Author: Alicia

Since the end of the 26 year Civil War in 2009, the Sri Lankan Government is keen to cultivate the image of a peaceful country which is welcoming to foreign tourists. National and international investment has vastly improved most of the road infrastructure of the island and, in 2014, just over 1.5 million tourists visited Sri Lanka, compared to just over 40,000 in 2010. The government is keen to attract wealthy tourists from Western Europe, China and North America by developing luxury resorts in Kuchchaveli, Passikudah and Kalpitiya; areas that are all located in the north or the east of the island which were especially affected by the Civil War.

However, it is alleged that large scale tourism projects are having an adverse effect on local communities and, in some cases, the local habitat. At Kalpitiya, on the north-west coast, there are plans to establish 17 luxury hotels accommodating up to 10,000 beds. However, this appears to be at a high cost to the local fishing communities who have reportedly been forced off their lands and who have been denied access to the sea. It has also been reported that construction work is destroying areas of mangroves where local people once fished for prawns and other shellfish.

The promotion of Welsh tourism is under the remit of the Welsh Government. However, this week, Welsh Conservatives have called for the promotion of tourism in the principality to be put under the control of the tourist industry, suggesting that “Visit Wales” should be an independent body led by people who are at the sharp end of the tourist industry themselves. “Visit Wales”, set up by the Welsh Government in 2006, after the closure of the Welsh Tourist Board, has had some success but Welsh Conservatives have criticised its risk-adverse nature and say it is stifled by bureaucracy. Improvements had been noted after the appointment of a panel of tourism experts and Conservatives feel that these people and others like them should be “running it for themselves”

In the meantime, tourism figures for Wales have shown a huge rise in the number of people visiting Wales for barge and boating holidays or visiting on cruise ships. There has been a marked  increase in the number of cruise ships docking in Holyhead and in ports on Anglesey, bringing extra money into the local areas.

Changi Airport in Singapore is one of the busiest airports in south-east Asia. In 2014, Changi handled more than 54 million passengers and nearly 2 million tonnes of cargo and was voted the world’s best airport by airport users.

With three terminals and a fourth due to open sometime in 2017, people must wonder what is special about Changi, marking it out as different from other airports.

Terminal 1 includes a roof top swimming pool which overlooks the runway. If you are not prepared for a swim, then you can have a drink at the poolside bar. Other attractions at the terminal include a cactus garden with more than a hundred different species of cactus and desert plants, a craft room for passengers with a creative streak and an exciting children’s playground.

For families in transit, Terminal 2 has a family room, with baby change and bottle warming facilities, and play areas with TV screens showing cartoons to keep older children amused. Terminal 2’s Entertainment Deck offers all passengers the chance to pass waiting time by playing interactive games.

The Butterfly Garden, home to more than a 1000 butterflies, is a “must” for transit passengers in Terminal 3. Alternatively, if you have the time, you could sample reflexology in the Wellness Spa.

All terminals at Changi have lounges, shopping areas, restaurants and cafes, business centres and pharmacies and clinics and all the usual facilities that a large airport anywhere will offer. Some facilities are only available to transit passengers.

This month at the Paris Air Show it was announced that Qatar Airlines was the overall winner of the prestigious World Airlines Award as voted by passengers. Over a period of nine months from the previous September, passengers have the chance to complete online surveys and comment on a vast array of categories which include online booking, arrival services, friendliness of cabin staff, cabin cleanliness, the quality of on-board meals and staff language skills. Second place and third place were awarded to Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific Airlines respectively. British Airways came in at number 20.

Looking at on-board facilities on a Qatar Airways aircraft, it is not surprising that they won the award. First class cabin seats have enough room to fully recline and there are large screen monitors to keep each passenger entertained. Economy class on Qatar Airlines offers more leg room for passengers than on other airlines and each seat comes with a power outlet, personal telephone and USB port. First class passengers also have access to a luxurious separate bar and lounge area too.

Many insurers are reticent to cover customers with pre-existing medical conditions including cancer, as they are considered more likely to need medical treatment whilst abroad and are therefore more likely to make a claim. However, travellers do not just require insurance for medical treatment but also for lost baggage, cancellation, delayed travel, etc, so it is important to have travel insurance to cover all eventualities.

Some mainstream insurers will insure cancer patients but will not include any claim that is related to needing any treatment for cancer or for any illnesses brought on by the condition. If customers do require some form of medical treatment abroad for their cancer then they will have to cover the expenses themselves.

If travellers require more comprehensive cover then it is advisable to use an insurance company which specialises in covering customers with pre-existing medical conditions. This is likely to be more expensive, particularly if you are travelling to the US, but you will be covered for all medical requirements. Do make sure you have details of your condition to hand; including your prognosis and treatment that you have already had, as you will be asked a series of comprehensive medical questions. It is also recommended that you obtain a letter from your doctor to say that you are well enough to travel.

In the first instance, it is worth contacting charities like Cancer Research, as they will have up-to- date advice and may even be able to recommend specialist insurers.