Research firm Business Monitor International indicates that UAE health tourism grows 15 percent annually, according to Emirates News Agency (WAM).

The UAE is attaining premium rankings, leading the GCC in superior healthcare expertise, affordability, availability and brief waiting periods.

As part of the significant role which the hospital is playing to help maintain the UAE’s prominent profile abroad as a leading global health tourism destination, Saudi German Hospital-Dubai is attending the European Medical Tourism Expo in Berlin, Germany from 25-27 April.

This is in collaboration with the Dubai Health Authority, and embodies the hospital’s commitment to supporting Dubai’s vision for medical tourism.

The hospital also facilitates educational sessions for travel agencies, and advertises vigorously on top satellite channels to entice tourists for the betterment of the UAE’s health sector.

Saudi German Hospital-Dubai reflects the UAE’s cosmopolitan diversity by assembling highly-skilled professionals from Germany, across Europe and beyond – all of whom are at the zenith of their respective specialties. Its quality controls fulfill the most stringent international accreditation criteria.

Dr. Mohaymen Abdelghany, CEO of Saudi German Hospital-Dubai commented: “Just as the UAE differentiates itself by thinking beyond the ordinary, Saudi German Hospital-Dubai differentiates itself from other health providers by going beyond conventional medical offerings. We provide holistic, state-of-the art wellness and recreational amenities.

“We compliment this through synergies with top insurance companies to make our clients’ overall experience as smooth as humanly possible.”

To help accelerate the UAE’s skills transfer, the hospital has training agreements with Europe’s leading medical schools and specialist providers. This enhances its staff’s skills – and by extension, the UAE’s overall skill set.

The hospital’s spacious premises in Al Barsha are frequented by clients between Bur Dubai and Jebel Ali, across the UAE and indeed abroad.

The Saudi German Hospitals Group leverages on 24 years regional experience. It is the largest in the MENA (Middle East ‘&’ North African) region. Its inception was inspired by the Qur’anic teaching.

This regional conglomerate is unique in that it constructs its own hospitals. Its fresh approach is reaping dividends, as it records annual growth of a staggering 16 percent.

With only about 30 stands and very limited representation from the various tourism sectors in Zambia (due to poor shows in the past), plus the fact that no international buyers were brought in as promised, the show was not deemed a success. There were many frustrating factors for exhibitors – a severe lack of advertising meant that very few visitors came to the show; stand set ups were delayed due to them not being put up on time (the hall hadn’t been paid for, so entrance had been refused); and although the conference center was very impressive, the layout and location was not conducive for such a show. Why it was ever changed from the more appropriate Mulungushi is a mystery.

Overall, the lack of organization, enthusiasm, and knowledge on how to run such a tourism show led to huge disappointment for those that had paid good money to exhibit. It’s such a shame that the show was so unsuccessful, as it is something that Zambia needs, especially with the amount of focus that there is on domestic tourism at the moment – it should be the ideal platform to encourage the local market.

The Hon. Given Lubinda was in attendance, and along with an impressive speech, he also spent time going around to every stand. He stated that he was now the Ambassador of the show, so let’s hope that if there is even a show next year, there are some huge improvements.

Gill Staden, eTN Correpondent in Zambia had this to say: “In the past, agricultural shows came into being, because the farmers needed to meet, learn from each other, and buy seeds and animals to improve their products. There was a need for the shows. Travel shows came into being in Zambia because the government said, ‘We will have a travel show.’ The fact that they have all been unsuccessful should make us wonder if there is a need for them.

“In today’s world where all tour operators are in constant touch with each other on the Internet, they learn from each other without meeting. Potential visitors also gain most information from the Internet, too.

“Personally, I think that there is a place for a travel show but not in Lusaka. It should be in Livingstone. It is about time that Livingstone was given its rightful place as the tourist capital of Zambia.”

CHINA is set to become the world’s biggest travel destination by 2016 as it lifts travel controls and invests in roads, railways and airlines. The United Nations World Tourism Organisation predicts China will overtake France and the United States on its list of the destinations which receive the most tourists each year.

• China expected to surpass France and US for number one spot
• More airlines flying from Australia, new regions emerging
• New Asian destinations emerge as Aussie love affair continues

France had nearly 79 million tourist arrivals in 2010, the US had nearly 61 million and China had nearly 56 million.

But China is set to rise up the ranks as travellers flock to historic sites such as the Great Wall of China and explore its diverse culture and exotic culinary offerings.

Australian travel companies are being forced to increase the number of tours they offer to cater to the growing demand.

Helen Wong’s Tours managing director Helen Wong said increased accessibility and improvements in accommodation played key roles in attracting more tourists to China.

A decade ago there were no direct flights from Australia to China, but now several airlines fly there, including Air China, Qantas, China Eastern, China Southern, Hainan Airlines, China Airlines and Jetstar.

Ms Wong said a growing number of Australians were seeking to explore beyond the traditionally strong centres of Shanghai, Beijing, Xian and Guilin.

More Australians were interested in travelling to lesser-known centres such as Pingyao and Taiyuan.

“They want to see and learn more about ancient Chinese culture and traditions,” she said.

“The requests don’t just stop at group tours. Independent travellers want to be escorted to these areas as well.”

Wendy Wu Tours managing director Alan Alcock said it was much easier to get tourist visas for China now and China was more familiar thanks to greater media exposure.

“Within China itself the Government has made it a lot easier for genuine tourists to move around,” he said.

“There are very few parts of China on the main tourist trail where you have any restrictions.

“One of the biggest problems in the past was that you had to have very restricted itineraries – there were specific places you could or couldn’t go to.”

Mr Alcock said his country was introducing one or two new China itineraries a year and had also launched a luxury tour program thanks to the development of new hotels and business class in domestic flights within China.

In the meantime, London is emerging as a hot spot for Australian travellers who are keen to take part in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations in June.

Travel booking site Travel.com.au said the number of people who have booked flights and will be in London during the celebrations is up 77 per cent compared to the same time last year.

Beginning today, Tunisia will host a two-day conference held in Djerba on tourism in the Mediterranean, organized by the World Tourism Organization. Nearly 300 participants will attend, representing over 30 countries and a number of travel agencies and tour operators.

According to local radio station Mosaique FM, the Turkish Minister of Culture Tourism Ertuğrul Günay, the Mauritanian Minister of Tourism Bamba Ould Daramane, and the Secretary General of the International Organization of Tourism Tarek Sbai are among the participants of the conference.

The summit commenced at 10:30am Monday morning with an opening address from Tunisian Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali.

Tourism represents 6% of the Tunisian economy, and investment in the sector is seen as crucial for the achievement of Tunisia’s economic recovery following the Tunisian Revolution.

“Besides the economic crisis in the origin countries, ongoing political changes in North African and Middle East destinations have had negative repercussions on the sector,” said the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and the Tunisian government, which organised the two-day meeting.

“The aim is to preserve the position of the Mediterranean zone as the top global destination in terms of international arrivals,” Frederic Pierret, executive director of the UNWTO, told a meeting attended by 400 people from 40 countries, including Egypt, Morocco, Algeria and Turkey.

The 29 countries that lie around the Mediterranean attract about a third of global tourism flows, and 29 percent of the sector’s revenues, Pierret told AFP.

Strategic alliances should be made to “lay the groundwork for closer cooperation between the north and south, as well as east and west,” he said, echoing the organisers’ call for a “shared vision.”

Host country Tunisia, where a popular uprising led to the ousting of strongman Zine el Abidine Ben Ali in January 2011, saw its tourism receipts plunge by a third in 2011.

Tourism is a key sector for the north African state, making up seven percent of its output and directly employing 400,000 people.

Three and a half months after an Islamist-led government took power, protests continue to plague Tunisia, fueled by growing unemployment and higher costs of living.

Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali stressed during the conference that the revolution in his country did not turn it into a “jungle.”

“Do not fear democracy and freedom,” he said, deploring the image of chaos that he claims “some want to give” to post-revolution Tunisia.

Tourism Minister Elyes Fakhfakh stressed that Tunisia remains “an open country,” and suggested creating a Mediterranean label under which travel opportunities in the region could be jointly marketed abroad.

Fakhfakh told AFP that his country has the capacity to win back the 2.2 million tourists that chose to holiday elsewhere in 2011.

“If the situation continues to improve on the social, security plans, Tunisia could recover all of its loses by 2013,” he added, citing the seven million visitorship recorded in 2010 as the target.

Egypt, where a popular uprising in 2011 led to the ouster of president Hosni Mubarak, saw its tourism revenues drop 30 percent during the year due to the unrest.

“Everytime there is trouble that brings about a feeling of insecurity, tourists become reticent. Such behaviour is normal,” said Pierret.

New Zealand free-diving world champion William Trubridge is calling for international tourists to write to Prime Minister John Key to say they will cancel planned trips to New Zealand until the Maui’s dolphin is given “sufficient” protection.

Trubridge filmed a video, which has had more than 20,000 views on YouTube, calling to “put pressure on New Zealand’s Government”.

A recent Department of Conservation report estimates there are approximately 55 Maui’s dolphins left, residing only on the West Coast of the North Island.

Trubridge told TV One’s Breakfast this morning he has had a good response from the video, both nationally and internationally.

“Everyone is very concerned about the issue and wants to see the dolphin species saved,” he said.

“It’s common knowledge that the current protective measures aren’t sufficient.”

James Higham of University of Otago’s Department of Tourism said there is value associated with endangered animals, which means protection is not only for their sake, but for New Zealand tourism itself.

“The interesting thing about the tourism industry is that it gives value to wildlife species, whether it’s yellowed-eyed [penguins], or sea lions or albatrosses or, in this case, Maui’s dolphins,” said Higham.

“The dolphin is globally significant and New Zealand is globally answerable for the survival of that species.”

Higham said to have a figurehead such as Trubridge behind the campaign is important because of his affinity with the marine environment.

“He is raising awareness here of such issues as fishing practice, and other issues such as New Zealand’s poor record in protecting marine environments,” he said.

“Our customers trust Avis to provide them with best-in-class products backed by our world-renowned ‘We try harder’ service to ensure a consistently outstanding rental experience in India and around the globe,” said Patric Siniscalchi, president, Latin America/Asia Pacific for Avis Budget Group. “We are delighted to receive the esteemed National Tourism Award and proudly thank India’s Ministry of Tourism.”

Avis is the leading international car rental company in India, operating at 41 conveniently located rental facilities in 18 cities across the country and providing pick-up and drop-off service at major airports, including Bengaluru International Airport in Bangalore, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Calcutta, Chennai International Airport, Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai and Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad.

Avis provides travelers in India with a wide range of high-quality vehicles in a variety of car classes, including the Toyota Etios, Ford Fiesta, Honda City, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Camry, Toyota Innova Multi-Utility Vehicle, Mercedes E Class and Mercedes S Class. Travelers in India also benefit from Avis’ premium chauffeur service, long-term rental program, vehicle damage coverage and personal property protection packages, and vehicle leasing and fleet management services.

In addition to receiving India’s top tourism award, Avis was recognized as “Asia’s Leading Car Hire” at the 2011 World Travel Awards, chosen by more than 200,000 travel professionals in 160 countries. Avis has held the title for six consecutive years. Avis India is operated through a joint venture with The Oberoi Group.

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