Thailand Gears Up to be Asia’s Hub in Medical Tourism

A steadily growing number of foreigners seeking medical services in Thailand has proven the country’s vast potential in the health service sector while adding another appeal as a favorite tourist destination in Asia.

To keep up with the impressive growth which now averages over a million annual tourist arrivals and recording some 40 billion Baht (US$1.2 billion) per year from health tourism alone, the government and private sectors are joining hands in an aggressive campaign to support Proud Asia 2007, the first international trade exhibition and conference on medical tourism, spa and wellness industries on 27 to 30 September at the Hall 9, IMPACT Convention Center in Muangthong Thani, Bangkok, Thailand.

Proud Asia 2007 is expecting some 300 exhibitors and 15,000 visitors from Singapore, Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Indonesia, Korea, Australia and Japan to showcase the uniqueness of what their respective country has to offer in medical tourism, spa and wellness industries.

Says Yearayong Chairut, Assistant Executive Director in the Product Promotion

Department of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT): “Health concern is now a world trend. Medical tourism and spa are among the country’s ‘major attractions’ being offered by TAT to the world because of their high standard and quality. That’s why our health services with Thai way have been increasingly popular in world market.”

The recorded number of tourists and the income generated by these industries are still expected to rise every year as more medical tourists are turning to Thailand’s high quality yet less expensive products and services, including physical surgical procedures which have become well-known among other countries.

Says Dr Kamol Wattanakrai, the Secretary General of The Society of Plastic and

Reconstructive Surgeons of Thailand: “Our surgeons have proven their outstanding performance in these fields. Besides the lower cost of services, tourists get additional chance to travel and shop at the same time. Their total expense here is far less than what they have to pay if they go to Europe and the US.”