Tour 111 Chapter 5

• Patients seek medical intervention/procedures from health care facilities and hospitals.
• Medical tourists are more complicated since they need transportation services, accommodation and recreational activities.
• TOURIST - Considered as the core of the total tourism system because his/her needs and wants will dictate the actions of the other components
• TOURIST - Generally classified as either: domestic or international
• According to Plog’s Life Cycle Theory of a tourism destination, tourists may be classified into: allocentrics, psychocentrics and mid-centric
• Allocentric - adventurous type; mostly backpackers who travel to unusual places
• Allocentric - adventurous type; mostly backpackers who travel to unusual places
• Mid-centric - combination of the allocentric and psychocentric; more flexible and easily adaptable to varying situations
• GOVERNMENT - Regulates the entry of tourist into the country
• GOVERNMENT - Has the option to require a tourist to secure a visa, in addition to his/her passport, as a formality prior to his/her entry
• The government also regulates the private sector or the businesses directly providing services to tourists through requiring such entities to obtain the necessary business permits and registration with relevant government agencies.
• Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) - company registration
• Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) - taxes
• Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) - business name
• Social Security System (SSS), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth), Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC), Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF) - employment matters
• Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) - compliance certificate and permits
• ACCOMMODATION - Include hotels, inns, motels, apartels, pension houses and other lodging establishments
• ACCOMMODATION - Homestay sites or transient houses also provide accommodation to tourists
• TRANSPORTATION - Moving tourists from place to place may be through air, land or sea transportation
• TRANSPORTATION - This sector includes airlines, cruise lines, tour buses, shuttle services and car rentals
• Travel Agencies - entities authorized by law to process travel documentation. For purposes of passport applications, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) transacts business only with accredited agencies.
• Tour Operators - entities which regularly engage in the business of extending to individuals or groups such services pertaining to arrangements and booking for transportation and/or accommodation, handling and/or conduct of inbound tours whether or not for a fee, commission or any form compensation.
• Restaurants - any establishment offering refreshments and meals to the public.
• Shops - a small retail establishment offering a line of goods and services.
• Department Store - a store that sells several lines of merchandise and is organized into separate sections for the purpose of promotion, service, accounting and control.
• Museum - an institutional facility where a collection of valuable objects and artifacts on history and culture, arts and sciences are put on exhibit for the general public.
• Sports and Recreational Center - offers sports and recreational facilities to both tourists and the general public.
• Potential Liabilities of Tour Operators: Non-payment for pre-arranged services; non-delivery of promised services; adhesion contracts; liability for injury or accident; and misrepresentation