Medical
service providers, hotels and travel agents are establishing their own
association to develop and promote Thailand as a medical tourism destination, and
particularly to attract medical tourists from high-spending markets including
the Middle East, Russia, Western Europe, China and Japan.
Prapa Wongphet, president of the Thailand
Medical Tourism Cluster, who will become president of The Thailand Federation
of Medical Tourism Association, explains that the association which is in the
process of being registered with the Commerce Ministry, will be officially
launched by the end of this year, "We are now ready to move forward after
working closely with our partners to design the master plan to develop and
promote Thailand as a world-class medical tourism destination."
It will take over from the Thailand Medical
Tourism Cluster that was set up a year ago by the Institute of Small and Medium
Enterprises Development, and now has 15 travel and medical services
associations as members. Among the cluster's membership are the Thai Hotels
Association, the Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons of Thailand, the Thai
Clinical Physicians Association, the Association of Thai Travel Agents, the
Thailand Incentive and Convention Association and the Thai Spa Federation. The
major stakeholders in medical tourism, the hospitals, have joined forces with
supporting organizations, including hotel/rehabilitation facilities, travel
agents, nurses, ambulance operators, medical specialists, Thai traditional
medicine specialists, spa operators, and the Translators and Interpreters
Association. Government agencies and educational institutes support the
collaboration. It aims to enhance the quality of medical tourism in Thailand
and assist foreigners seeking medical services in Thailand.
Under the promotion plan, the cluster had
organised business matching between local medical service and tourism operators
and overseas travel agents and insurance companies, especially from Russia,
Iran and China. Producing booklets and conducting road shows in key markets
also formed part of the initiative. The new association plans to build on this
good start.
Prakit Chinamornpong of the Thai Hotels Association
says that better-promoted medical tourism will enable hotels and other
accommodation businesses to enjoy longer stays by foreign visitors who want to
travel and experience Thai hospitality as well as receiving medical treatment
or being a health tourist. The Tourism Authority of Thailand says medical
tourism is an area where visitors tend to spend more and stay longer than
normal tourists.
Although recent flooding has caused problems
in and North of Bangkok, it is likely to cause local difficulties only for a
few weeks.
Medical tourism news
Business & Investment Opportunities
YourVietnamExpert is a division of Saigon Business Corporation Pte Ltd, Incorporated in Singapore since 1994. As Your Business Companion, we propose a range of services in Consulting, Investment and Management, focusing three main economic sectors: International PR; Healthcare & Wellness;and Tourism & Hospitality. We also propose Higher Education, as a bridge between educational structures and industries, by supporting international programs. Sign up with twitter to get news updates with @SaigonBusinessC. Thanks.
No comments:
Post a Comment