As summer approaches, it’s time to pack up your travel CPAP machine and get out and see the country or even the world on vacation. What better time to talk travel than on the cusp of National Travel and Tourism week, which just kicked of the travel season in May. The list of domestic and foreign destinations with the perfect climate, sights and activities is almost infinite, but in this sluggish economic recovery it’s a good idea to reflect on the economic importance of travel.
When we look at some of the travel destinations that have been helped economically by tourism, we’re looking at a long list. As has always been the case, some countries attract more tourists than others due to their beauty, relative stability and a concerted effort to create a welcoming vacationers atmosphere and infrastructure. According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (WTO) the top ten earners from tourism are:
U.S.
Spain
France
China
Macau
Italy
Germany
UK
Hong Kong
Australia
Thailand
Turkey
While all of these countries are economically helped to varying degrees by tourism, there are a number of destinations that are far more dependent on tourism’s economic impact than others. For example, the WTO has also created a list of the top ten destinations where the economies are almost wholly dependent on tourism. As a point of fact, these following destinations rely on tourism dollars to fuel anywhere from 40 to 80 percent or more of their economy.
Anguilla
Bermuda
Bahamas
Luxembourg
Cayman Islands
Turks and Caicos
U.S. Virgin Islands
Aruba
Macau
U.S. Virgin Islands
It certainly doesn’t hurt that many of these are some of the most beautiful places on earth in terms of sun, sand and surf. That beauty is matched by a relative affordability in terms of vacation spots. Their populations as a whole are friendly and hospitable to tourists and vacationers for a wide variety of cultural as well as economic reasons. Not the least of which is because a significant portion of its population directly and indirectly derives their income from the tourist infrastructure.
Since all of these destinations require traveling by air, the airlines that serve the destinations are constantly creating hidden gems of reasonable flight fares that come and go while they maintain a constant air of accommodation to travelers. This includes a simple and fairly universal process for bringing your travel CPAP machine onboard as a medical device. For those travelers and vacationers that are on CPAP therapy, a small travel CPAP machine ensures that the unit fits in any carryon bag without sacrificing space for other items.
Of course, with so much beauty here in the contiguous U.S., there is no reason to roam beyond our shores to find anything that you desire in terms of a vacation destination this summer. There is no shortage of fantastic destinations that are helped in very important economic ways from tourism that creates countless jobs. Here are just a few places that have what it takes to make your vacation fantastic in the U.S. while ensuring that your dollars are really helping the local economy.
From Myrtle Beach ($7 billion tourism industry) to Charleston (voted the #1 city in the U.S. for third straight year in Condé Nast Readers Poll), the Carolina’s generate tens of billions in tourism dollars and well over a hundred thousand jobs to the economy. Kentucky’s $12 billion tourism industry not only helps a state economy that can always use more income and jobs, but its beauty and attractions show why they are a top travel destination in the U.S. New Orleans is one of the nation’s top travel destinations, and after several difficult years, the economic impact of tourism is a major bright spot ($6 billion annually and more than 78,000 jobs).
In the Midwest, Michigan has a world of spectacularly beautiful and exciting travel destinations. With many cities in the state struggling economically, tourism is a big driver of the economy during the summer. From the Upper Peninsula to Ann Arbor, tourism provides tens of thousands of jobs and billions in revenue. You won’t find a better climate in the summer along with fantastic lakeshore, beaches forests, the arts and big attractions.
The list of U.S. travel destinations that rely on tourism to bolster their economy is as long as the country is diverse in fantastic vacations settings. Consequently, you won’t have trouble finding what you want in a place where your dollars will help the locals.
If your living with obstructive sleep apnea and CPAP therapy is a part of your life, vacations can require some extra forethought in terms of flying, destination, and hotels. It pays to have a travel CPAP machine that is small, lightweight, full featured and self-contained to ensure that wherever you go you don’t have to worry about CPAP therapy becoming a burden. The last thing you want is to be non-compliant while you’re on vacation and not be able to have the proper sleep and subsequent energy and focus that you need to enjoy yourself.