neglecting acts, 33% to accidents and 20% to abuse. Burns caused by the immersion in hot water were showed in 75% of the alleged abusive cases. The body parts more affected were the upper limbs (22%), chest/breast (22%) and lower limbs (18%), for all the cases; the genital area and buttocks were the regions where more burns were suffered by the alleged abused children (7%). The patterned burns, in spite of being very rare, appeared in 50% of the suspected abuses cases, as well as the bilateral distribution and symmetrical of the burns (in 57% of these cases); these may suggest that the burns were intentional inflicted. The burns were of 2nd degree in 65% of the cases, being the more severe in the abuse cases; however, in these cases there was less body burn (74% until 10% of body area), maybe because the intentional burn was applied in a concrete area. In 63% of the alleged abuses there were other injuries and in 28% scars (that may suggest the reiteration of the abuse). The abuse complaints were presented in only 26% of the cases, which is in accordance with the attempt to hide them. The alleged abusers were mainly the victims’ relatives and the females (58% and 56%, respectively), with an average age of 24 years (20% minors) and in 62% of the cases there was a reference to an abusive alcohol consumption. These cases would be better supported if it was possible to: (1) promote the early detection by the professional that work with children; (2) promote the report of the professionals regarding these events; (3) obtain collaboration from the forensic doctors to support a more secure diagnosis in these cases; (4) set some procedure rules and protocols that can support the diagnosis performed by these physicians and their better cooperation with other professionals, creating together a multidisciplinary team for the intervention in these cases