Medical tourism is no longer about patients travelling from one country to another in search of cheaper healthcare. Today it is a booming business worth around $50 billion a year and it is growing at a rapid pace, said leading tourism experts citing a report by Visa and Oxford Economics.
There are different reasons for people to travel for medical care: higher quality of care and services;
reduced costs; medical treatment combined with attractive destinations; treatments and medications not approved or available in the home country, the report said.
The sector’s growth is mainly driven by “people looking for affordable, high-quality healthcare which may not be available in their own market. And if they can find it in an attractive destination then it just helps sweeten the recovery process,” remarked Rika Jean- Francois, the ITB Berlin CSR Commissioner.
She was speaking at the medical media lunch event which was attended by top exhibitors from markets including Germany, Turkey, Italy and Jordan.
Following last year’s successful launch of the Medical Tourism segment, ITB Berlin offered a platform for the sector for a second consecutive year.
Medical service providers, hotels and destinations showcased their products and services and also held presentations and workshops to highlight the latest trends and developments in this growth market.