Trends in Medical Tourism

Whether you use the terminology medical tourism, medical travel or global healthcare, going abroad for medical treatments, healthcare and wellness procedures is a trend that is here to stay.

According to the World Tourism Organization’s UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, the number of international tourists grew with 7% the first six months of 2010. The number is expected to grow during 2010 and the coming years. Asia and the Pacific (+14%) and the Middle East (+20%) led the growth, with Asia in particular experiencing an impressive re-growth. Here are some of the numbers:

• Sri Lanka +49%
• Japan +36%
• Vietnam +35%
• Myanmar +35%
• Hong Kong +23%
• Singapore +23%

Even though Thailand has had difficult first six months due to the political turmoil, the growth was an encouraging +14%.

The Americas have grown with +7%, while Europe is experiencing the slowest recovery with +2%. This is explained with the USA and some major European markets that have not yet recovered from the economic downturn.

Overall, the international tourist arrivals totaled 421 million during the first 6 month of 2010, which is 7% more than in 2009. However, it is still 2% below the record year of 2008.

Top Ten International Tourism Countries

• France
• USA
• Spain
• China
• Italy
• UK
• Turkey
• Germany
• Malaysia
• Mexico

Medical Tourism figures and trends

While many countries rushed to tell the world about their remarkable increase in medical tourism up until 2008, the market leading destinations have been more silent in proclaiming their medical tourism figures during the two last years. The industry is now rightfully settling down and will with time develop into a full niche market.

As many countries count their figures differently for medical and wellness tourism, it is difficult to get clear overall figures. One often has to settle with benchmarks, which are not always up to date and wholly reliable. If medical tourism and travel were to be counted as a niche tourism sector, it would be much easier to seek out exact figures.

With the increased number of competitors, customers are getting more and more picky. They also demand fast and accurate replies in their information seeking. To gain clients, the healthcare providers have to immediately present their strengths and specialties, and act on the customers’ need and want. The recuperation in the tourism industry will definitely have an impact on medical tourism. How big the regrowth will be depends on the industry players’ and the destinations’ ability to market their services and surpass the expectations of their customers.