Medical tourism industry valued at $439 billion

A REPORT issued by VISA and Oxford Economics values the global medical tourism industry at US$439 billion, with a projected growth rate of up to 25% year-over-year for the next 10 years as an estimated three to four percent of the world's population will travel internationally for healthcare and health-related treatment. 

The study takes into account growth factors – such as 340 new international airports over the next decade – and estimates that the medical travel market reach US$3 trillion by 2025.

The Medical Tourism Index (MTI), lists the top 41 destinations for those seeking value-added services and high quality of healthcare across the globe. The US leads in terms of market share of healthcare travel spending, but Thailand, Singapore, and South Korea continue to thrive. China is expected to overtake the US within the next 10 years due to the population's demand for higher quality of care.

‘The borders to quality healthcare access have begun to disintegrate,’ say MTI co-authors, Renée-Marie Stephano, president of the Medical Tourism Association and Mark Fetscherin, Associate Professor of International Business and Marketing at Rollins College in Florida.

‘Speculation about the medical tourism industry as a phenomenon is over. This report and the rankings of the Medical Tourism Index provide a unique opportunity for investors seeking new ventures to make smart choices in destinations driving patient travel.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk

All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Japan identifying potential for medical tourism growth

THE JAPANESE government has identified its healthcare industry as a key economic growth driver, and is aggressively taking steps to attract medical tourists from across the globe.  

What attracts the medical tourists to Japan?
Long-term visas for medical stays: Unlike most other countries, #Japan offers six-month visas for medical visits.

Quality care: Healthcare professionals in Japanese are among the most experienced and skilled worldwide. They provide standard operative measures and less-invasive therapies.

What challenges does the Japanese government face?

Language and cultural barriers: A very small percentage of professionals in the Japanese healthcare industry speak English or are attuned to foreign cultures.

Resistance to internationalization: Medical associations fear internationalization of the country’s culture, and they oppose the profit motive in the healthcare system.

Cost of living: While medical technologies and services available in Japan attract a large number medical tourists, the high cost of living in the country makes it impossible for foreigners to stay in Japan for extended periods.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk

All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Boom ahead for medical tourism

THE WORLD’S medical tourism market is likely to be worth $143.8 billion by 2022, according to a report published by Allied Market Research.

Cancer treatment would continue to be the highest revenue-generating segment throughout the forecast period, and North America and Asia-Pacific are estimated to remain the main revenue-generating regions.

The major factors that boost market growth include affordability, availability, and accessibility of quality healthcare services with support from tourism departments and local governments, but limited coverage and lengthy partial reimbursement offered by insurance companies, along with difficulties associated with cross-border travel such as language barriers and visa approval issues are likely to restrict market growth.

Geographically, North America and Asia-Pacific dominated the medical tourism market in 2015. The growth of these regions is attributed to the availability of affordable medical treatments for several disease conditions in countries such as Mexico, Thailand, Malaysia, India, and Singapore. Within Asia-Pacific, India and Malaysia are two of the fastest growing countries in the medical tourism market.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk

All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Have that op in Turkey!

TURKEY is fast being listed as a preferred medical tourism destination for cosmetic surgery. This is primarily for a nip, tuck, laser eye surgery or hair transplant.

According to Turkey Medical Tourism Outlook for 2017, the country is the preferred destination for hair transplant procedures for Arab nations. The report also highlighted other emerging segments of Turkey’s medical tourism including dentistry, cosmetic surgery, infertility, and eye treatment.

‘Patients are travelling to Turkey from all over the world, including the Gulf, seeking cosmetic surgery with a quick recovery,’ said Mustafa Ozdemir, cultural and information attaché from the Cultural and Information Office of the Turkish Consulate-General in Dubai.

With Turkey treating almost a quarter of a million foreign patients each year, the country says it has certified doctors in all fields and more internationally accredited hospitals than anywhere outside the United States. According to the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Turkey ranks ninth in the world for its number of plastic surgeons, with 700 registered as practicing.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK