Tourism And Welfare

The concept of welfare is a somewhat neglected area within tourism studies, despite the continued growth of interest in key issues such as ethics, tourist safety, employee's well-being, human rights, ethnocentrism, cultural sensitivity and behaviour codes, green consumerism, and the perceptions of management of 'sustainability'. This book provides an explanation, definition and a critique of welfare and a welfare approach covering these issues. Chapters cover the welfare of tourists, employees in the tourism industry, residents in tourism destinations, animals as tourist attractions and the natural environment.

In this unique and pathbreaking book, David Reisman examines the relatively new phenomenon of health travel. He presents a multidisciplinary account of the way in which lower costs, shorter waiting times, different services, and the chance to combine recreational tourism with a check-up or an operation all come together to make medical travel a new industry with the potential to create jobs and wealth, while at the same time giving sick people high-quality care at an affordable price. The book illustrates that it is no longer the case that medical attention must be consumed at home. Patients are travelling to Mexico, India and Thailand for a heart bypass. They are going to Hungary, Poland and Malaysia for dentistry. Doctors are migrating to Britain, the USA and Canada for new challenges. Hospitals are opening subsidiaries in Dubai, the Philippines and Costa Rica to see overseas patients on the spot. Integrating academic perspectives from medicine, tourism, health economics, development studies and public policy, the author concludes that the benefits both to the importing and the exporting nations are considerable, but that there are also some costs. He suggests that the new industry should be regulated and supported in order that it can do its best both for the local population and for the sick people who travel abroad for treatment. This fascinating and highly original book will be of great interest to academics and researchers in areas such as health economics, tourism, social policy, development studies, Asian studies and public policy. It will also prove invaluable to practitioners actively involved in planning and delivering medical attention in the global economic order.

Travel is widely acknowledged as an activity that increases individuals' levels of well-being. Nevertheless, the relationship between happiness and tourism is still a matter of investigation. Despite the overall beneficial effects of travel on happiness levels, tourism is not an activity with solely positive implications on peoples' lives. Therefore, it is crucial to understand how happiness manifests through tourism and how it can be expanded to different tourism actors, such as tourists, workers, and communities. The search for ways and methods to enhance the levels of happiness and well-being has grown significantly in recent years. Happiness and quality of life are timely issues and have become even more relevant due to the significant impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Rebuilding and Restructuring the Tourism Industry: Infusion of Happiness and Quality of Life is a critical references source that examines the fundamental relationship between tourism, happiness, and quality of life. This book discusses relevant theoretical frameworks and the latest findings from empirical research in happiness, well-being, and quality-of-life-related tourism. Focusing on topics such as neurotourism, PERMA theory, the economics of happiness, tourism employment opportunity, and overtourism, this book will intrigue scholars working in hospitality, tourism, destination management, economics, marketing, sociology, anthropology, and health sciences as well as managers, travel agencies, restaurateurs, hotel managers, and professionals who want to improve their understanding of the relationship between tourism and happiness, providing them with tools to develop better and sustainable practices for the sector.

Animals are among the most sought after tourist attractions and the impact on them is a matter of concern to an increasing number of people. Tourism and Animal Welfare uniquely addresses the issue of animal welfare within the tourism experience. It explores important foundations such as the meaning of 'animal welfare' and its relation to ethics, animal rights and human obligations to animals. It also explores the nature and diversity of the position and role of animals within tourism. From students and academics to vets and those working within the tourism industry, this book will provide an engaging and thought-provoking read. It will also appeal to those with an interest in animal welfare, particularly in relation to the tourism industry. 'Tales from the front line' is the section of the book that provides the reader with the views and experiences of animal welfare organisations, individual leaders, tourism industry organisations and operators, and academic experts. These case studies and opinion pieces will encourage the reader to consider their own position regarding animals in tourism and their welfare.

Viewed through a politico-economic lens, Nordic countries share what is often referred to as the ‘Nordic model’, characterised by a comprehensive welfare state; higher spending on childcare; more equitable income distribution; and lifelong-learning policies. This edited collection considers these contexts to explore the complex nature of tourism employment, thereby providing insights into the dynamic nature, characteristics, and meaning of work in tourism. Contributors combine explorations of the impact of policy on tourism employment with a more traditional human resources management approach focusing on employment issues from an organizational perspective, such as job satisfaction, training, and retention. The text points to opportunities as well as challenges relating to issues such as the notion of ‘decent work’, the role and contribution of migrant workers, and more broadly, the varying policy objectives embedded within the Nordic welfare model. Offering a detailed, multi-faceted analysis of tourism employment, this book is a valuable resource for students, researchers and practitioners interested in tourism employment in the region.