How Important Is Home Stay To Thai Tourism Tourism Essay

How Important Is Home Stay To Thai Tourism Tourism Essay The purpose of this paper is to explore the importance of home stay accommodation to Thai tourism. The first concern of this paper is to identify the definition of home stay, identify the group of customers who like to use home stay accommodation in Thailand and also discover the activities that prove to be attractive to them. The second concern of this paper is that the development and expansion of a home stay destination should lead to advantages such as an increase in local income and employment opportunities. On the other hand, when too many tourists come to an unspoilt area it can have an adverse effect on the balance of natural ecology. For example, two places, namely Pai in Mae Hong Son province, one of the most popular home stay destinations in the North which is over developed , and Chiang Khan in Loei province, a developing home stay destination in the northeast of Thailand. Some people said that Chiang Khan is Pai of the past. Within Pai itself, there is a movement to resi st against the excesses that has spoilt Pai and destroyed its peaceful rural character that had drawn people to it in the first place. Thailand is a developing country that attempts to grow and tourism is an industry that can significantly help stimulate economic growth. Consequently, when home stay tourism improves, it will expand the power of supply and help draw more tourists. Therefore, sustainable development is the better way to balance the development and maintain the original character. Logically, the more travel destinations developed, the more tourists will come and the more money the country will earn. Keywords: Home stay, Thailand, Sustainable development Introduction Tourism makes a major contribution to Thailands economy. Most tourists come to Thailand for various reasons mostly for the beaches and relaxation. The friendly, easy-going ways of the Thai people also proves a draw to most tourists, as well as the rich Thai culture, customs and history. The new marketing slogan which was adopted in mid 2009, Amazing Thailand, Amazing Value, and the governments stimulation package also seemed to have helped reverse the downward trend for the latter half of 2009 and for the present year. Moreover, nowadays, most people are concerned about the effect of global warming and are returning to nature; in another word Green has become a new catchword for tourists. Not only Green but also Sustainable are the popular words more and more tourists are fanning out into the countryside to be closer to nature. Consequently, rural tourism makes use of the countryside as a destination. It is a significant sector of overall tourism market in many countries. It will affect not only the environment but also the economy and social structure of the countryside. The number of activities that tourists participate in has grown. For example, agri-tourism (agricultural, festivals and other cultural events), green tourism (considered to be more environmentally friendly) and ecotourism (nature tourism). Home stay is a part of rural tourism. In addition, sustainable tourism development is synonymous with rural tourism. Nowadays, home stay tourism in Thailand has become very popular for both dome stic and foreign tourists. Part of the reason may be due to the effect of the world economic crisis, with most tourists worrying about their budget and travelling in this kind of home stay tourism costs less. So, the Thai Government rapidly develop Thai home stay to meet this new demand for economical packages. But it can be a two-edged sword with both positive and negative sides. Therefore, we must find the right balance. Definition of Home stay Home stay is a form of tourism that allows the visitor to rent a room from a local family to stay and better learn the local lifestyle and share their culture. It is comparable to the western concept of bed and breakfasts. A home stay property is a non-commercialized, private residence that accommodates paying guest(s) who enjoy staying in the comfort and security of a family home. In Thailand, the history of home stay began with students who were volunteers for rural development camps and who stayed with the local people during the course of their camp. Then, National Economic and Social plan 8th emphasized the development of communities and decentralization to local areas and home stay had its first formal recognition. The attraction of home stay is the way of life of the local people and natural attractions are not always considered an essential part. There are two types of home stay in Thailand which are the original and practical. In the original home stay concept, tourists stay with the host and live under the same conditions as the owner. In the practical home stay, conditions are improved for more physical comfort but the concept of an easy way of life and unique culture is not abandoned. However, the significance of home stay is participation in community life in which local people manage activities together. The activities vary from place to place and according to seasonal variations. They may include Thai culinary, Thai massage, farm life etc. Moreover, OTOP (One tambon one product) is a concept whereby local people are encouraged to make local products for sale to boost their income. The owners are encouraged to think that each visitor is a guest, not just a tourist (tourismthailand.org). They are a part of the family. Home stay is just another job for the home owner. When tourists come he will extend them his welcome but he still retains his main job such as fisherman or farmer. The advantages of home stay are the local knowledge that will be gained from the host, understanding the easy way of life and experience the natural kindness of the local people. Moreover, the local people receive more income but they do not abandon their main job. In addition, they share the experience with the tourists, get more friends and the community can become strong. In the age of globalization, many people live in a competitive world so many people now want to explore the easy life and a life of simple sufficiency as an alternative way of life. An additional benefit of home stay accommodation is that most of the money earned goes to the grassroot local people, rather into a large conglomerate? The local home owners get most of the money paid by the tourists. This has a more substantial benefit to a community, rather that if a large hotel chain was to open a large hotel and merely employ local people as hotel staff. Most of the earnings will then go to the hotel chain, with most of it likely sent out of the country. The owner and accommodation should meet the standard of home stay in Thailand. The Tourism Authority of Thailand has set 10 standards and 31 indicators. Demand for home stay in Thailand The majority of income in Thailand comes from agriculture and tourism. Income from tourism is significant for the Thai economy in terms of expanding and stability of the economy. Tourism in Thailand caters both to domestic and foreign travelers. Nowadays, Thailand in faced with negative situations which decreased the confidence of tourists from 2008 until now. TAT expects the number of international tourists will grow at around 7 to 10% to approximately 15.0 to 15.5 million in 2010 (Tourism Authority of Thailand.com). The Bank of Thailand stated that there are 1.6 million foreign tourists who traveled to Thailand in February 2010 which represented a drop from last year. Domestic tourists were not particularly affected by the political situation. It was more influenced by the economic slowdown and fluctuating oil prices in the first and second quarters of 2009. Local travelers have changed their travelling habits, are more conscious of travel expenses, and are tending to visit tourist destinations closer to home (Tourism Authority of Thailand.com). The Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board predicted the economy would grow at 3 to 4% due to the global economic recovery and the governments Thai Khem Khaeng (Stronger Thailand) economic stimulus programme. New tourist attractions and activities that reflect the culture and style of a particular region will also be introduced. Therefore, the government supports and aims at the recovery of the Thai tourism market through marketing campaigns namely road shows to restore the image of Thailand and promotional advertisements under the Amazing Thailand, Amazing Value concept. Home stay is one of the better destinations which has proved attractive to both international and domestic tourists. It is a part of tourism in Thailand which continues to grow and earn income because it is set in rural areas far from the negative effects of political disturbances, is not expensive and brings visitors into close contact with nature. The tourists can relax among friendly local people. Therefore, the measurement and understanding of the demand and supply for tourism is important to overall tourism planning and management. We will know overall picture of the development, growth and value of tourism. All tourist behavior or activity results from motivation. Motivation is the context of the demand for tourism. Motivations have both push and pull factors together. The push factors are socio-psychological motives (person-specific factors). The pull factors are motives aroused by the destination (destination-specific factors). Tourists who go to home stay destinations usually have both push and pull factors. They want to relax, be close to nature and share knowledge, which are push factors. The pull factors are from the easy way of life of the people, unique culture and eco-friendliness. For example, a mini-farm is a magnet for tourists who travel with children. Mostly, domestic tourists usually go to home stay by car because some places are not far from urban centers such as Bangkok. It does not take too much time to immerse oneself in relaxation, fresh air and escape from the complicated city life. In contrast, international tourists mostly are backpackers usually stay a long time in home stays because of cheap prices but also because of the calmness, relaxed life style and the ability to e xplore new experience. Supply of the Home stay in Thailand On the supply side, the development of home stay is happening in Thailand. It is stimulated by the demand which comes from tourist needs. Some people want more comfort, some want plain, simple facilities, others demand higher standards. So, the local people work together toward the development of standards for home stay facilities in Thailand. Sometime, the popularity of a destination can lead to mass tourism. Mass tourism is a situation where a large number of tourists go to one place, sometime leading to an overload of local facilities. This can lead to further development of transport and other utilities until the easy way of life disappears. Moreover, it will adversely affect to the environment. Pai in Mae Hong Son province and Chiang Khan in Loei province are examples of popular home stay destinations in Thailand that have been developed to different degrees. One has already been spoilt and the other is resisting against a tendency toward over development. Pai is a small district in Mae Hong Son which was an ideal destination, being nestled in a small valley surrounded by mountains with cool weather. It was a romantic spot with friendly people can rich culture. Some people have referred to the village as called Uto-Pai, mimicking the name Utopia of Sir Thomas More. All this has made Pai very well known as hoards of tourists are drawn to it. Material development followed and soon the small village of Pai had its own air strip where tourists can arrive after a mere 25 minutes from Chiang Mai. Hotels and resorts also sprang up in its wake. All these development had a negative effect on the local inhabitant; while they used to be wont to retiring to bed early after a hard days work, they are now disturbed by loud music at entertainment places late at night. Music festivals became weekly events in the winter months. Some local people sold their land to capitalists and move to the foothills for the sake of peace and quiet. These changes reflect the fact that Pai is changing rapidly in both positive and negative ways. In addition, local children are falling to temptations from the western ways of tourists. Some local people said these development are more like deterioration. Not only Pai but Chiang Khan (a district on the bank of the Mekong river in Loei province), a relatively recent home stay destination, is facing similar problems. The conflict between local people and government is looming. The government wants to develop the town to cater to more and more tourists, but many local people want to see a steady growth of Chiang Khan. They want Chiang Khan to be strong, to retain its rural qualities and control itself. They do not want more bright lights in Chiang Khan, do not want to follow the modern trend because tourists come and go rapidly and do not stay a long time. Nowadays, some of the local people in Chiang Khan are already closing rank in a fight against rapidly over development. They have formed a tourism association within which they discussed the problems of westernization and over development which has plagued Pai. They have started a website where every one is welcomed to add comments. They are fighting against bright lights, loud music a nd weekend concerts that have combined to destroyed Pais rural character. They want tourism in Chiang Khan to be sustainable. They do not want Chiang Khan to have luxury boutique hotels, modern pubs or franchise coffee shop chains. They want Chiang Khan to retain its rural character with an easy way of life, home stays based on original houses without elaborate decoration, so when tourists come they will feel like they are the part of the family and coffee is still hand-brewed traditional coffee. Some people said that Chiang Khan is Pai of the past. Therefore, before Chiang Khan changes like Pai we must to help each other. Sustainable development of Home stay in Thailand Tourism, if developed locally, can help to ease the poverty problem, reduce income disparity and achieve a friendly environment as well as common prosperity. Tourism brings not only benefits but also costs and if not well managed may undermine its sustainability in the long run. In Thailand, tourism has a positive income generating effect but potentially worsening income distribution (Mingsan Kaosa-ard 2006). The best way to balance the development is through sustainable development in which every part must work together. Sustainable Development is development that satisfies the customer needs now but does not destroy tomorrows resources. The Pareto Optimum states that no one can be made better off by making someone worse off (businessdictionary.com). Customer demands lead to marketing research and material development. That is the marketing process. After that, planning and management are essential for achieving successful tourism development. Sustainable Tourism Development emphasizes the management of tourism industry must adapt itself according to the changing face of the world in term of sustainable pattern. There are three parameters of sustainability which are economic (well being), environment (ecological balance) and socio-cultural considerations (Sense of community and security). For example, the development should makes more money while at the same time have a minimum effect on the environment and social-cultural framework. The key to sustainable tourism development is to educate communities so that they understand the negative impacts of mass tourism and the limit to the ecosystems carrying capacity, and to develop diversified tourist products that can minimize the negative impact of mass tourism. For instance, in France they have standard and label for accommodation which confirm the standard and evaluate the standard and quality every five years. The label is one of marketing strategy which make good picture of the product. Moreover, they separate the demand equal in every areas and every part works together. Those are the good example for the development of home stay which Thailand should adapt for the development of home stay in Thailand. Amphawa floating market (Plai Pong Pag community) is a good example of home stay in Thailand which supports many tourists every year. It affects the quality of life of the local people, while the rapidly rising number of tourists has unavoidably led to a deterioration in the environment. Most of the home stay places have not attained the standard of home stay in Thailand even though this is the first community to launch the concept of home stay, but they have failed to meet the home stay standards. Because some home stay have transformed their homes so much that they became more like resorts and they do not match the qualifications of the home stay standard. Home stay will get the standard when they do not add more building and tourists must stay with the owner. According to that problem, National economic and social plan 9th stated that sustainable tourism in Thailand which wants to be a quality destination and ready in supply of tourism for support many tourists. We can transmit knowledge of France to Thailand; not in its entirety but we can adapt it. The government should have an effective and systemic plan such as setting policies or laws for the community and provide for penalties for culprits. It is hard for the government in Thailand to extend proper care to the home stay business in some communities because the local people worry about taxation and are not always forthcoming with information for the government. So, the government should establish an institute which can win the confidence of the local people and demonstrate the significance of the standard and effective management to the local people. The negative impacts on Pai and Chiang Khan happened because of civilization, but the impact on Amphawa was due to the ignorance of the local people. Therefore, the development is a two-edged sword that can have both advantages and disadvantages if we are ineffective. The best solution is the cooperation of everybody, beginning with community participation and the support of the government. The government decentralizes budgets to the community but continue to give technical advices to the local people. After that, policies such as the limit on the number of tourists will happen not only to care for the environment but for the sake of tourists who do not want to be in a place crowded with other tourists; they can relax and be closer to nature. Moreover, the local people can take care of all tourists like a part of the family. Do not forget that sustainable development is the better way of development and sustainable concern three things which are economy, environment and also socio-cu ltural parts. Conclusion In conclusion, tourism constitutes a major part of the Thai economy, encompassing both domestic and international tourists. Home stay is an alternative form of tourism which is based in the rural area that tourists stay and live with the local people. They can share the experience and culture. In Thailand, home stay began with the student volunteer for rural development camps and after National economic and social plan 8th home stay was developed until now. The motivations for travel home stay have both push and pull factors. The push factors usually are for relaxation. Mostly, domestic tourists go to home stay by car and relax for two or three days, but international tourists often stay much longer. The pull factors usually are the easy way of life, close contact with nature and fresh air. Material development is significant for home stay because it has both positive and negative sides. Material development can help attract tourists, although consideration must be given to suitable forms of development that should not destroy the original attraction of the place. It is a good marketing strategy to improve the quality of home stay accommodation. The home stay standards have been laid down in Thailand, but most of the home stays in Thailand still do not meet them, such as in Amphawa. Moreover, some places such as Pai is overloaded with tourists while Chiang Khan is still trying to resist this trend toward over-development. Pai and Chiang Khan demonstrate both advantages and disadvantages of material development. The solution for a balance is sustainability which centers on economic, environmental and socio-cultural considerations. France can be a good example for sustainable development. Thai home stay should adapt it and adopt it right now. The government should start by educating the local people and then carry out research on customer needs, marketing strategy, planning and management. In addition, strong policies are significant, with a need for penalties fo r those who break the rules. The importance is the cooperation of everybody in the country, because everybody is part of the progression of Thailand.

The Need For Federal Government Involvement In Education Reform :: essays research papers

The Need for Federal Government Involvement in Education Reform by____________ Political Science 2301 Federal and State Government OVERVIEW For centuries, generations of families have congregated in the same community or in the same general region of the country. Children grew up expecting to earn a living much like their fathers and mothers or other adults in their community. Any advanced skills they required beyond the three R's (Readin', Ritin' and Rithmatik) were determined by the local community and incorporated into the curriculum of the local schools. These advanced skills were taught to the up- and-coming generation so they could become a vital part of their community. The last several decades has greatly expanded the bounds of the "community" to almost anywhere in the country or anywhere in the world for that matter. Advances in transportation and communication has made the world a much smaller place then the world we knew as children. The skills our children need to realize parents' perpetual dream of "their children having a better life" are no longer limited to those seen in the local area. It is becoming more and more apparent that the education system of yesterday cannot adequately prepare students for life and work in the 21st Century. These concerns have prompted people across the country to take a hard look at our education system and to organize their efforts to chance the education system as we know it. WHAT'S HAPPENING OUT THERE? There are two major movements in recent years whose focus is to enhance the education of future generations. The "Standards" movement focuses on educational content and raising the standards of traditional teaching and measurement means and methods. The "Outcome Based Education" (OBE) movement is exploring new ways of designing education and changing the way we measure the effectiveness of education by focusing on results or outcomes. STANDARDS MOVEMENT In September 1989, President Bush and the nation's governors called an Education Summit in Charlottesville, Virginia. At this summit, President Bush and the nation s governors, including then-governor Bill Clinton, agreed on six broad goals for education to be reached by the year 2000. Two of those goals (3 and 4) related specifically to academic achievement: * Goal 3: By the year 2000, American students will leave grades 4, 8, and 12 having demonstrated competency in challenging subject matter including English, mathematics, science, history, and geography; and every school in America will ensure that all students learn to use their minds well, so they may be prepared for responsible citizenship, further learning, and productive employment in our modern economy. * Goal 4: By the year 2000, U.S. students will be first in the world in science

Differences and Similarities between Respiration and Photosynthesis Essay

Cellular RespirationPhotosynthesis OrganellesMitochondriaChloroplast Organelle StructuresThe double-membraned mitochondrion can be loosely described as a large wrinkled bag packed inside of a smaller, unwrinkled bag. The two membranes create distinct compartments within the organelle, and are themselves very different in structure and in function.Two membranes contain and protect the inner parts of the chloroplast. The stroma is an area inside of the chloroplast where reactions occur and starches (sugars) are created. One thylakoid stack is called a granum. The thylakoids have chlorophyll molecules on their surface. That chlorophyll uses sunlight to create sugars. The stacks of sacs are connected by stromal lamellae. The lamellae act like the skeleton of the chloroplast, keeping all of the sacs a safe distance from each other and maximizing the efficiency of the organelle. Stages InvolvedGlycolysis, the Krebs Cycle, Electron Transport ChainPhotoexcitation, photolysis, photophosphorylation ReactantsOxygen and GlucoseCarbon Dioxide and Water

Massachusetts General Hospital CABG Surgery (A) case...

Problem: The cost of the health care industry has always been rising since the early 1980s. It has been a growing concern in both the industry and society. Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) is no exception. Even though the average length of stay (LOS) for the patients in MGH has been declining (Exhibit 10), it is still the highest compared to their competitors (Exhibit 6). Besides the cost, there is no uniformity of process and standardization across different facilities and departments of the hospital. MGH lacks communication and coordination between the facilities. Key Issues: Dr. David Torchiana (Cardiac Surgeon) and Dr. Richard Bohmer (Quality Improvement Administrator) want to improve the process in the hospital by†¦show more content†¦Moreover, MGH cannot pass that cost to patients as 80% of the CABG patients are on DRG which means they cannot increase the price for these 80% of patients. Managing demand and capacity: MGH could forecast the demand and research the bottlenecks in each area of process flow diagram (Exhibit 8) such as surgery room, Ellison 8 rooms, SICU floor bed, and other hospital beds. Based on the research, they can increase or decrease the resources such as staff or beds or even expand the facility. They need the data to forecast and manage the capacity. Without the data, it is impossible to manage the capacity. So MGH need to start collecting data to better manage the demand and available capacity. However, this would not help solve the current immediate problem in hand to improve the process and reduce costs. No change: The cost is increasing every year in the health care industry. There is no way to transfer these costs to patients as the services are already costly. Change is the only constant. Change is inevitable for MGH to survive in this industry. There are no pros with this option and several cons such as having no standards, poor communication and coordination between groups and poor maintenance of patient’s track records. Recommendation: The best alternative from the above is to adopt the strategy of focusing on the process (1st alternative). This can be achieved by the proposed care path. Most of the operational issues under Key issuesShow MoreRelatedMassachusetts General Hospital: Cabg Surgery (a) Essay1461 Words   |  6 PagesMASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL: CABG Surgery (A) Today, governmental, corporate and individual customers increasingly are resisting insurers attempts to pass on rising healthcare costs. Healthcare providers costs meanwhile are escalating in the face of an aging population, expensive technologies and therapies... Both payers and providers must determine their true competencies and find ways to remain profitable despite leaner margins. In 1994, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), with its $1Read MoreRobotics in Surgery5226 Words   |  21 PagesRobotics in Surgery Snehal S. Mayekar Department of Biomedical Engineering, YTIET, Bhivpuri Road, Karjat. sm.little.snail@gmail.com Abstract-- Objective: Tracking the progress of new Robotic Surgery techniques, their limitations and future scope. Background: The field of robotics has the potential

Urban Legend Needles Hidden Under Gas Pump Handles

A viral alert warns that evildoers are exposing innocent victims to the AIDS virus by attaching HIV-contaminated needles to gas pump handles. This is a long-discredited hoax that has been circulating since 2000 but continues to crop up years and even decades later. The samples of the hoax postings are included for your comparison. If you receive a similar warning via email or social media, you can safely ignore it. Its best not to continue circulating this hoax. Description: Internet hoax via email and social mediaCirculating since: June 2000Status: False Example Email contributed by R. Anderson, June 13, 2000: Please read and forward to anyone you know who drives. My name is Captain Abraham Sands of the Jacksonville, Florida Police Department. I have been asked by state and local authorities to write this email in order to get the word out to car drivers of a very dangerous prank that is occurring in numerous states. Some person or persons have been affixing hypodermic needles to the underside of gas pump handles. These needles appear to be infected with HIV positive blood. In the Jacksonville area alone there have been 17 cases of people being stuck by these needles over the past five months. We have verified reports of at least 12 others in various states around the country. It is believed that these may be copycat incidents due to someone reading about the crimes or seeing them reported on the television. At this point no one has been arrested and catching the perpetrator(s) has become our top priority. Shockingly, of the 17 people who where stuck, eight have tested HIV positive and because of the nature of the disease, the others could test positive in a couple years. Evidently the consumers go to fill their car with gas, and when picking up the pump handle get stuck with the infected needle. IT IS IMPERATIVE TO CAREFULLY CHECK THE HANDLE of the gas pump each time you use one. LOOK AT EVERY SURFACE YOUR HAND MAY TOUCH, INCLUDING UNDER THE HANDLE. If you do find a needle affixed to one, immediately contact your local police department so they can collect the evidence. ********* PLEASE HELP US BY MAINTAINING A VIGILANCE AND BY FORWARDING THIS EMAIL TO ANYONE YOU KNOW WHO DRIVES. THE MORE PEOPLE WHO KNOW OF THIS THE BETTER PROTECTED WE CAN ALL BE. ********** Social Media Posting As posted on Facebook, Jan. 26, 2013: HIV/AIDS Needles hidden under gas pumps In Florida and other places on the East Coast a group of people are putting HIV/AIDS infected and filled needles underneath gas pump handles so when someone reaches to pick it up and put gas in their car, they get stabbed with it. 16 people have been a victim of this crime so far and 10 tested HIC positive. Instead of posting that stupid crap about how your love life will suck for years to come of you dont re-post, post this. Its important to inform people, even if you dont drive, a family member might, and what if they were next? CHECK UNDER THE HANDLE BEFORE YOU GRAB IT!!! IT MIGHT SAVE YOUR LIFE! Analysis of Viral Warnings On June 20, 2000, mere days after the overwrought warning above first slammed inboxes across the Internet, the Jacksonville Sheriffs Department issued a press release declaring it a hoax. The Jacksonville Sheriffs Office has had no reports of such incidents and there is no Capt. Abraham Sands at the JSO, the statement said. Nor had any such incidents been reported elsewhere in the United States. Moreover, according to the CDC, there are no documented cases of HIV being transmitted via needle-sticks in non-health care settings, ever. The viral warning was, and is, entirely fictitious. It did add an interesting new wrinkle to the HIV needle-stick rumors already circulating online in various forms since 1997. Previous variants warned of tainted syringes planted in movie theater seats and pay phone coin slots, not to mention random stealth prickings (for lack of a better phrase) in nightclubs and other crowded public places. Copycat Pranks All these variants have been investigated and deemed false by authorities with the sole exception of a spate of apparent copycat pranks that occurred around the beginning of 1999 in western Virginia. According to police there, actual hypodermic needles were found in the coin slots of public phones and bank night deposit slots in a couple of small towns in the area. None were found to be contaminated with HIV or any other biological agent. Presumably, the pranksters were imitating rumors that had already been circulating online for months. Groundless though it may be, the conviction that unknown assailants are intentionally spreading AIDS by hiding contaminated needles in public places remains popular, especially on the email forwarding circuit. One reason is that these tales and other urban legends like them provide an outlet for unspoken fears—of strangers, of the motives of some of the more marginal members of society, of AIDS itself. Theyre cautionary tales, albeit ones that dont really function as such—not literally, at any rate—in that they fail to address the primary way HIV is actually transmitted: unsafe sex. Personal Risk By virtue of the fact that each of these fictitious scenarios depicts the transmission of HIV via acts of penetration, each works as a metaphor for sex. Consider the claim that one risks exposure to HIV simply by inserting ones finger into the coin slot of a public phone. The imagery isnt pretty, but its apt. Now were being warned to be careful when pumping gas, to take all due precautions before sliding the nozzle into the tank. Sound advice? Metaphorically speaking, yes! CDC Statement This statement appeared on the CDC.gov site in 2010. Have people been infected with HIV from being stuck by needles in non-health care settings? No. While it is possible to get infected with HIV if you are stuck with a needle that is contaminated with HIV, there are no documented cases of transmission outside of a health-care setting. CDC has received inquiries about used needles left by HIV-infected injection drug users in coin return slots of pay phones, the underside of gas pump handles, and on movie theater seats. Some reports have falsely indicated that CDC confirmed the presence of HIV in the needles. CDC has not tested such needles nor has CDC confirmed the presence or absence of HIV in any sample related to these rumors. The majority of these reports and warnings appear to be rumors/myths. Sources CDC. HIV Transmission: Questions Answers. Centers for Disease Control. 25 Mar. 2010.Chapin, Veronica. â€Å"Calls About Email Hoax Flood Sheriffs Office.† Florida Times-Union.McKenzie, Aline. HIV Hoax Pumps Up the Fear of Infection. Dallas Morning News, 26 May 2001.Sun Media. Infected Needles Tale a Hoax. London Free Press, 22 Mar. 2007.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Essay - 1276 Words

As of 2013, one sixth of the entire country was enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Through this program, 47 million Americans are given federal financial aid to purchase fresh groceries (Plumer). One of the highly debated provisions of the SNAP program is what participants should be allowed to use their food stamps for. As of right now, food stamps can only be used to purchase food that can be cooked or eaten at home, preventing families from spending the federal aid at restaurants (USDA). Recently, the fast food corporation YUM!, which owns Taco Bell, KFC, and Pizza Hut, has lobbied to change this restriction (USA Today). Should people benefitting from the SNAP program have the right to spend their money on†¦show more content†¦If food stamps are designed to feed the hungry then does it really make sense to deny them access to certain foods? I understand Gourdine’s point; that it seems counterproductive for the government to fund the pu rchasing of foods that are known to cause health complications. However the purpose of the SNAP program is not to promote a healthier country. According to the Food Stamp Act of 1977 created by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the intention of the SNAP program is â€Å"to alleviate hunger and malnutrition †¦ by increasing food purchasing power for all eligible households who apply for participation† (FRAC). Therefore, widespread access to food should be the primary concern, not increased healthcare costs or nutritional value. The hope in forcing food stamp recipients to buy only fresh food is that they will venture to the grocery store and engage in healthier eating habits. Having said that, there are very few restrictions regarding what you can use SNAP benefits once when you get to the grocery store. The Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 definesShow MoreRelatedThe Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program1387 Words   |  6 Pagesmay have the poorest h ealth of any aggregate in the United States and the least access to affordable healthcare (Nies, 2011). In Indiana, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides food assistance to low and no income people and families living in the United States (U.S.). It is a federal aid program administered by the Food and Nutrition Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), however, distribution of benefits occurs at the state level. In Indiana, the Family andRead MoreThe Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Essay2344 Words   |  10 PagesThe Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, otherwise known as SNAP, originates from the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1933. It was established in the Great Depression era as the Federal Surplus Relief Corporation when crop prices fell drastically and farms were struggling to deal with the excess supply. The Federal government bought the surplus as discounted prices and distributed them to hunger relief agencies. In 1939 as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal program, the FoodRead MoreThe Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Essay1852 Words   |  8 PagesIntroduction SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, is a policy that was created to provide aid to many low-income families and individuals by offering nutritional assistance. The main social problem this policy intends to address is hunger caused by poverty. Poor nutrition is a major problem that cripples low-income families and is one of the biggest causes of death today in young children. Poverty and hunger have a mutual relationship because those who often lack the resources orRead MoreThe Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Essay1285 Words   |  6 Pages1 The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has become an immense support for food insecurity, particularly in low-income families in our country. The SNAP program has been initiated to reduce hunger during economic crisis and has become crucial in helping its participants to meet their dietary needs (Blumenthal, 2012 pg.50). However, there is a main concern is that SNAP participants are also at risk for developing obesity and other chronic disease. The SNAP program finds that theRead MoreThe Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program2412 Words   |  10 PagesPurpose of Program In regards to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the purpose of the organization could be described as insuring that eligible, low-income individuals and families have access to nutritional and economic benefits. According to the United Stated Department of Agriculture, SNAP is the largest program in the domestic hunger safety net (USDA, 2016). The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) assists state agencies, nutrition educators, neighborhood, and faith-based organizationsRead MoreSupplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ( Snap )1969 Words   |  8 PagesSupplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Issues dealt with by the policy The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a program developed and administered by the United States Department Agriculture; to support families and individuals with low income by providing nutrition assistance in coordination with State agencies and other organizations such as State agencies, faith based organizations and educators. In addition, SNAP provides a variety of parallel benefits to society regardingRead MoreAnalysis Of The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program734 Words   |  3 PagesBackground The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is one of the largest federal expenditures in North Carolina. The North Carolina General Assembly has charged the State Auditor with including but not limited to independently examining: operating and administrative procedures and practices; whether programs and activities are expending funds in a faithful, efficient, and economical manner in compliance with applicable laws and regulations; whether activities or programs are effectivelyRead MoreSupplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ( Snap )1668 Words   |  7 Pagesthe importance of food assistance initiative continue to become popular among million of American citizens, across the country (Plumer, 2013). This paper will focus on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) popularly known as Food Stamps as one of the most important food assistance program in the Country. Statistics/Current Situation According to the recent statistics by United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition, the country’s Food Stamps Program (FSP) experienced varyingRead MoreSupplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ( Snap )2351 Words   |  10 Pages Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Introduction The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, was introduced in 1939 to alleviate poverty and hunger in the United States. The main purpose of the program is to help people with low-income to afford nutritious diet by elevating their purchasing power (Cuunyngham et al., 2006). In 1943, when the economic situation stabilized the subsidies were stopped. However, the Senate kept on discussing theRead MoreAnalysis Of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program885 Words   |  4 PagesIn the United States the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is regulated and funded by policies made by our elected officials. The authors at the Food Research Action Center complied the percentages of participants in the SNAP program by state and compared that to the national average. Maine households participating in SNAP is 15% and nationally it is 13% of the population.1 Focusing on our home state, Maine has 104,115 households and 199,689 individu als with SNAP.2 Working in a state with

Information Technology IT Has Expandedâ€Free Samples for Students

Question: How To The Information Technology IT Has Expanded? Answer: Introduction Information Technology (IT) has expanded and is being used at such a massive scale that its absence from the business operations and organizations can no longer be imagined. Also, it has become the need to innovate and develop new services and applications so that customer expectations are met. One of the industries in which IT has a great role to play is the healthcare sector. The application and need of IT in Tunstall healthcare has been carried out to understand the role of IT in business (Tunstallhealthcare, 2017). Need of IT Tunstall Healthcare is an Australian based organization that is a leading provider of healthcare solutions to the customers. There are millions of people and end users that are associated with Tunstall along with its partners and staff members. It is required for Tunstall to manage its healthcare services and solutions with the use of IT in its architecture. It will allow the organization to achieve its objectives in a better way. Importance of IT Tunstall provides the healthcare solutions to the patients in various health conditions such as chronic diseases, dementia, epilepsy and many more. Remote health monitoring and services is a necessity so that the people that reside in the remote areas and do not have access to the medical centres may also avail the health services provided by Tunstall. Also, tele-health monitoring will allow Tunstall to achieve its business objective of providing best in-class healthcare services to the customers (Sawa, 2011). Requirements of IT for Tunstall In order to reach out to the maximum number of users and the ones that are staying in the rural areas, it will be necessary to develop a tele-health monitoring system that shall allow the users to keep a track of their health at all times (Chae, 2012). IT will play an important role in this case as the system will be designed using the basic components of IT such as software, hardware, networks, information management systems etc. These components will enable the resources to come up with a required system for Tunstall (Lee, 2016). Usage of IT in Tunstall The tele-health monitoring system that will be designed for Tunstall shall be capable of accomplishing the following. Patients shall be allowed to login to the tele-health monitoring system to view them health details and medical reports (Dimitrov, 2016). Patients shall be allowed to feed their medical data. Medical and clinical staff members shall be able to view the data that is fed by the patients and shall be able to analyze it. Clinical and medical staff shall be able to upload the medical reports through the system. Information shall be efficiently managed by the system in terms of its addition, deletion, modification and storage along with other data operations (Park, 2011). Reports that are present on the system shall get downloaded as per the desired format. There are also certain aspects in terms of system qualities that must be included in the tele-health monitoring system. Tele-health monitoring system shall have a key quality as system performance. This is the quality that will allow the users to have a good experience with the system as the response given by the system will be quick. System usability will also be a desirable and mandatory property that shall be included in the teal-health monitoring system. It will allow the system to be designed in accordance with the specifications that are provided (Ng, Sim and Tan, 2006). Tele-health monitoring system shall have a key quality as system reliability. This is the quality that will allow the users to view and gain valid and verified information from the system System agility will also be a desirable and mandatory property that shall be included in the teal-health monitoring system. It will make the system flexible and adaptable to all the possible scenarios that may occur. Tele-health monitoring system shall have a key quality as system availability. This is the quality that will allow the users to access their health data and details at any time (Al Ameen, Liu and Kwak, 2010). System maintainability will also be a desirable and mandatory property that shall be included in the teal-health monitoring system. It will allow the system to be upgraded or modified easily. Tele-health monitoring system shall have a key quality as system security. This is the quality that will allow the users to be assured that their private and sensitive health information is always protected. Benefits Advantages of IT Tunstall will have several advantages and benefits with the use of IT in its architecture. Health conditions of Australia will improve as Tunstall is the prime provider of healthcare solutions and will be able to reach more number of people with the use of IT. Objectives that are determined along with the goals and aims will be achieved rapidly and accurately. The patients along with the staff members associated with Tunstall will be able to have richer and better experience. Information will be managed effectively and there will be lesser chances of its loss or displacements. Posisble Risks Health information stored in the tele-health systems and the automated information systems may be breached and accessed by the attackers. Tracking of the patterns that are used by the staff members or the patients may be done. Attacks related to the network and the information passing on through the network may take place. Integrity Attacks Tunstall is an organization that deals with the health information of the patients and the health information is considered to be sensitive and critical in nature. Any damages to this information results in a lot of damage to the users and the organization and the impact on the integrity can have devastating impacts. The same may occur by execution of message alterations by the malevolent entities which will involve use of practices by which either the content or the structure will be modified (M.M. El-Emary, Q. Husain and A. Alyoubi, 2012). Tunstall is an organization that deals with the health information of the patients and the health information is considered to be sensitive and critical in nature. Any damages to this information results in a lot of damage to the users and the organization and the impact on the integrity can have devastating impacts. The same may occur by execution of media alterations by the malevolent entities which will involve use of practices by which either the content or the structure will be modified. Attacks on Availability Deterioration of the quality of tele-health monitoring system and other information systems will impact the availability which is the key quality to be included. There may also be denial attacks that may be executed to hamper the availability of the systems (Jadhav, 2017). IT Maintenance IT Monitoring IT may act as a boon to the organizations such as Tunstall only when there is adequate maintenance and monitoring of the components that are associated with it. Maintenance of IT is referred to the post-deployment activities that include tracking and upgrades. Tele-health monitoring and other information systems will be developed as per the latest available technology. However, the technology that is latest in the present times is sure to get obsolete after a certain period of time. It will therefore be required to maintain the IT components by regularly upgrading them. It will also assist in the avoidance of the security risks and attacks that may otherwise occur. Monitoring of IT is another practice that will be required to be carried out. It will comprise of two components as validation and verification. Verification is a form of monitoring that shall include evaluations, reviews, inspections and audits at regular intervals. These techniques will make sure that any of the attempts to violate the security is got hold of and treated with immediate effect. These shall be primarily carried out by the administration and management of Tunstall to make sure that there are system and network audits along with reviews and inspection executed. There will also be a number of validation processes that will be needed to be carried out. These processes will include the application of technical control and testing techniques so that the risks to the security are avoided. One of the greatest inventions of IT is the automated tools that are designed to automatically execute a particular task or an activity. In case of Tunstall, there are several risks that may occur in terms of denial attacks, malware attacks etc. These risks will be prevented with the installation of automated tools such as anti-attack tools designed for preventing the attacks of any form of a malware or denial attempt. Identity management is also one of the significant technical steps that shall be taken which shall include the validation of the user identity through authentication and access control measures. The primary aim of the validation techniques will be to keep the information protected in all the scenarios. This aim will be realized only when the information will be encrypted in all the locations so that the attackers do not succeed in acquiring it. There are various testing techniques that shall also be carried out to validate the IT systems aspects and the defects that may be present in them. Conclusion IT is a necessity of the modern day systems and organizations. Healthcare industry is one of the most significant and huge industries that has several organizations that are working under it. One such organization is Tunstall that is based out of Australia and provides healthcare solutions to the users. There are millions of people and end users that are associated with Tunstall along with its partners and staff members. It is required for Tunstall to manage its healthcare services and solutions with the use of IT in its architecture. IT will play an important role in this case as the system will be designed using the basic components of IT such as software, hardware, networks, information management systems etc. These components will enable the resources to come up with a required system for Tunstall. References Al Ameen, M., Liu, J. and Kwak, K. (2010). Security and Privacy Issues in Wireless Sensor Networks for Healthcare Applications. Journal of Medical Systems, 36(1), pp.93-101. Chae, Y. (2012). Management Issues in Healthcare Information Technology. Healthcare Informatics Research, 18(2), p.85. Dimitrov, D. (2016). Medical Internet of Things and Big Data in Healthcare. Healthcare Informatics Research, 22(3), p.156. Jadhav, R. (2017). Security Issues and Solutions in Wireless Sensor Networks. International Journal of Computer Applications, 162(2), pp.14-19. Lee, J. (2016). Future of the Smartphone for Patients and Healthcare Providers. Healthcare Informatics Research, 22(1), p.1. M.M. El-Emary, I., Q. Husain, K. and A. Alyoubi, B. (2012). Security issues of wireless sensor networks in various applications. International Journal of Academic Research, 4(6), pp.317-328. Ng, H., Sim, M. and Tan, C. (2006). Security issues of wireless sensor networks in healthcare applications. BT Technology Journal, 24(2), pp.138-144. Park, H. (2011). Pervasive Healthcare Computing: EMR/EHR, Wireless and Health Monitoring. Healthcare Informatics Research, 17(1), p.89. Sawa, T. (2011). Leveraging Devices, Data and Discovery for Smarter Healthcare in Japan. Healthcare Informatics Research, 17(3), p.184. Tunstallhealthcare (2017). Tunstall Healthcare. [online] Tunstallhealthcare.com.au. Available at: https://www.tunstallhealthcare.com.au/ [Accessed 18 May 2017].