A Creative Wedding Event Management for Sustaining Community-Based Eco-Tourism: A Case Study in Thailand

The research aims to propose a proper model for organizing a creative wedding event to boost Community-Based Eco-Tourism(CBET)in rural areas.It is participatory research.Site observation and in-depth interviews are 10 stakeholders from various organization;local people,the district sheriff,the provincial culture,the national park,the district municipality,the community-based tourism group,the wedding organizers and the educators from a wedding event in themed“Carry Love Covering the Forest”organized in Wiang Sa,Suratthani,the southern part of Thailand were applied.Thematic analysis was applied to analyze the data.The results found that the managing model for organizing an event tourism in Community-Based Eco-Tourism composes of three stages being pre-event,during-event,and after-event.The research provides a comprehensive understanding management model of CBET.The research makes contribution to develop and manage a new creative event to enhance positive impacts of community-based tourism to sustain,especially in eco-tourism destination.

Does community-based health insurance affect lifestyle and timing of treatment seeking behavior?Evidence from Ethiopia

Objectives This paper aims to investigate the effects of enrollment in the Ethiopian community-based health insurance(CBHI)scheme on household preventive care activities and the timing of treatment-seeking behavior for illness symptoms.There is growing concern about the financial sustainability of CBHI schemes in developing countries.However,few empirical studies have identified potential contributors,including ex-ante and ex-post moral hazards.Methods We implement a household fixed-effect panel data regression model,drawing on three rounds of household survey data collected face to face in districts where CBHI scheme is operational and in districts where it is not operational in Ethiopia.Results The findings show that enrolment in CBHI does not significantly influence household behaviour regarding preventive care activities such as water treatment before drinking and handwashing before meals.However,CBHI significantly increases delay in treatment-seeking behaviour for diseases symptoms.Particularly,on average,we estimate about 4-6 h delay for malaria symptoms,a little above 4 h for tetanus,and 10-11 h for tuberculosis among the insured households.Conclusions While there is evidence that CBHI improve the utilization of outpatient or primary care services,our study suggests that insured members may wait longer before visiting health facilities.This delay could be partly due to moral hazard problems,as insured households,particularly those from rural areas,may consider the opportunity costs associated with visiting health facilities for minor symptoms.Overall,it is essential to identify the primary causes of delays in seeking medical services and implement appropriate interventions to encourage insured individuals to seek early medical attention.

Community-Based Hepatitis B Campaign in Asian Americans

Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) disproportionately affects minority groups in the US, particularly Asian Americans, with numerous factors contributing to this disparity. Of the 2.4 million people living with chronic HBV in the US, 60% are Asian American. Many are unaware of their status and lack access to proper clinical care, with less than ten percent receiving necessary antiviral treatment. Barriers to screening and care include lack of disease awareness, language and cultural barriers, and financial constraints. Additionally, healthcare providers and systems in the US often overlook the importance of CHB, leading to inadequate care. In response, the Center for Viral Hepatitis (CVH) has implemented a community-based outreach program over the past sixteen years, employing a multifaceted approach involving all sectors of society and various organizations to combat health disparities in CHB. This grassroots campaign has proven highly effective, leveraging CVH’s leadership in spearheading numerous collaborative activities with community members, healthcare professionals, and policymakers. We have summarized the key points of CVH's efforts and their significance in combating CHB-related health disparities. The CHB Screening and Awareness Campaign, tailored to the Asian American community, serves as a successful model for increasing CHB screening, linkage-to-care, and addressing socio-cultural barriers and health literacy. Insights from these outreach programs have guided the development of culturally relevant resources and education initiatives. These findings suggest that such community-driven approaches are essential for addressing health disparities. The strategies and outcomes of CVH’s efforts can inform future health initiatives for other minority communities in the US and globally.

Study on Safeguard System of Eco-tourism Compensation of Hukou Section during Ecological Water-control Project of Poyang Lake

Through analysis on the background to develop eco-tourism and necessity for ecological compensation,based on specific condition of Hukou County,in line with the situation to develop eco-tourism during ecological water control project of Poyang Lake,residents' interest protection system and ecological benefit safeguard system for eco-tourism compensation were put forward.

General Plan of Rural Eco-tourism—A Case Study of Wenxian Manor in Wuchang City of China

From the perspective of eco-tourism and principles for sustainable development,based on the analysis of tourist resources of Wenxian Manor in Wuchang City,the paper has proposed development principles for Wenxian Manor,and identified its development tendency and tourism project in the general plan,division of functional zones,development of tourist products,organization of tourism route,construction of tourism service facilities,and transport planning.The concept of eco-tourism has been fully integrated into the general plan,striving to achieve the harmonious unity between human and nature in the development of Wenxian Manor.

Plights and Outlet:Environmental Problem Analysis of Agricultural Eco-tourism

As agricultural eco-tourism development played a vital role in promoting rural economic and social development and constructing new harmonious countryside,the paper had analyzed environmental problem produced during its development,pointed out that blind development of agricultural eco-tourism had seriously destroyed resources and ecological environment and that tourist infrastructure construction and urbanization had ruined rural unique natural landscape.In view of current situation of environment,it also studied reasons causing environmental disruption,which lied in insufficient guidance and support of government,deficient scientific development planning and management system,and poor environmental consciousness of tourist operators and tourists.On this basis,it summarized that agricultural eco-tourism development should follow principles of sustainable development,synchronization between development and protection,and coordination between tourism development and environmental protection.It concluded proper ways to develop agricultural eco-tourism,and emphasized that it should draw up scientific and reasonable development planning,enhance government's macro-administration,establish and perfect ecological compensation mechanism,and strive to cultivate people's environmental awareness.

Eco-tourism: A New Approach of Ecological Rehabilitation and Out of Poverty Development in Wumeng Mountainous Area

The economic and social development status and the formation mechanism of "poverty trap" in Wumeng mountainous area were analyzed, the feasibility of developing eco-tourism to ecological restoration and rural poverty reduction was discussed, and some corresponding countermeasures were put forward.

Study on the Development and Planning of Eco-tourism Manor

With the rapid development of eco-tourism and "happy farmhouse" tourism, eco-tourism manor had received more attentions and developed vigorously. The paper had proposed the concept of eco-tourism manor, and studied its design and project planning based on the analysis of development situation, existing problems and development opportunities of eco-tourism manor in China. Then, it had analyzed the economic, social and environmental effects. Finally, in view of problems existing in eco-tourism and "happy farmhouse" tourism development, countermeasures and methods for eco-tourism manor development had been proposed from the perspective of financing channels, planning design, residents' benefits, service facilities and management, so as to provide a guidance for planning, construction and development of eco-tourism manor.

Eco-tourism Development Conception of Wutai Mountainous Scenic Area in Shanxi Province

From the perspectives of sustainable development and creating high-quality tourism brand,this study proposed the scheme of establishing two particular eco-tourism routes based on the characteristics of tourist resources and present tourism development in Wutai Mountainous Scenic Area.The conception of eco-tourism would be able to integrate typical and unique temple landscapes and geological heritages in the study area,in this way to create high-quality tourism brands,make the travel more scientific and interesting,and give it higher ornamental and cultural value.

Study on Environmental Protection during Agricultural Eco-tourism Development in Guangzhou City——From the Perspective of Perfecting Environmental Responsibility System of Tourism Company

By taking Guangzhou City for example,a series of environmental problems brought by agricultural ecological tourism were analyzed from the perspective of environmental degradation caused by that tourism company failed to take environmental responsibility.Based on economic development and environmental protection,some suggestions on environmental protection were proposed from the perspective of perfecting environmental responsibility of tourism company in order to realize win-win of economic development and environmental protection.

Analysis of Eco-tourism Tourist Behavior and Potential Market in Taibai Mountain

This paper provided full and accurate material for Taibai Mountain eco-tourism and forecasted its potential market through investigating on the visitors of Taibai Mountain Nature Reserve and the surrounding forest parks eco-tourism tourist.By using Excel and mapping method,this study described the sample characteristics and tourist behavior.In addition,this paper also carried on descriptive statistics factorial analysis by using SPSS statistics software,analyzed the potential market according to tourists' characteristics of Taibai Mountain.The survey results showed that visitors of Taibai Mountain Nature Reserve mainly were middle-income young people,and the majority of tourists were with higher education.With the purpose of enjoying the scenery and relaxing,tourists were interested in natural ecological landscape of Taibai Mountain Nature Reserve.Tourists mainly came from Shaanxi Province and preferred to day trip,the travel route was single.There were a small number of tourists travelling for business,conference and medical treatment in Taibai Mountain Nature Reserve.According to the analysis,related countermeasures were given in this paper as the following:① Promoting activities should be focused on the big or medium cities in Shaanxi Province,such as Xi'an,Xianyang,Baoji,etc..Meanwhile,various means should be adopted to expand its influence and raise awareness around the provincial cities for attracting tourists.② Strengthening the infrastructure construction and improving comprehensive tourist reception capacity with the pursuit of the diversity of tourism resources,and create a good environment for the tourism market;③ Focusing on tourism product development;④ Protecting the ecological resources and developing ecotourism.

Study upon the Spatial Structure of Regional Eco-tourism-Based upon the Perspective of Supply and Demand and Competition Field

Along with the coming of the low-carbon era, people have paid more and more attention to the natural environment and eco-tourism will embrace a huge development. From the perspectives of the market relationship of supply-demand in economics and of field competition in physics, this paper has discussed upon the present status of the spatial structure of eco-tourism, and analyzed the relationship between supply-demand and field, in order to clarify the direction for the balance between supply and demand in the field and to guide eco-tourism to the way of sustainable development.

Comprehensive Effects of Eco-tourism Development on Tourism Destinations in South Shaanxi Province

Eco-tourism theories were taken as the instruction in this study,qualitative and quantitative research methods were also combined to investigate and conduct questionnaire processing to nearby residents of 10 eco-tourism scenic areas in south Shaanxi Province,so as to quantify and evaluate the various effects at different levels of eco-tourism development on tourism destinations in this region.Particularly,the quantitative value and weight value of economic,social and environmental effects were utilized to quantify,analyze and evaluate the comprehensive effects generated by eco-tourism development in south Shaanxi Province.It was found that the comprehensive effects were 'good',however,these 3 kinds of effects have not been coordinated well,thus the characteristics and requirements of eco-tourism have not been well demonstrated.

Landscape ecological assessment and eco-tourism development in the South Dongting Lake Wetland, China

As an important resource and the living environment of mankind, wetland has become gradually a highlight, strongly concerned and intensively studied by scientists and sociologists. The governments in the world and the whole society have been paying more and more attention on it. The Dongting Lake of China is regarded as an internationally important wetland. For a rational development and protection of the wetland, an investigation and studied on its resources and its value to tourism in the South Dongting Lake was conducted, to create an assessment system of the ecological landscapes, and to evaluate qualitatively and quantitatively the value of wetland landscape to the eco-tourism. The results showed that the scenic value of the South Dongting Lake Wetland satisfied the criterion of AAAA grade of China national scenic attraction. The eco-tourism value of the landscape cultures in the South Dongting Lake Wetland was discussed with emphasis. It were formulated that a principle and frame of sustainable exploitation of the wetland landscapes and it was proposed as well that establishing a Wetland Park and developing eco-tourism in the South Dongting Lake. Wetland is a fragile ecosystem with low resistance to the impact of the exploitation. Thus, we must pay intensively attention to the influence of exploitation on the landscape, take the ecological risk in account to employ a right countermeasure and avoid the negative affection.

Construction of Eco-tourism Sites Based on the Experience of Eco-tourism

Taking Lingtong Grand Canyon in Jingxi County, Baise City, Guangxi, China as a research object, the face-to-face questionnaire survey on tourist is carried out, in order to obtain the basic situation of the interviewees, as well as their expectation for the eco-tourism experience. Factor analysis method is adopted to test the interviewees′ expectation of the eco-tourism experience. Result shows that eco-tourism experience of tourist is mainly reflected in the ecological leisure experience, the ecological tourism experience, the ecological experience in scenic spot, and the self-realization experience. Analysis on the recognition of the expectation for eco-tourism experience shows that the interviewees′ expectations of the eco-tourism experience are in the order of the ecological experience in scenic spot, the eco-tourism experience, the ecological leisure experience, and the self-realization experience. Difference analysis on the interviewees′ expectations for the eco-tourism experience is carried out by market segmentation. Result shows that there are significant differences in the demand of eco-tourism experience among different types of tourisms. According to the investigation result, countermeasures for the construction and marketing of eco-tourism sites are put forward.

Eco-tourism Value and Utilization Design of Constructed Wetland Park

The paper had emphasized that constructed wetland park was a "win-win" artificial tourist program integrating wetland function and park function and springing up exuberantly at present,and highlighted that it possessed good landscape effect and eco-tourism value in addition to treatment of water pollution and recovery of ecological environment.From the perspectives of ornamental value,science popularization and environmental education value,and multiple experience value,it had analyzed eco-tourism value of constructed wetland park and pointed out that the important approach for maximum display of its eco-tourism value was to well design and build constructed wetland park or constructed wetland eco-tourist area.Furthermore,by taking constructed wetland park for example,the paper had discussed design and utilization of eco-tourism value of constructed wetland park,highlighted three aspects covering perfection of landscape creation and leisure facilities,display of popular science education,design and organization of experience activity,so as to bring the comprehensive value of constructed wetland park into full play and promote healthy development of eco-tourism in constructed wetland park.

A community-based epidemiological study of elevated serum alanine aminotransferase levels in Kinmen, Taiwan

AIM: To explore any gender-related differences in prevalence of and condition-associated factors related to an elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level amongst residents of Kinmen, Taiwan. METHODS: A total of 11 898 of a potential 20 112 regional residents aged 30 years or more completed a related questionnaire that was carried out by the Yang-Ming Crusade between 1991 and 1994 inclusively, with blood samples being collected by public nurses. The overall questionnaire response rate was 59.3% (52.4% for males and 66.0% for females). RESULTS: The prevalence of an elevated serum ALT level for this sub-population was found to be 7.2%, the prevalence revealing a statistically significant decrease with increasing population age (P<0.0001). Males exhibited a greater prevalence of elevated serum ALT level than did females (9.4% vs 5.3%, P<0.0001). Using multiple logistic regression analysis, in addition to male gender, a younger age, greater waist circumference, presence of type-2 diabetes and hyperuricemia were the significant factors associated with an elevated serum ALT level for both males and females. Gender-related differences as regards associated factors were also revealed. For males, obesity was significantly related to an elevated serum ALT level (OR = 1.28, 95%CI: 1.00-1.66) but this was not so for females (OR = 1.09, 95%CI: 0.84-1.42). Hypertriglyceridemia (OR = 1.80, 95%CI: 1.36-2.39) and hyperuricemia (OR = 1.61, 95%CI: 1.03-2.52) were significantly related to elevated serum ALT levels only for females. CONCLUSION: Several gender-related differences were noted pertaining to the prevalence of and relationship between obesity, hypertriglyceridemia and hyperuricemia and elevated serum ALT level in the present study.

COMMUNITY-BASED ECOTOURISM IN NATURE RESERVE OF CHINA

This paper introduces a new concept of community-based ecotourism (CBET) that originated in foreign countries. Then it analyzes the significance of CBET development in nature reserve (NR). The authors think that community participation is the evitable choice of nature reserve′s conservation and development. CBET, as the self-improved model of ecotourism, can promote tourism community sustainable development. Based on the stakeholder analysis of CBET in NRs, this paper addresses the reality, especially the problem of CBET development in NRs of China. In order to develop CBET in NRs of China, this paper takes some suggestions to promote the community participation: 1)gradual political empowerment, 2) deep level economic incentive, 3) widespread educational support, 4) impartial distribution of community benefits, and 5) stakeholders cooperation.

A community-based friendly health clinic:An initiative adolescent reproductive health project in the rural and urban areas of Indonesia

Objective:This study aims to examine the effects of a community-based friendly health clinic(CFHC)program that adopts manual participatory learning(MPL)intervention on the adolescents living in the rural and urban areas of Indonesia to gain further insights into their knowledge,attitudes,and skills related to adolescent reproductive health(ARH).Methods:A quasi-experimental design was used to obtain information on the ARH knowledge,attitudes,and skills of adolescents.Two intervention studies that used similar protocols and measures were conducted.A total of 192 adolescents(96 adolescents from urban and rural areas)participated in the project,and the participants from each area were divided into eight groups.A questionairre was adopted to measure the ARH knowledge,attitudes,and skills of these participants.A content analysis of the logbook entries of these respondents was conducted to identify their ARH-related problems.The questionnairre and self-reported ARH data were collected before and after the eight-week program.Results:The CFHC program significantly increased the ARH attitudes(p=0.045)and skills(p=0.009)of adolescents in the rural area,but only improved the ARH knowledge(p<0.001)of adolescents in both rural and urban areas.Fourteen themes were identified in three dominant categories,namely,schools,families,and communities.Conclusions:The CFHC with MPL intervention can improve the ARH knowledge,attitudes,and skills of adolescents in the rural area,but can only improve the ARH knowledge of adolescents in the urban area.The ARH program must be designed based on the characterictics of these adolescents to improve their life skills during puberty.

Serum insulin, insulin resistance, p-cell dysfunction, and gallstone disease among type 2 diabetics in Chinese population: A community-based study in Kinmen, Taiwan

AIM: To explore the association of serum insulin, insulin resistance, and β-cell dysfunction with gallstone disease (GSD) in type 2 diabetics. METHODS: We used a community-based study conducted between 1991 and 1993 in Kinmen, Taiwan to identify type 2 diabetics. A screening program for GSD was performed in 2001 by a panel of specialists who employed real-time ultrasound sonography to examine the abdominal region after the patient had fasted for at least 8 h. Screening was conducted in 2001 on 848 patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. The HOMA method was used to compare the profile differences for insulin resistance (HOMA IR) and β-cell dysfunction (HOMA β-cell). RESULTS: We studied 440 type 2 diabetics who attended sonography check-ups. After excluding eight insulin-treated diabetics, the prevalence of GSD among the remaining 432 was 13.9% (26/187) among males and 14.7% (36/245) among females. After adjustment for other GSD-associated risk factors in addition to age and obesity, GSD risk increased among females with levels of serum insulin [4th vs 1st quartile odds ratios (OR) = 4.46 (95%CI: 1.71-11.66)] and HOMA IR [4th vs 1st quartile OR = 4.46 (95%CI: 1.71-11.66)]. Better HOMA β-cell function was significantly related to decreased risk of GSD [4th vs 1st quartile OR = 0.16 (95%CI: 0.03-1.70)]. Among males, age and central obesity were the most significant risk factors for GSD. No association of GSD with serum insulin, HOMA IR, and HOMA β-cell was observed among males. CONCLUSION: Serum insulin, insulin resistance, and β-cell dysfunction are risk factors for GSD in females, but not males with type 2 diabetes.