Cayman Islands Doctor Reveals Plans to Kick Start Medical Tourism

An internationally renowned heart surgeon, Dr Devi Shetty has purchased 200 acres in the Cayman Islands and plans to build a new hospital. Survey work is already beginning, and there are plans to include energy efficient technology throughout the building.

The land at High Rock was initially intended to become a commercial seaport, but this plan failed when it proved to be unpopular with locals. It's one of the highest elevated points on Grand Cayman and has natural protection against storm surges and flooding. As well as the hospital there will also be a number of support facilities including residential accommodation and hotels.

These plans have been in the pipeline for more than two years, and recent legislation passed by the government will enable practitioners to limit damages, keeping insurance costs and internal health care costs down.

The initial phase is expected to be quite a small hospital of just 140 beds, but during the next 10 to 15 years Shetty has additional plans to include an educational facility, assisted care community, a tertiary care hospital and a biotech research centre.

A development of this size will require significant improvements to infrastructure, including transportation and public services. Patients would stay on the island an average of nine and a half days and when the hospital becomes a fully operational it could be catering for 1,400 patients a day.

Whenever medical tourism is mentioned, it's easy to think it's only available in countries such as India or Thailand, but the fact it is expanding its reach to other countries can only be good news. The international medical tourism market is a sector which is increasing rapidly with many patients unable to afford or obtain decent medical care in their own countries.

Cape Verde is a Great Choice for a Winter Holiday

Cape Verde is a great choice for a winter holiday; situated just 300 miles off the coast of Senegal it has already been called the European Caribbean and is just a five and a half hour flight from the UK.

It's perfect for sun lovers as the islands are gently cooled by trade winds and remain pleasantly warm rather than stifling.

There are 10 different islands and each has its own character, with plenty of deserted beaches, dunes and volcanic peaks to explore. Cape Verde was originally part of the Portuguese empire and its language remains a mix of Portuguese and Creole.

The main island is Santiago, and this is the business centre for all the islands. The scenery here is dramatic and mountainous and ideal for keen walkers. Fogo lies to the south and is home to an active volcano crater and is the wine and coffee producer for the country.

Saint Vincent is one of the more northerly islands and is widely recognised as being the artistic and cultural centre. However the two most visited islands are Sal and Boa Vista, and both have regular charter flights from the UK.

Boa Vista is the island closest to Africa and is perfect for water activities. It's also the third most important site in the world for nesting turtles. Sal has starkly beautiful but barren scenery, but is very much the watersport capital of the islands and is renowned as being one of the top five windsurfing locations in the world.

A holiday on Cape Verde definitely offers something a little different from the normal winter destinations, and is a perfect, stress free escape.

Discovering the Appeal of the Sun-kissed Grand Cayman Island

The Cayman Islands is a British overseas territory consisting of three islands less than 500 miles south of Miami. The islands have a reputation for having some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, as well some of the best diving and snorkelling.

The largest island is Grand Cayman, and it’s here that you'll find the capital city of George Town which is excellent for those who enjoy fine dining and shopping. It's possible to do National Trust historic walking tours around the city, with a number of historic buildings currently being restored by the Trust and National Historic Sites Committee, and it is a great way to find out a little more about the history of the islands.

Grand Cayman makes an excellent place from which to start exploring these islands, and one of its main attractions is Seven Mile Beach, which although very long and beautiful is slightly less than 7 miles long. If you are a keen snorkeller or diver then there are a number of excellent tours available which can be personalised to suit your level of experience and comfort. It's also possible to sail, try your hand at parasailing or go deep sea fishing.

Other must see attractions include the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park which sprawls over 65 acres. The park includes a 0.8 mile walking Trail as well as a small cafe and a beautifully restored turn-of-the-century farmhouse complete with original furnishings, cistern, cook room and outbuildings.

There is also a two acre lake which is an important site for native aquatic birds, and the Park houses the Cayman Blue Iguana Captive Breeding and Reintroduction Facility. In fact there is a lot to see and do on Grand Cayman, and it makes the perfect location for those wishing to relax on a beach as well as for those who like to be slightly more active.

Discovering Cape Verde’s Third Largest Island

Cape Verde is an archipelago of 10 islands 300 miles off the coast of Senegal and thanks to year-round temperatures which average 24°C it is fast becoming a sought-after holiday destination and tourism numbers are increasing rapidly.

It's been predicted that the number of visitors to the islands will exceed 1 million annually by 2015, and it had the distinction of making Lonely Planet’s list of top 10 countries last year. It is being likened to the Canary Islands but in fact is quite different, and at just a five-hour flight from the UK it’s eminently accessible.

The most obvious attraction of the archipelago is its beaches, and Boa Vista, the third largest island has no less than 55 km of pristine sandy beaches, and as tourism is only just beginning to take off most are beautifully quiet. The landscape on the Boa Vista is almost lunar and it's generally necessary to take a 4x4 vehicle to get around.

The main town on Boa Vista is laid-back Sal Rei, and it's easy to see the Portuguese influence as the islands only gained independence in 1975, and the official language is Portuguese. It's very much a fishing town as this is still quite a thriving industry, but there are already a number of craft shops and souvenir shops to cater for the tourism market.

Although there are a number of sites worth seeing on this island one of the major attractions are the nighttime tours to see the loggerhead turtles which nest in their thousands on the eastern and southern beaches each year. Boa Vista is a charming island, and as it becomes more widely known it's easy to imagine visitors flocking here.

Enjoying the Quiet Charms of Akbuk

If you are looking for the perfect spot in which to enjoy a quiet and relaxing holiday, or are looking for a holiday home surrounded by gorgeous scenery, then Akbuk might just fit the bill. More and more holidaymakers are choosing to visit Turkey, and some will go on to invest in property in the country, attracted by the affordable prices and easy accessibility from the rest of Europe.

There is no doubt it is a beautiful country, as it is rich in culture and has an unspoiled beauty. Whether you are looking for gorgeous sandy beaches, colourful bazaars, or want to explore the many ancient ruins, Turkey has all the ingredients for an unforgettable holiday, and Akbuk is in the perfect location.

This small former fishing village whose name means White Bay is situated right on the waters of the Aegean and surrounded by mountain forests and olive groves. It is renowned for having excellent air-quality as it enjoys low humidity and high oxygen content, making it ideal for anyone who suffers from respiratory diseases.

Development here is strictly controlled as much of the land is protected, and this will ensure demand for property remains high while the idyllic nature of the resort is preserved.

Although the resort is quiet, it's up to you as to whether you choose to have an active or relaxing holiday as there are plenty of things to see and do nearby. Akbuk is well supplied with local shops, restaurants and bars, and there is a local market every Friday which is superb for anyone who is self-catering as you can buy super fresh fish, vegetables and fruits and spices. It's just 20 minutes away from the larger and more lively resort of Altinkum and a mere 50 minute drive from Bodrum airport.

The Implications of Britain's Relationship to the Cayman Islands

The Cayman Islands is a British overseas territory and as such has a UK Governor, while its democracy is loosely based upon the UK’s legal system. This relationship brings political stability to the country, and is considered vital for attracting business to the islands.

The fact that the legal system is so closely related to the English legal system is extremely important as the ultimate right of appeal is the Privy Counsel in the UK, and there is also the ability to extend international conventions and UK laws wherever appropriate.

The islands also have an enviably low crime rate, and businesses are reassured by the fact that the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service can always call upon the UK police forces for assistance.

The UK also has the ability to approve borrowing by the Cayman Islands government, and while this policy hasn't always proved popular some experts do think it has been beneficial in keeping the country's financial management under control.

This relationship is not one-sided, and the Cayman Islands also bring considerable benefits to the UK, one of which is the international transfer of capital through structured finance products and funds. This helps generate substantial revenue for the City of London through accountancy firms, investment managers, banks and law firms. For its part, the Cayman Islands adhere strictly to international standards, a fact that was recently acknowledged by the Financial Stability Board.

Of course the Cayman Islands isn't all about business, and its tourism industry has substantially increased this year, with visitor numbers from the US and Europe up by 6.5% and 5.7% respectively.

Cape Verde Economy Predicted to Enjoy GDP Growth of 6.8% in 2012

While the rest of the world continues to struggle with the global crisis, Cape Verde continues to buck the trend. This archipelago is located in the mid-Atlantic between Brazil and Senegal and is just five hours away from the UK. Although its economy did suffer during the global crisis with GDP growth dropping from 8.6% in 2007 to just 3.6% in 2009, government policy has ensured it is back on track, with growth predicted to be more than 5% this year by the World Bank.

Cape Verde is increasingly attracting investors as it is one of the most stable countries in Africa. It enjoys low inflation and low crime and has been granted special partnership status by the EU. It's a great place in which to buy property, as the property laws are easy to understand, dating back to the time when the country was under Portuguese rule, and property rights are strongly protected.

The country has few natural resources and energy and fuel costs can be quite high, but the government is planning a huge renewable energy project which includes Africa's first large-scale wind project. The intention is that renewable energy will provide 50% of the country’s requirements by 2050.

Most of the development is taking place on the island of Sal which was originally known for its salt mines. Nowadays the island is undergoing substantial infrastructure improvements which include a marina plaza and new roads. Luxury developments can be found at Tortuga and Dunas, and some properties can be bought through SIPPS although they have to be commercially leased.