Thailand's Medical Tourism Growth Rate Continues to Increase

November 6, 2009

NEW YORK, Nov. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- In 2004, the Royal Thai Government organized a strategy for developing Thailand into the medical hub in Asia. Today the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the Department of Export Promotion (DEP) has estimated two million medical tourists will arrive in Thailand for health care services in 2010, an annual growth rate of 14% for the sector, ahead of the country's GDP.

Research and Markets reported in 2008 that Thailand conducted more medical check-ups and treatments for international tourists than any other country in Asia. Thailand provides some of the world's best medical treatment services and facilities and many visitors claim that Thailand care providers' "warmth and understanding was a valuable part in the treatment and speedy recovery" (Tourism Authority of Thailand). The average cost of health care services in Thailand is approximately 1/5 of prices in the United States or Europe. Taking this estimate into consideration, it is even more significant that in 2008, foreign patients generated an estimated $6 billion USD for Thailand. One international medical travel journal stated that the Royal Thai Government has provisioned a five-year plan that aims to double this revenue by 2014.

A major international accounting and consulting firm estimated 1.5 million Americans traveled abroad for health care services in 2008 and forecasted an annual global market expansion of more than 20% going forward to 2012. Thailand is prepared to meet this growing demand by excelling in the medical care it delivers on a daily basis to patients from over 190 countries at affordable prices.

People are taking a medical trip to Thailand for health checks, dental and cosmetic surgery, or other medical treatments or routine maintenance. Tourists can undergo and recover from many non-invasive procedures during a typical two-week holiday in Thailand. "Patients Beyond Borders: Thailand Edition" by Josef Woodman, CEO of Healthy Travel Media, just released on Monday, is a guidebook that offers an in-depth overview of Thailand's international hospitals, selected health travel agents, nearby recovery and guest accommodations, spas, and area travel information so that medical tourists know which places to go in Thailand to get their world-class medical treatments.

With the accelerated growth of Thailand into becoming Asia's medical hub, considerable opportunities in related fields are being created. The medical device sector, for instance, is continuing to grow due to the health care facilities' demands for new and upgraded medical machinery and devices. Thailand is also gaining recognition for its research and clinical trials of advanced medicine and stem cell treatments. As Thailand's medical tourism industry continues to grow, its health care industry will grow in leaps and bounds as well.

About the Tourism Authority of Thailand

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) was established in 1960 by the Royal Thai Government to be specifically responsible for tourism promotion. In 1965, TAT opened its first overseas office in New York. Since then, TAT has established 21 offices in different parts of the world including the Los Angeles office. TAT aims to provide the best Thailand traveling information to the public and media members as well as work closely with our travel partners to develop new deals and packages.

    Contact:

    Megan Patrick
    Tourism Authority of Thailand
    info@tatny.com
    212-432-0433

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SOURCE Tourism Authority of Thailand