Discuss the relative merits of workplace parking charges and Essay

Discuss the relative merits of workplace parking charges and congestion charging as a basis for reducing car dependency in British cities - Essay Example imposed on Private Non-Residential (PNR) car parking at workplaces that in past have been free as a practical fiscal measure to discourage car based transport for the staffs, to and from the workplace. Car based commuting has in the past propelled the level of road congestion. The charges are aimed at discouraging the staff to adopt other modes of transport like walking, cycling or adopting car club strategy which gives people access to vehicles on pay-as-you-go basis. Congestion charging involves levying every vehicle based on the trip length in terms of travel time or travel distance and trip externalities related to a vehicle contribution to congestion and air pollution. Currently the continuous fees charged, based on mileage is best for all vehicles types; ranging from the commercial motor bikes, commercial vans, and trailers to the private cars. Proposal is under way to use a MOBB (Mobile Operated Black Box) that is based on solution which would identity the details of the vehicle and the driver. Implemented as a mobile handset using the UK mobile network and employing the Location Based Service mobile application to locate the coordinates, which help determine whether the vehicle is within the charging zone or just in the entire road network then transmit the data to the congestion charges operational center that is either local or national. It has seen decrease in the traffic congestion in the charging zones in the various cities of British. Taking London for example employed the London Congestion Charging Scheme (LCCS). From the table below gives the changes in the number of different types of vehicles entering and leaving the charging zones. The large improvement of London bus network has seen people switching to the use of the bus, they have increased the number of the buses with combination of more frequency and good network, this has seen car user avoiding to pay the congestion charges switch to public transport. Taking for example of the data

Health Care Reform Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Health Care Reform - Term Paper Example levels of income and working for diverse employees, since they will be given greater opportunity to access cheaper and more expansive health insurance coverage (Jackson & Nolen, 2010; Thoma, 2010). People who will not benefit that much or will be negatively affected by the health care reform are: 1) Illegal immigrants who cannot participate in the reform and its insurance exchange, even when they fully pay for their expenses (Jackson & Nolen, 2010); 2) This group composes about â€Å"one third of the 24 million who will remain uninsured† (Thoma, 2010); 3) The insured will also be adversely affected, since this can increase their premiums; 3) Doctors will not largely benefit, due to lower Medicare payment rates; and 4) The wealthy will foot the bill of those who will benefit from the health care reform, since there will be a â€Å"0.9% increase in Medicare payroll taxes† for those who earn higher than $200,000 per annum and the rich will also be taxed 3.8% on their investment income by 2013 (Wingfield, Whelan, & Herper, 2010, p.3) The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) (2009) will focus on attaining the information needs of the Health Care Reform, such as identifying who will receive additional Medicare and Medicaid services. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will also be involved in the reform activities, because it will provide medicine discounts for senior citizens, and expand Medicaid to include more families and childless adults, beginning in 2014 (Jackson & Nolen, 2010). The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) (2011) will ensure that insurance providers will not deny insurance to covered children due to â€Å"preexisting conditions† (Jackson & Nolen, 2010) and that they will allow children to be part of their parents insurance until the former are 26 years old (Jackson & Nolen, 2010). Paradis, Wood, and Cramer (2009) reported that there will be higher demand for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) as a

Live Theatre Critique of Junie B. Jones Essay Example for Free

Live Theatre Critique of Junie B. Jones Essay It wasnt fancy like most theatres. It reminded my of a high school auditorum. They had the stage set up like a class room for the scene they were doing first. The first part of the play was set up like an classroom, and the second part pf the play was set up like a bookstore. The pre-show music that was playing was soft chrismas music. Not much singing just mostly instumental. As I was expecting, there were more children then teenagers. Parents and grandparents were there, but as for ages that attended, it was mostly children. Before the show began, the producers asked everyone to turn off their cell phones and anything with a distracting light. The show was mostly dark so any bright lights would distract the play. The play ran smoothly nothung distratcing happened. The plot of the play was about a girl named Junie B. Jones who was stuck between buying gifts for others or herself. Her parents gave her enough money to go to the book store and buy gifts for her family. Once she went to the book store, she laid her eyes on something she wanted for herself. The toy was called a squeeze a burp. Meanwhile, in class the teacher decided for the students to draw names of others in the class to buy gifts for. With her luck, she drew Mays name. May is a girl in Junie B. class that does not get along with her. They always fight and get in trouble. Junie B. just had to have that toy for herself. She went home and asked her grandpa Miller for some money and he gave it to her. She now had enough money to buy gifts for her family and herself. She decided that she was going to give May some ashes because she was a mean girl and didnt deserve any gifts. She end up buying the squeeze a burp toy for herself. As the children were putting the gifts in each other stocking she stated to think to herself is what she doing is right. Junie B. decided to do right so she could be on Santas nice list and gave May the squeeze a burp toy. The girls ended up being friends at the end and they played with the toy that Junie B had bought. The characters in the play behaved exzactly like they should have for this play. They portrayed a typical child in school. Selfish and argumenative with each others at time. The main characters of the play were Junie B. Jones, played by Brooke Bryant and May who was played by Cori Anne Laemmel. I think the genre of the play was comedy. Many of the scenes acted out in the play had not only the children laughing, but also the adults has well. Throughout the play Junie B and May did not get along as much. Junie B was also being selfish towards others than herself. The play was trying to accomplish friendship between the two girls and also teach Junie B not to be selfish, but giving. Through out the play they played christmas music, and music that inspired the things that were going on during that scene. They also played special effects sounds for certain parts. The part where Junie B gets into trouble, they played a noise that you would expect to here when someone is getting in to trouble or is doing something they shouldnt be doing. They also had great use of the lighting effects. There were parts of the play were Junie B would talk to her self as she were talking in her head. They would put a spot light on her and black everything else out so that you know that it is ment only for the audience to here and not the other characters. The director Peter Vann did a wounderful job in directing the play. He made sure that it felt as if the characters were actually children instead of adults. They played it well putting their self in a childs place. Each character acted out their lines perfectly. If any mistakes were made I didnt notice. Their tone and body language went well with their emotins and expressions that they had to act out. Having a little knowledge about Junie B, I would have never expected for her to buy May a gift or for them to get a long in the play. Brooke Bryant did a great interpetation of Junie B. Her voiced matched her personality of a snooty, selfish girl that thinks she knows it all. I think that Brooke Bryant and Cori Laemmel held their chacter of the girls very well. There were parts of the play whene they had to do or say funny things and they did it without laughing and remained in character. Brooke Bryant broke the forth wall in a scene where she was in the spot light talking to her self. But I think that it was part of the play for her to do that. Maybe to get the audience involved or just to make contact with the children to make them laugh. I noticed that many of the children enjoyed the play. The costume designer Patricia Taber did a good job designing the costumes. Each costume fitted each of the characters personalty that was being portrayed. Their was a rich girl in the class named Lucille and her costume was a pretty dress that looked expensive. Since her charcter was a rich girl, her fancy dress showed that she came from money without her having to say anything about it. I would definatly recommed this play to a friend or a family memeber that has children or have read any of the Junie B Jones books. The play ended on the note that Junie B and May finally got along and Junie B felt proud of herself for doing what she did. After that scene I thought the play was over. Brooke Byant, the character of Junie B began to sing. I didnt expect to her such beautiful singing. All the charcters joined togther and began singing a christmas song. They said Merry christmas and bowed and then the play was over. My favorite part of the play was at the end when they start singing. I didnt expect for them to sing at all and especially not the way they did. The play was a huge successe and I would defintaly go see it again.

Values, Goals and Good Journalism Essay Example for Free

Values, Goals and Good Journalism Essay Power of the press†¦ Glory of the byline†¦ Thrill of being among the first to know†¦ These are just some of the legendary benefits that a person gets when he or she takes journalism for a profession. The public looks up to journalists as those who do very interesting things – meeting the rich and famous, having access to powerful people, experiencing heady encounters and getting paid for doing these things. However, power is always accompanied by a corresponding responsibility. Ideally, a journalist should present the truth about an event or issue. He must be well-grounded in the standards and ethics of journalism before he even attempts to write a story. He must bear in mind the importance of confidentiality, objectivity and fairness. He must understand that journalism is a presentation of facts and facts alone. There really are some instances when a writer tends to inject personal bias in the story he is writing. These happen when he inserts personal feeling and opinion and when he sees himself not as an observer but a participant in the event that he is covering. There are also cases when a journalist stacks the facts so as to prove one side of the story or to take the position the paper prefers. Personal biases must be set aside when presenting a news. What one writes reflects who he is. If his commitment to journalistic principles and public service is compromised with financial gains, this may lead to offenses such as libel, sensationalism, invasion of privacy, obstruction of justice, and obscenity. To prevent getting charged of any of these, the good values of a journalist must urge him to exercise good judgment which eventually shapes credibility. The best way to be the best writer, however, is to treat journalism as a vital calling. Every writing must be inspired by the manner the Bible was written. The Bible emphasizes the necessity of objectivity in reporting. As Luke writes: Since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught. Objectivity must be transparent in all kinds of reporting. In recent years, priests’ involvement in sex scandals had been a sensitive topic worldwide. This is just right as journalists must carry out their duty of presenting even the dark side of the news. The Bible describes God as a creator and man as His image-bearer. Sometimes, a journalist needs to report on the contrast between man’s sinfulness and God’s holiness. Journalists do not have to preach in stories; however, they can work towards honest selection of details. There is no question about God’s involvement in human history. In Deuteronomy 29, Moses addressed the Israelites: Your eyes have seen all that the Lord did in Egypt to Pharaoh, to all his officials and to all his land. With your own eyes, you saw those great trials, those miraculous signs and great wonders. But to this day, the Lord has not given you a mind that understands or eyes that see or ears that hear. In writing his own piece, a writer must provide the context but must follow the Bible in depicting God’s grace and man’s sinfulness. If in the Bible Jesus says to Thomas, â€Å"Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed,† same goes to a journalist who does not go to press even when ten people tell him the same thing. In conclusion, good journalism entails truth-telling even when it hurts. For him to become the best journalist he can be, a journalist must possess only two things: commitment to truth and a biblical worldview in apprehending reality accurately. Reference Brucker, Herbert. Communication is Power: Unchanging Values in a Changing Journalism. New York: Oxford University Press. 1973.

Pestle analysis of indian tourism industry

Pestle analysis of indian tourism industry PESTLE Analysis of Indian tourism industry Introduction about the topic : It is time for Indias Tourism sector. Driven by a surge in business traveller arrivals and a soaring interest in India as a tourist destination, the year 2006 has been the best year till date. Incredible India !! India is probably the only country that offers various categories of tourism. These include history tourism, adventure tourism, medical tourism (ayurveda and other forms of Indian medications), spiritual tourism, beach tourism (India has the longest coastline in the East) etc. Explore India choose the locales of your choice, and see what each state has to offer. Lose yourself in the wonder that is India. Meander through lands steeped in chivalry and pageantry that begin before recorded history. Explore modern cities that have grown organically from the roots of a multi-hued past. Make a pilgrimage to holy shrines that echo with tales of antiquity. Frolic on a vast array of golden beaches that dot an enviable coastline, washed by two seas and an ocean. Sport with adventure in style. Let the jungle lure you to a fascinating world at a diverse array of wildlife sanctuaries and national parks. this is the wonder that is India. Indian Tourism industry is one of the most important export industries of the country. Although the international tourist inflow is relatively low, India has found tourism emerging as an important sector of its economy. Tourism yields substantial foreign exchange for India. It is turning into a volume game where a large number of participants are contributing to the revenue of the industry. Segments such as hotels, tour operators, airlines, shipping etc. Growth period of Indian tourism industry The tourism industry in India is substantial and vibrant, and the country is fast becoming a major global destination. Indias travel and tourism industry is one of them most profitable industries in the country, and also credited with contributing a substantial amount of foreign exchange. This is illustrated by the fact that during 2006, four million tourists visited India and spent US $8.9 billion. Several reasons are cited for the growth and prosperity of Indias travel and tourism industry. Economic growth has added millions annually to the ranks of Indias middle class, a group that is driving domestic tourism growth. Disposable income in India has grown by 10.11% annually from 2001-2006. Thanks in part to its booming IT and outsourcing industry a growing number of business trips are made by foreigners to India, who will often add a weekend break or longer holiday to their trip. Foreign tourists spend more in India than almost any other country worldwide. Tourist arrivals are projected to increase by over 22% per year through till 2010, with a 33% increase in foreign exchange. The Tourism Ministry has also played an important role in the development of the industry, initiating advertising campaigns such as the Incredible India campaign, which promoted Indias culture and tourist attractions in a fresh and memorable way. The campaign helped create a colorful image of India in the minds of consumers all over the world, and has directly led to an increase in the interest in tourism industry has helped growth in other sectors as diverse as horticulture, handicrafts, agriculture, construction and even poultry. Welcome to Incredible India Namaskar, Welcome to Incredible India! A journey into mysticism through the land of the unexpected. Bounded by the majestic Himalayan ranges in the north and edged by an endless stretch of golden beaches, India is a vivid kaleidoscope of landscapes, magnificent historical sites and royal cities, misty mountain retreats, colorful people, rich cultures and festivities. Modern India is home alike to the tribal with his anachronistic lifestyle and to the sophisticated urban jet-setter. It is a land where temple elephants exist amicably with the microchip. Its ancient monuments are the backdrop for the worlds largest democracy. If youre planning a holiday to India, looking for hotels and accommodation and events information or simply interested in India as a country you are sure to find many insights on the multifaceted travel options to India here.The timeless mystery and beauty of India can be experienced only by visiting this ancient Land. Theres just one thing youll need to travel through 5000 years of culture and tradition- A comfortable pair of shoes. The following table provides the major tourist attractions in India by state: < Tourist Attraction State Charminar Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh Kaziranga National Park Assam Qutub Minar Delhi Mangueshi Temple Goa Shimla Himachal Pradesh Dal Lake Jammu and Kashmir Jog Falls Shimoga District, Karnataka Kovalam Beach Kerala Amarkantak Madhya Pradesh Ajanta Maharashtra Puri Orissa Golden Temple Amritsar, Punjab Jaipur Rajasthan Chennai Tamil Nadu Badrinath Temple Uttarakhand Varanasi Uttar Pradesh The various segments within tourism are: Medical Tourism It is one of the fastest growing segments in India. India has been able to leverage on certain advantages it has over other countries like highly skilled doctors, cost effective treatment, improved quality of private healthcare etc. Some of the common treatments for which overseas patients to come to India are heart surgery, knee transplant, cosmetic surgery and dental care. Indias traditional rejuvenation therapy like yoga and ayurvedic therapy are also becoming popular. Eco Tourism It is relatively new segment in India. It involves visiting natural areas without disturbing the fragile ecosystem. Eco tourism generates wealth for the local people, who in turn take measures to conserve and protect the environment and natural resources. India with its natural diversity is one of the pristine places in the world for eco tourism. The Himalayan region, Kerala, Northeast, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep islands the Western and Eastern Ghats are some of the hot spots for eco tourism in India. India has some of the best wildlife reserves in the world, rich in flora and fauna. Heritage Tourism Heritage tourism is a very lucrative segment in India. It is widely believed it would emerge as the most important segment within tourism in terms of revenue generation by 2010.India has a rich cultural history and reflection of its glorious past is still visible in its numerous forts, monuments, palaces, places of worship etc. Heritage tourism itself can be further classified as colonial heritage, urban renewal, religious tourism, industrial heritage and ethnicity. The Indian government must show keen interest in preserving the heritage sites from a tourism perspective. Adventure Tourism Indias varied geographical and climatic conditions offer excellent opportunity for adventure sports. In recent times the popularity of adventure tourism has increased. Adventure sports like river rafting, rock climbing, mountaineering, trekking, skiing, snow climbing, scuba diving and angling can be undertaken in the country and the country offers multiple locations to choose from. The trans Himalayan region, the Garhwal and Kumaon mountains, the Western Ghats, deserts of Rajasthan, Andaman and Lakshadweep islands are some of the most popular destination for adventure tourism. Future trends The real GDP growth for travel and tourism economy is expected to be 0.2 per cent in 2009 and is expected to grow at an average of 7.7 per cent per annum in the coming decade. Earning through exports from international visitors and tourism goods are expected to generate 6.0 per cent of total exports (nearly $16.9 billion) in 2009 and expected to increase to US$ 51.4 billion in 2019. According to the Ministry of Tourism, Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) for the period from January to March in 2009 was 1.461 million. For the month of March 2009 the FTAs was 472000.The reason for the decline is attributed to the ongoing economic crisis. In spite of the short term and medium term impediment due to the global meltdown the revenues from tourism is expected to increase by 42 per cent from 2007 to 2017. PESTLE Analysis of tourism industry Definition The PESTLE framework is an analysis tool that is used to identify the key drivers of change in the strategic environment (Johnson et al., 2008). PESTLE analysis includes Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal, and Environmental factors. Political effect on tourism industry- Political violence has done considerable damage to tourism in Asia and the Pacific over the past few years. But industry experts say the damage is not necessarily permanent. Governments and industry leaders say much can be done to rebuild tattered tourism reputations. As the world watched, a small band of terrorists killed scores in Mumbai last November. Although India has often suffered from political violence, this attack aimed largely at travelers and foreigners was a new horror. The globally televised attack, coming during an international economic slump, contributed to an eight percent fall in tourist arrivals this year. In Thailand, tens of thousands of anti-government protesters laid siege to Bangkoks airports late last year, essentially trapping more than 350,000 travelers in the country for a week. Before that shock had worn off, a few months later, another group of protesters led violent riots in Bangkok. The two incidents added to the damage from the world economy cut tourist arrivals to Thailand by 20 percent in the first six months of 2009. Phornsiri Manoharn, the chairwoman of the Pacific Asia Travel Association, says many tourists still worry that Thailands political tensions could spoil their visits. When people saw any demonstration like that they associate with the closing of the airport, said Manoharn. Even [though] we dont close [the airport] but they look like the demonstration, that they might and thats why theyre afraid. Tourism is important to the Asia-Pacific region. In Southeast Asia, it contributes over three percent to economic output. In some parts of the region, tourism accounts for 10 percent of employment; in the Pacific island nations of Fiji and Vanuatu, the figure is over 30 percent. But as India and Thailand have seen, violence and instability quickly scare away visitors. Recovery comes, but usually more slowly than after natural disasters. John Koldowski is PATAs communications director. What we have seen in many cases is where there is some sort of intervention effect its been natural or no fault of anybody the rebound has been very quick, he said. Where there has been intent to cause harm as in the case of a say terrorist attack and where there has been a long history of such attacks occurring in that destination or nearby destination, it takes a little longer to come back. But with the right government and industry responses, visitors will return. For instance, in October 2002, bombs set off by Islamic militants on the island of Bali killed more than 200 people, most of them foreigners. The island, one of the worlds most famous tourist destinations, saw arrivals fall by 36 percent in 2003. Koldowski said the first bombings shocked the tourism industry. Bali is a classic case there it took some time [to recover] because it had never occurred there before it was so dramatic and affected specific western tourists, he said. But the Indonesian government cracked down on terrorists and boosted security. And tourism industry professionals worked hard to woo back visitors. When another attack three years later left 20 people dead, PATA reported that tourist arrivals were little affected. And twin bombings at international hotels in Jakarta last July are expected to do little damage to tourism. In South Asia, Sri Lanka and Nepal hope the end of long-running conflicts will entice more visitors. Sri Lankan officials say the end of a civil war earlier this year brought a surge of interest from foreign investors and hotel operators. Dileep Mudadeniya, Sri Lankan Tourism Promotion Bureau managing director, says there are opportunities for tourism, particularly in areas long closed off by the war. North and east, which have not actually taken any kind of development for the last 20 years, virgin beaches, land, monuments is available and the people also come and exploit something or look at something totally undiscovered, said Mudadeniya. We are going on the line which is undiscovered, unspoiled, an island of authenticity, which we can offer. In Nepal, political agreements have ended a Maoist insurgency that lasted more than a decade. The minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation, Sharatsingh Bhandari, says Nepals transition from conflict to peace is in itself a tourism draw. Now we are going to form a new Nepal. So giving the message for the New Nepal and inviting the people to see, not only the prospect of tourism itself but even the process of transition of the political system from bullet to ballot. That was done successfully by the Nepalese themselves, he said. Industry analysts say tourism in Asia is likely to expand rapidly over the next few years. But, the key, they say, is that governments find ways to prevent political violence, and act quickly to calm fears when it does happen. Economic effect on tourism industry- The service economy is driving growth in most OECD countries. It represents a large part of economic activity and its importance continues to grow. Tourism, a large, complex and fragmented industry which is still very difficult to define and measure, is a key component of the service economy (30% of international trade in services in the OECD area). In terms of revenue, OECD countries generate about 70% of world tourism activity. Tourism, which has expanded dramatically over the past 30 years, looks set to continue growing as societies become more mobile and prosperous. Obtaining better information on services, the least developed side of statistics, is an important challenge for statistical agencies and a necessity for political analysis. Measuring tourism is part of a wider move to improve our knowledge of how economies work, what they produce and what changes occur over time. It is no longer enough to measure physical flows (arrivals and overnight stays) and monetary data (revenue and expenditure relating to international tourism). In the early 1980s, the OECD began work to set up a model acceptable at international level which gave rise to the OECD Tourism Economic Accounts, which measure certain socio-economic aspects of tourism. While developing this tool, the OECD produced a more precise definition of tourism, visitors and tourist expenditure [Note: OECD (1996), OECD Tourism Statistics Design and Application for Policy]. Despite its economic importance, governments, especially in developed economies, still do not adequately recognise tourism. For this reason, the OECD has developed and recently approved the OECD Guidelines for a Tourism Satellite Account and an Employment Module. These integrated statistical tools aim to measure the economic aspects of tourism (value added, jobs, revenue, investment, profits) in order to provide a more convincing demonstration of this activitys economic significance. Furthermore, together with the United Nations, the World Tourism Organization and the European Commission (Eurostat), the OECD has developed a UN-WTO-OECD-EUROSTAT Tourism Satellite Account: Recommended Methodological Framework, approved by the 25-member United Nations Statistical Commission on 1 March 2000. A publication is available. Other work undertaken in this area includes statistical research. OECD and Eurostat regularly organise international forums on tourism statistics to share ideas, experiences and concepts with Member and non-members countries, the scientific community and the tourism industry. The United Kingdom, with the support of Eurostat and the OECD, organised the Fifth International Forum on Tourism Statistics (Glasgow, 20-23 June 2000). Similar forums have been organised in Vienna (1994), in Venice (1995), in Sintra (1996) and in Copenhagen (1998). Technological effect on tourism industry- Definition of Tourism Technology The convergence of industries has forced people to create terminology such as information technology, biotechnology, ubiquitous technology and even cultural technology to explain frequently talked about topics. Tourism Technology is a term that encompasses all social, cultural, managerial, and value-adding activities of the tourism industry. Tourism Technology also incorporates and encourages technological advancements and economic development in the tourism industry. The Origin of Tourism Technology Tourism Technology, initially based on the concept of cultural technology, is a more comprehensive term covering knowledge used to add to the value of tourism products on a micro level and the management of the travel and tourism industry on a macro level. New tourism products are also the end result of tourism technology combining with other industries. These include medical tourism, educational tourism, agricultural tourism, marine tourism and the application of information technology to the travel and tourism industry. Application of Tourism Technology The term technology can easily call to mind scientific achievements, computer graphic skills, special effects and other engineering-related images. However, Tourism Technology encompasses the integrated fields mentioned in the previous paragraph, statistics, managerial and socio-cultural know-how, and skills that the tourism industry can adopt to design, produce, and market various tourism products. In addition to coordinating various aspects of human resources in the travel and tourism industry, â€Å"Tourism Technology† describes a comprehensive field containing but not limited to such widely referred to subjects as entertainment technology, contents technology and creative technology. Software for Tourists One of the latest applications is software that permits tourists to customize their visits according to their preferences. Luis Castillo Vidal, computer engineer of the University of Granada and one of the authors of the study, points out that, in order to design the customized visit plans, they have used Artificial Intelligence techniques, â€Å"a science that provides computers with abilities to solve problems which, in principle, can only be solved by humans†. Users must have access to the internet, either through a computer, a mobile phone or a PDA, in order to be able to access a web where they can define their preferences and needs, such as their artistic, cultural and gastronomic preferences, their lifestyle and favourite hours, whether they are disabled or not and the spending capacity. Environmental effect on tourism industry- The quality of the environment, both natural and man-made, is essential to tourism. However, tourisms relationship with the environment is complex. It involves many activities that can have adverse environmental effects. Many of these impacts are linked with the construction of general infrastructure such as roads and airports, and of tourism facilities, including resorts, hotels, restaurants, shops, golf courses and marinas. The negative impacts of tourism development can gradually destroy the environmental resources on which it depends. On the other hand, tourism has the potential to create beneficial effects on the environment by contributing to environmental protection and conservation. It is a way to raise awareness of environmental values and it can serve as a tool to finance protection of natural areas and increase their economic importance. Three main impact areas: natural resources, pollution, and physical impacts Environmental impacts at the global level Other industry impacts on tourism How tourism can contribute to environmental conservation Social effect on tourism industry- Jamaica is primarily a sun, sea and sand destination and, therefore, the primary recreational activities of visitors include sun and sea bathing on the beaches. Tourists who visit Jamaica are, therefore, primarily involved in activities such as going to the beach, snorkelling, scuba diving and glass-bottom boating. Jamaicas tourism product is dependent on the coral reefs and their associated ecosystems such as seagrass beds and mangroves. These ecosystems are, however, threatened by natural causes and human behaviour such as coastal pollution, rapid coastal development, over-fishing and global warming. All parties involved (the citizens, the tourism industry and the visitors) have a vested interest in the management of the environmental resource base and an obligation to do their part to support this management. If the environment is degraded all parties stand to lose visitors will fail to come (or will be willing to pay less) and the countries will lose an important source of economic benefit. In other words the environment will produce reduced economic, ecological, and amenity benefits. Microeconomic theory is essentially the study of the equitable distribution of scarce goods or benefits. In this example the scarce benefit is the Jamaican beach tourism product. The economic theory provides approaches to making the demand and supply of these scarce benefits more efficient. Demand of the good in this case is the beach-lust (sun, sand, sea) tourism of Jamaica. This is in contrast to the wonder-lust tourism such as safaris, mountain climbing, cultural and heritage tourism that is observed in other parts of the world. The good is supplied at a cost which would include the traditional costs of, labour and capital etc. However when the cost of the provision of the good does not take into account negative externalities such as environmental damage, this results in market failure. If this market failure is not corrected it will result in a loss in social welfare (dead-weight loss). Jamaicas current tourism model is based on the construction of mega super inclusive resorts, which often require engineering solutions such as dredging, groyne construction and limestone blasting in order to create swimming beaches, and construct buildings a few meters away from the high water mark. Construction and operation of tourist facilities such as hotels and other attractions also result in significant alterations to the terrestrial environment, trees, insects, birds etc. Operation of these entities also results in the diversion of resources such as water and electricity which could have been used elsewhere in the society. MARKET FAILURE Increased construction activity in the coast provides relatively short term and low-skilled employment. The intermittent demand for this pool of labour often results in the proliferation of unplanned settlements and squatter communities that are established close to the resort areas. These settlements are typically located in the hills and mountains above the coast. The creation of these communities results in the destruction of the watershed in these areas as well as inadequate sewage treatment and solid waste management. All of which contribute to reduced environmental quality; for example, reduced water quality as a result of increased nutrients and turbidity in the coastal waters. The simple economic analysis of Jamaicas tourism model outlined above suggests that market failure exists. The fundamental reason for the market failure associated with Jamaicas tourism model is the fact that the economic rent associated with the natural environment is not captured by the people of Jamaica. Economic rent is an excess return on an asset, a profit above normal market rates of return. Rents usually arise from assets that are scarce and fixed in supply. Beachfront property is a very good example of the type of assets that will yield economic rent. Or another example is the higher property costs in Coopers Hill or Beverly Hills when compared to Havendale or Mona, the economic rent (or value added) in this case being a view of the city. It can be argued that economic rents such as the beauty and natural environment should accrue to the people of Jamaica and not to foreign tourists or tourism operators. Rents are essentially a type of payment for the use of the resource. So the first reason for market failure is that there is no real capture of economic rents. A second example of market failure is that these tourism entities that are currently gaining all of the rents are also not accounting for the negative externalities of their activities. For example, hotels do not pay for the true costs of pollution and negative impacts associated with the use and operation of their facilities. However the problem of market failure does not stop here. As with several other Caribbean nations, the development of the tourism industry is heavily subsidised by the Jamaican government. Hotels and attractions are given tax holidays (e.g. no taxes for 10, 15, 20 years), duty is waived on imports of construction materials among other things. Additionally, the Governments facilitation such as fast-tracking permit requirements and their suspected role in circumventing environmental and planning regulations can reduce costs to investors and also be viewed as a subsidy. So in addition to the non-capture of rent and ignoring negative externalities, government subsidies to the tourism industry through tax holidays and other waivers also exacerbate the problem of market failure. This in turn means that the welfare of the society i.e. the Jamaican people is even more reduced. POSSIBLE REMEDIES As was highlighted above correcting market failures can be achieved through the implementation of taxes. In the case of Jamaicas coastal tourism this would mean that investors are forced to internalise environmental costs. This would theoretically lead to better environmental management and sustainable development of the tourism industry. However, given the current political climate in Jamaica and the influence of the tourism industry players this suggestion is likely to be received with hostility. Given this fact a more feasible way of capturing some of the economic rent is to capture a small portion of the benefits that accrue to the visitors to the island. This would be through the use of the existing system of arrivals taxes from cruise and stopover visitors to the island. However, unlike the current system where the charges are often hidden in room surcharges or airline tickets the additional environmental tax should be explicitly identified. HIDDEN COSTS There are, of course, wider questions of the true economic contribution of tourism. Clearly tourism is very important to Jamaicas economic sustainability. The Jamaican tourism industry accounts for 32 per cent of total employment and 36 per cent of the countrys GDP according to many studies. However, based on some of the market failures described above, are there more costs that are not being considered? Tourism has many hidden costs, which can have unfavourable economic effects on host countries such as Jamaica. The direct income for a country is the amount of tourist expenditure that remains after taxes, profits, and wages are paid and after imports are purchased; these subtracted amounts are called leakage. For the all-inclusive tourism model, studies show that about 80 per cent of travellers expenditures go to the airlines, hotels and other international companies, and not to local businesses or workers. In addition, significant amounts of income actually retained at the destination level can leave again through leakage. For example, the profits gained by foreign-owned tour operators, airlines, hotels, are repatriated to their home countries. Estimates made for Third World countries range from 80 per cent in the Caribbean to 40 per cent in India. In laymans term, on average, of each US$100 spent on a vacation tour by a tourist from a developed country, only about US$5 actually stays in the developing-country destinations economy. The current tensions between local craft vendors, restaurants and other service industries and large resort chains are all too common and point to the problem of leakage. Super inclusive hotels do not encourage guests to venture outside the walls of the hotel and so most of the tourists experience is limited to the entertainment as well as the sun, sea and sand activities available at that location. One could say that Jamaica the country is not the destination, it is actually the resort that is the destination. More comprehensive studies on this issue are urgently required by our academic institutions in the region. Caribbean researchers have a responsibility to provide balanced information that can enrich the discourse between all the relevant stakeholders. Much of the discourse is driven by short sightedness and politics on one side and passionate advocacy on the other. Too often the arguments of the contending parties (developers versus environmental advocates) are not supported by balanced information. Legal effect on tourism industry- MUSCAT Tourist traffic into the Sultanate is projected to scale new highs next year on the back of a raft of major initiatives, most notably an aggressive campaign targeting new markets, according to the Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism Mini

Interpreting The French Revolution Essay -- European History

The year 1789 proved to be a pivotal and historical epoch of political upheavals, radical social movements, and the demolition of the old age monarchy in France. The Tennis Court Oath, storming of the Bastille, passage of the Declaration on the Rights of Man and Citizen, and an unprecedented assault on Versailles as well as the use of the guillotine defined the spirit and historical meaning of the French Revolution. Due to the significance of the tumultuous political and social overhaul that took place, many stances have been taken on interpreting the revolution. The ideas formed regarding the interpretation of the causes and effects of the French Revolution are important in understanding the birth of new political ideologies that changed the landscape of European political order. Conservative, liberal, and revisionist political ideologies have produced multiple perspectives surrounding the events of the French Revolution. The following will address each ideology through analys is of causes and effects of the French Revolution. The characteristics of the conservative ideology made the aristocratic and clergy members of French society hostile to the rapidly changing political landscape. On June 17 1789, the Third Estate drafted a constitution and created the â€Å"National Assembly† in response of being locked out of the regular meeting of the Estates Generals (Doyle, 2002). The pressure applied by the National Assembly forced King Louis XVI to change the voting procedures in the Estates General. Instead of voting by status class the Estates General voted based on each individual’s choice. Conservatives regarded this event as anarchy and began a counterrevolutionary movement in order to secure the survival of the monarchy (Os... ... of government and a letter concerning toleration. New Haven and London: Yale University Press. Mannheim, Karl. (1936). Ideology and Utopia. London: Routledge. McGarr, P. (1998). Socialist review index. Retrieved from http:// pubs.socialistreviewindex.org.uk/isj80/france.htm Mithium, B. (n.d.). 18th century history. Retrieved from http://www.history1700s.com/articles/article1096.shtml Osen, James (1995). Royalist Political Thought during the French Revolution. London: Greenwood Press. Soman, E. (n.d.). Orthodox and revisionist interpretations of the french revolution. Retrieved from http://ebeysoman.hubpages.com/hub/Interpretations-of-the-French-Revolution The socialist party of britain. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/ socialist-standard/1980s/1989/no-1019-july-1989/1789-france’s-bourgeois-revolution Interpreting The French Revolution Essay -- European History The year 1789 proved to be a pivotal and historical epoch of political upheavals, radical social movements, and the demolition of the old age monarchy in France. The Tennis Court Oath, storming of the Bastille, passage of the Declaration on the Rights of Man and Citizen, and an unprecedented assault on Versailles as well as the use of the guillotine defined the spirit and historical meaning of the French Revolution. Due to the significance of the tumultuous political and social overhaul that took place, many stances have been taken on interpreting the revolution. The ideas formed regarding the interpretation of the causes and effects of the French Revolution are important in understanding the birth of new political ideologies that changed the landscape of European political order. Conservative, liberal, and revisionist political ideologies have produced multiple perspectives surrounding the events of the French Revolution. The following will address each ideology through analys is of causes and effects of the French Revolution. The characteristics of the conservative ideology made the aristocratic and clergy members of French society hostile to the rapidly changing political landscape. On June 17 1789, the Third Estate drafted a constitution and created the â€Å"National Assembly† in response of being locked out of the regular meeting of the Estates Generals (Doyle, 2002). The pressure applied by the National Assembly forced King Louis XVI to change the voting procedures in the Estates General. Instead of voting by status class the Estates General voted based on each individual’s choice. Conservatives regarded this event as anarchy and began a counterrevolutionary movement in order to secure the survival of the monarchy (Os... ... of government and a letter concerning toleration. New Haven and London: Yale University Press. Mannheim, Karl. (1936). Ideology and Utopia. London: Routledge. McGarr, P. (1998). Socialist review index. Retrieved from http:// pubs.socialistreviewindex.org.uk/isj80/france.htm Mithium, B. (n.d.). 18th century history. Retrieved from http://www.history1700s.com/articles/article1096.shtml Osen, James (1995). Royalist Political Thought during the French Revolution. London: Greenwood Press. Soman, E. (n.d.). Orthodox and revisionist interpretations of the french revolution. Retrieved from http://ebeysoman.hubpages.com/hub/Interpretations-of-the-French-Revolution The socialist party of britain. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/ socialist-standard/1980s/1989/no-1019-july-1989/1789-france’s-bourgeois-revolution

Speech Recognition -- Technology Computers Essays

Speech Recognition Speech recognition is a computer application that lets people control a computer by speaking to it. In other words, rather than using a keyboard and mouse to communicate with the computer, the user speaks commands into a microphone that is connected to a computer. By speaking into the microphone, users can do two things. First, they can tell their computers to execute some commands such as open a document, save changes, delete a paragraph, even move the cursor, ­ all without touching a key. Second, users can write using speech recognition in conjunction with a standard word processing program. When users speak into the microphone their words can appear on a computer screen in a word processing format, ready for revision and editing. Although many modern speech-recognition programs and devices voice-enable their systems, the terms voice recognition and speech recognition are not synonymous. While both use technology to capture the spoken word, voice recognition and speech recognition have different goals, and run different technologies. Speech recognition is continuous, natural language processing. In contrast, voice recognition uses recordings to determine an individual's identity, a twist on today's social security number and fingerprint. There are two kinds of speech recognition software now available; discrete speech and continuous speech. The older technology, discrete speech recognition, requires the user to speak one word at a time. A newer technology, continuous speech recognition, allows the user to dictate by speaking (at a more or less normal rate). As the user speaks, the software puts one or more words on the screen by matching the sound input with the information it has in the user's voice... ...ms and software for their homes and actually speak to their computers. Although it is still rather new for computers to be able to understand and transcribe the imprecise speech of humans, it is possible and systems are only continuing to improve. Sources Bates, Regis J and Gregory, Donald W. Voice and Data Communications Handbook. Capron, H. L. Computers, Tools for an Information Age, Upper Saddle River: Addison Wesley, 2002. Newman, Dan. The Dragon Naturally Speaking Guide, Berkeley: Waveside Publishing, 2000. Newman, Dan. Talk to Your Computer: Speech Recognition Made Easy, Berkely: Waveside Publishing, 2000. . . . .