Business | Tourism
Thailand's focus on medical tourism draws Mideast visitors
As a growing medical hub in Asia, Thailand saw 152,360 tourists from the Middle East travelling to the country for medical purposes in 2007.
- By Suzanne Fenton, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:43 May 9, 2008
- As a growing medical hub in Asia, Thailand saw 152,360 tourists from the Middle East travelling to the country for medical purposes in 2007.
- Image Credit: Megan Hirons/Gulf News
Dubai: As a growing medical hub in Asia, Thailand saw 152,360 tourists from the Middle East travelling to the country for medical purposes in 2007.
Dr Surapong Ambhanwong, chief medical and international business officer at Phyathai hospital in Bangkok, said 125,000 tourists from the Middle East travelled to Thailand for medical tourism in 2006, representing 9.6 per cent of the total number of foreigners which was just under 1.3 million.
In 2007, 152,360 people travelled to Thailand from the Middle East for medical reasons, representing 10.8 per cent of the total foreigners which was a little less than 1.4 million.
In 2007, around 98,000 tourists came from the UAE. About 73,000 were UAE nationals and 25,000 were foreign expatriates.
Dr. Ambhanwong said that in terms of revenues, in 2007, medical tourism generated around $1.25 million. "I see a 12 per cent to 15 per cent increase of Middle East medical tourists this year. Last year, tourist numbers went down by about six or seven per cent during the coup government," said Ambhanwong.
Medical tourism has grown in popularity because of lifestyle diseases.
"There is a global healthcare crisis, especially in the US and the UK. In the future we'll see people travelling to different countries with a focus on where they can get the best care at an affordable price," Jonathan Edelheit, president of the international Medical Tourism Association said.
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