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Traveling to New Zealand
... Previous research indicates that visitors prefer hiking routes that offer the best longview visual experiences; however, the benefits of these experiences must outweigh the cost (Mannberg et al., 2018). If visitors are to travel in these contexts, the costs incurred by rough terrain are likely shaped by at least three factors: (1) Physical fitness: High altitude travel requires above-average physical conditioning (Leggat, Shaw, & Milne, 2002). Lack of fitness may result in major health problems or exacerbate some pre-existing medical illnesses when traveling in particular terrain conditions (Luks & Hackett, 2022). ...
This study advanced knowledge of the geospatial relationships between social values elicited during a participatory mapping exercise and on-ground travel patterns understood through Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking of backcountry visitors to a protected area in Alaska. As one of the first studies to combine social values and real-time use of a protected area landscape, we showcase how these combined forms of knowledge can be better understood when compared against biophysical conditions. Contrary to previous research, we observed that perceived social value hotspots, defined by an abundance of point data, did not fully align with use patterns, suggesting that visitors value areas that are not experienced first-hand. Specifically, backcountry travel routes in Denali were less dispersed than areas perceived to be important. Use was mostly concentrated in backcountry units close to the middle sections of the park road while highly valued units coincided with major landmarks, such as the peak of Denali. Travel cost induced by terrain conditions (summarized by elevation, slope and landcover), accessibility (measured by proximity to the park road), and long-view visual resources all contributed to how observed travel behavior deviated from perceived social values. These findings help inform policy and management decisions about outdoor recreation, visitor safety, and visual resource stewardship.
... Lakes are a vital component of the tourism industry in many parts of the world where they are often marketed as major attractions with an ideal destination image. [1][2][3] Generally defined as open bodies of water, dams, or reservoirs, lakes are utilized for a variety of recreational activities such as boating, fishing, scuba diving and water skiing. 4 For this reason, lakes have figured prominently in the increase of tourists travelling to rural and remote areas. ...
Background:
This study investigates tourist mortality at Lake Powell over a 46-year period. To date no comprehensive long-term investigation examining the relationship between the lake environment and tourist mortality exists.
Methods:
A retrospective study was conducted of all tourist fatalities between 1959 and 2005.
Results:
There were 351 fatal incidents resulting in 386 deaths between 1959 and 2005. Over the 46-year period, the average number of fatalities was 8.4 (±5.26) per year. Out of all fatalities, 282 were classified as accidental, 80 were classified as natural deaths, 13 were suicides and 5 were classified as homicides. Males accounted for 80% of fatalities and tourists aged 20-29 years and 10-19 years accounted for 36% of all fatalities. The highest number of fatalities was recorded in July (74), May (64), August (63) and June (59). Out of all accidental deaths, boating (29%) and swimming (22%) were the most common pre-death activities. High winds capsizing boats and carbon monoxide poisoning from boat engines were common factors contributing to 31 boating fatalities. Fatigue and exhaustion contributed to 22 swimming deaths.
Conclusions:
Recreational boating and swimming account for over half of all accidental deaths. Tourists visiting Lake Powell for recreational purposes should be informed of the risks associated with the lake environment.
The Sydney Olympic Games in 2000 represent a significant medical and sporting challenge. Prior planning is the key to optimal performance, and team medical staff should be familiar with major medical and injury concerns of athletes and officials well prior to departure. A comprehensive team medical kit should be organised. Travel will be over great distances for many teams, so particular attention to optimising sleep and hydration is essential. The Olympic village experience can be overwhelming for some athletes, and medical staff should provide informed advice on food, transport and safety issues. Heat is less likely to be an issue than at recent summer Olympic Games, but should not be ignored completely. Major incidents can occur at any major sporting festival, and team medical staff should be appropriately prepared for these. All team medical staff should be aware of the current list of banned substances, and seek to minimise drug use by their athletes. After the event, an appropriate debriefing session should be held with a view to planning improvements for the future.
In travel medicine efforts should be concentrated on preventive measures that are necessary, and travellers should be spared the side effects, costs and stress of superfluous measures. Excess mortality abroad is mainly due to traffic and swimming accidents, indicating the need for appropriate control strategies. The morbidity in travellers to developing countries is high, and is primarily due to traveller's diarrhoea. As prophylaxis is ineffective or unrealistic, and as travellers often need fast relief, it is recommended to include loperamide and an antimicrobial agent in the travel kit. Recent studies have shown that the incidence rate per month of Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Africa may reach 24/1000. The most frequently occurring immunizable diseases are hepatitis A (3/1000) and hepatitis B (0.8/1000). For many tourists and some expatriates pre-travel advice (hygiene, measures against mosquito bites, etc.) as well as chemoprophylaxis and immunization can be limited to these infections, but those travelling or staying outside large centres need additional measures.
To obtain epidemiological information about giardiasis in Canterbury.
From October 1990 general practitioners were requested to report laboratory confirmed cases. The first 100 cases were sent a questionnaire and also asked to provide the details of two persons to be controls.
In the first nine months 109 cases were reported. Eighty four cases completed questionnaires and 51 were matched with controls. The overall reported attack rate was 4.0 per 10,000 population per year. The rate was highest for preschool children and young adults and in rural areas. There was a significant risk associated with having contact with sewage or travelling overseas and a marginal risk for drinking water outside Christchurch.
The results indicated that giardiasis was relatively common in Canterbury and confirmed that the major mechanisms of infection were probably the same as those previously identified overseas, namely person to person spread via faecal-oral transmission and the drinking of inadequately filtered water.
To assess the incidence and impact of acute mountain sickness in the Southern Alps of New Zealand.
Over a 22 month period, mountaineers in the Mount Cook region were asked to complete a questionnaire at the completion of their climbing excursions. The questionnaire recorded demographic data and incorporated the Lake Louise scoring system to assess the presence of acute mountain sickness.
Of the 114 subjects who completed the questionnaire, 30 (26%) developed acute mountain sickness. The incidence was higher amongst those who slept above 2500 m (50%). Of those with acute mountain sickness, 33% reported that their symptoms resulted in no reduction in activity, while 13% reported a moderate or severe reduction in activity.
Mountaineers climbing in New Zealand's Southern Alps should be aware of the risk of acute mountain sickness, especially for those sleeping above 2500 m.
Travel insurance normally underwrites travel, medical, and dental expenses incurred by travelers abroad and arranges aeromedical evacuation of travelers under conditions specified by the travel insurance policy. Because of the costs of medical and dental treatment abroad and the high cost associated with aeromedical evacuation, all travelers should be advised of the need for comprehensive travel insurance and be advised to read their policies carefully to see what is covered and to check for any exclusions. In particular, those travelers who have known preexisting conditions, who are working overseas, or who are going to undertake any form of hazardous recreational pursuit may need to obtain a special travel insurance policy, which may attract a higher premium. Conservatively, it is estimated that between 30-50% of travelers become ill or injured whilst traveling. Relative estimated monthly incidence rates of various health problems have been compiled elsewhere. The risk of severe injury is thought to be greater for people when traveling abroad. These risks should be covered by travel insurance to protect the traveler, however it is not known what proportion of travel agents or airlines give advice routinely on travel insurance. Travel insurance is the most important safety net for travelers in the event of misadventure, and should be reinforced by travel health advisers. Although only 4% of general practitioners (GPs) in a late 1980's study in the United Kingdom would advise a traveler going to Turkey about travel insurance,4 more recent studies have shown about 60% of GPs in New Zealand and 39% of travel clinics worldwide usually advised travelers concerning travel insurance. In addition, 54% of GPs in New Zealand usually also advised travelers about finding medical assistance abroad, but only 19% of GPs recommended travel insurance companies as a source of medical assistance while traveling.
[Extract] Although many travelers are concerned about their personal safety when traveling abroad, it is an often neglected area in travel medicine. Personal safety is one of the most important areas for travel health advisers to cover when giving advice to travelers going to virtually any country. Individual responsibility is paramount, as fewer people are going on programmed package tours.1 Travelers should also be advised about important safety nets, such as health and travel insurance, and finding medical assistance abroad.
Half of general practitioners (GPs) in a New Zealand study reported giving safety advice to travelers,2 but GPs who saw a greater proportion of travelers were more likely to give safety advice.2 Seventy percent of travel health advisers in travel clinics usually advised travelers about personal safety.3 A recent study of inflight magazines in Australia revealed a paucity of advice concerning personal safety of travelers.
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