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Here is a compiled list of Global Medical Tourism Statistics prepared by the Medical Tourism Watch team from various resources.

This list is being updated regularly, so make sure to bookmark the page and check back later.

  • As of January 2023, medical tourism annually mobilizes more than 21 million people worldwide, presenting an annual growth rate of approximately 20%, constituting a market that oscillates between 74 and 92 billion dollars. ( source )
  • Medical Tourism Market Size is projected to increase to USD 273.72 billion between 2023-2027, meaning a CAGR of 12.8% during the Forecast Period. (Allied Market Research)
  • According to Business Wire , however, in 2022, the worldwide medical tourism market achieved a significant milestone, reaching a size of US$ 97.3 Billion . Predictions indicate that this market will experience impressive growth in the coming years, with an expected value of US$ 337.0 Billion by 2028 . This projection reflects a remarkable compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 23% during the period from 2022 to 2028.
  • Estimates from the Global Wellness Institute (GWI) indicate that the global medical tourism industry is projected to experience significant growth over the next five years. It is anticipated that the industry will expand at a yearly rate ranging from 15 percent to 25 percent, ultimately reaching a remarkable growth rate of 20.9 percent by the year 2025.
  • According to Data Bridge,during the forecast period of 2023 to 2030, the health tourism market is anticipated that the market will reach USD 410.61 billion by 2030, exhibiting an impressive compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 40.4%.

Country Specific Statistics

South korea.

  • In 2022, South Korea played host to 248,000 medical tourists (Medical Tourism Magazine)
  • The country is aiming to host 700,000 medical tourists by 2027.

United Arab Emirates

  • On average, over 15,000 medical tourists travel to Abu Dhabi to take advantage of its medical institutions every year. (Investment Monitor)
  • Dubai welcomed 630,000 international health tourists in 2022, as stated in a report released by the Dubai Health Authority.
  • In 2022, Turkey experienced a significant surge in inbound medical tourism, as reported by the Turkish Statistical Institute. The number of visitors reached 642,444, indicating a remarkable 66% increase compared to the previous year.
  • In 2022, a total of 1,258,382 people visited Turkey receive healthcare services, and the revenue generated from this amounted to 2,119,059 thousand US dollars. (source: USHAS )
  • In the first quarter of 2023, 411,490 visited to receive healthcare services, and the revenue generated from this amounted to 453,714 thousand US dollars. (source: USHAS )
  • In 2021, 642,444 people received healthcare services through medical tourism, and the country generated a revenue of 1,048,549,000 US dollars.
  • 40 percent of the current total turnover in medical tourism in Turkey is in dental services, 42 percent in orthopedics, cardiology, cardiac surgery and neurosurgery, and 15 percent in plastic surgery, according to Yeditepe Health Care.
  • Jordan is the largest medical travel destination in the Middle East, visited by 265,000 medical tourists in 2022. Related revenues exceed $US 1 billion.
  • Israel is an emerging medical tourism destination, visited by 15,000 foreign patients in 2020.
  • In 2021, about 300,000 medical travelers visited Malaysia, and in 2022 this number had increased to more than 350,000 international patients.
  • In 2020, Singapore received 410,000 medical tourists. In 2021, 646,000 people visited Singapore for medical treatment or related reasons. This is 13% increase from the previous year, and an increase on about 250,000 patients per year since 2000. As many of these were family members or friends accompanying the patients, the actual number of sole medical tourists receiving treatment was 370,000, with combined revenue of $1.5 billion.

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Medical Tourism Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Service (Medical Treatment {Cardiac Procedures, Oncology Procedures, Orthopedic & Spine Procedures, Dental Procedures, and Others}, Cosmetic Treatment {Cosmetic Procedures, Rejuvenation Procedures, and Others}, and Alternative Treatment), By Service Provider (Public and Private), and Regional Forecast, 2023-2030

Last Updated: April 08, 2024 | Format: PDF | Report ID: FBI100681

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KEY MARKET INSIGHTS

The medical tourism market size was valued at USD 19.28 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow from USD 24.14 billion in 2023 to USD 93.38 billion by 2030, exhibiting a CAGR of 21.3% during 2023-2030. North America dominated the global market with a share of 25.82% in 2022.

According to the Medical Tourism Association (MTA), every year around 14 million people globally travel to other countries to receive medical care. Drastic advancements in the healthcare industry due to the launch of medical devices and non-invasive surgical procedures are major factors responsible for increased tourism for medical procedures globally. Medical tourism has gained traction in the last few years among high-income countries such as the U.S.

Most of the people travel to different countries to seek medical care owing to the availability of advanced technology and highly trained professionals. This shift is also due to the fact that patients require quick medical service without a long waiting period.

Moreover, the availability of low-cost treatment for various conditions, such as knee replacement , dental, and cosmetics, among others in Singapore, Thailand, and Dubai is proliferating the market value in these countries. For example, Singapore receives 500,000 medical tourists annually; half of the tourists are from Indonesia. Therefore, the growing rate of medical tourists coupled with demand for medical and cosmetic procedures is anticipated to drive the medical tourism market growth during the forecast period.

COVID-19 IMPACT

COVID-19 Travel Restrictions Worldwide Declined Demand for Several Medical Procedures 

The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019 resulted in the imposition of stricter measures to avoid the spread of the infectious virus. Owing to the closure of country borders, the number of tourists visiting for medical care declined massively.

  • According to the World Tourism Organization, the number of tourists declined by 84% in Asia Pacific in 2020 as compared to 2019.

Moreover, permission to carry out essential and emergency procedures by hospitals and medical service providers led to complete closure of cosmetic, dental , and other treatments. For example, the Government of India in March 2020 announced the postponement of non-essential, elective surgeries amid the rising pandemic cases. Therefore, strict measures worldwide led to delays in procedures, leading to a decline in the number of medical tourists.

  • For instance, April 2020 witnessed the lowest tourist arrivals globally at around 3,894 as compared to 118,070 in April 2019. This was a strong setback for the growth of the market in 2020.

However, the reopening of national borders, lifting of travel restrictions by government bodies, and gradual surge in the number of patients boarding international flights post-pandemic augmented the patient visits for surgeries. Moreover, rising strategic initiatives by key healthcare centers to promote health tourism among international patients further assisted the market in its slow recovery from heavy losses.

  • As per Bangkok Chain Hospital's annual report in 2021, around 54,386 international patients visited the hospital for treatment compared to 46,637 in 2020, registering a volume growth of 16.6%.
  • In September 2021, the Bumrungrad Hospital launched the ‘Bumrungrad COVID-19 Recovery Clinic’, which offered holistic solutions to COVID-19-related services to Thailand’s population and international patients, further reviving the market.

LATEST TRENDS

Active Consumer Preference Toward Cosmetic Procedures to Boost Market Potential

As COVID-19 cases started to decline in some countries and travel restrictions were eased, there has been an increase in demand for procedures that were delayed or postponed during the pandemic. Awareness among individuals about the importance of personal care has led to greater demand for cosmetic procedures such as body fat reduction and acne treatment .

According to surgeons from the American Academy of Facial and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS), there was an increase in the appointments for and treatments, such as facelift, eyelift, and others, despite the COVID-19 pandemic in July 2021. Additionally, the availability of trained professionals coupled with access to quality care is responsible for the rising preference for these procedures in other countries.

Thus, the growing preference for cosmetic treatments resulting in increased patient visits in clinics, which is expected to boost the market growth during the forecast period.

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DRIVING FACTORS

Low-Cost Care for Surgeries to Boost Market Progress

The rise in healthcare costs in developed nations has become a burden for healthcare providers as well as patients. Also, regulations imposed on the healthcare system by governments in several countries can lead to delays in carrying out various surgeries. This factor has urged people to travel to foreign countries to receive medical care. As per the Medical and Health Tourism Congress (MHTC), medical care is cheaper in Asian nations than private hospitals in the U.S. For example, a heart bypass surgery in Thailand would cost USD 13,000 as compared to USD 113,000 in the U.S.

Therefore, a higher rate of inbound health tourism in countries, such as Thailand and India to receive affordable and quick medical care is contributing to the increased volume of surgeries. Additionally, lower cost of advanced surgeries is a major factor boosting the market growth.

According to data by Apollo Hospitals, a hip replacement surgery in Thailand costs around USD 7,800 as compared to USD 50,000 in the U.S.

Increase Inbound Medical Travel to Augment Market Growth

Growing technological advancements in the healthcare industry in terms of medical devices , surgical procedures, wearables, and connected healthcare have urged end-users to adopt better healthcare facilities for improving the quality of patient care. Telemedicine, information & communication technology, and telehealth have opened doors for patients across the world to consult doctors, book appointments, and receive high-quality medical attention without hesitation.

This has increased inbound tourism in developing nations, such as Thailand, India, and many others. For instance, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council, Thailand has been ranked fifth in terms of inbound medical travel after the U.S., France, Turkey, and Belgium. Therefore, the demand for low-cost treatment and availability of advanced medical infrastructure are contributing to the expansion of the market.

RESTRAINING FACTORS

Pandemic-Induced Travel Restrictions Hampered Market Growth

Medical tourism is solely dependent on patients’ ability to travel from one country to the other to receive medical treatments. However, the COVID-19 pandemic compelled governments to impose strict regulations with respect to receiving medical care abroad, which hampered the market growth. For instance, according to the World Tourism Organization, the COVID-19 pandemic caused almost 73% decline in tourist travels globally in 2020.

This negatively impacted the industry owing to decline in the rate of medical procedures for international travelers. Asia Pacific was severely impacted due to travel restrictions, causing a decline in the number of tourists by 84% in 2020. Such a factor hampered the market value and is anticipated to take a longer duration to return to pre-pandemic growth levels.

SEGMENTATION

By service analysis.

Lower Cost of Surgeries in Developing Countries to Boost Demand for Medical Treatment

Based on service, the market is segmented into medical treatment, cosmetic treatment, and alternative treatment. The medical treatment segment dominated the global market in terms of market share in 2022. Increased demand for medical procedures, such as dental, orthopedic, spinal, and cardiac, is contributing to the growth of the segment. Availability of advanced facilities & services in developing countries, such as India, Singapore, and Thailand, at a lower cost is encouraging tourists from high-income countries to opt for medical visas to visit these nations. These popular destinations witnessed a decline in medical treatment procedures during 2020, owing to COVID-19 restrictions imposed by governments.

However, as the restrictions have been eased in some countries, the uptake of these procedures is likely to surge, resulting in strong growth of the segment during the forecast period. Additionally, the cosmetic treatment segment is likely to flourish during the forecast period owing to the rising demand for enhancing aesthetic appearance, body fat reduction, and rejuvenation. Also, the launch of advanced medical devices for cosmetic procedures is another factor contributing to the growth of the segment.

By Service Provider Analysis

Emergence of Private Players Offering Advanced Facilities to Boost their Demand among Patients

Based on service provider, the market is segmented into public and private. The private segment held a dominating medical tourism market share in 2022. The growing number of private service providers globally delivering world-class medical services has attracted several tourists. Availability of advanced medical infrastructure, healthcare facilities, digital systems, and value-based care at a lower cost is responsible for the dominance of private service providers in the market.

However, the public service provider segment is anticipated to witness slower growth owing to the lack of funding received for medical treatment in some countries. For example, Canadians prefer private service providers as the majority of medical treatments are either not available or not funded in public hospitals.

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REGIONAL INSIGHTS

North America Medical Tourism Market Size, 2022 (USD Billion)

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The market size in North America stood at USD 4.98 billion in 2022, dominating the market share. The regional market is characterized by a higher rate of tourists visiting the U.S. for medical treatments, such as cardiology and orthopedic procedures, thereby increasing the revenue margins of the medical service providers. For instance, according to the International Trade Administration (ITA) 2021 report, the U.S. reported USD 3.4 billion spending on inbound health tourism. Although the country is well known for outbound tourism, it is also a preferred destination for medical treatments owing to improved hospital infrastructure and highly trained professionals.

Europe accounted for a leading position in the global market due to the growing availability of medical infrastructure and facilities for medical tourists in Spain, the U.K., France, and Belgium. Though the pandemic led to disruptions in travel and tourism in 2022, resulting in a decline in the number of tourist visits in Europe, some countries have now started full-fledged programs to provide better facilities and services. For example, in May 2021, Spain announced the opening of its borders for vaccinated medical travelers to promote medical tourism in the country. This is anticipated to boost the regional market growth during the forecast period.

The market in Asia Pacific is projected to register a higher CAGR during the forecast period owing to the high number of patients traveling to Asian countries for medical treatment due to the availability of low-cost facilities. For instance, according to the Medical Tourism Index, India is ranked 10 th in the world in the list of popular destinations for healthcare treatments. Also, bypass surgery in India costs around USD 10,000 as compared to the U.S., which costs USD 113,000. Moreover, Singapore, Malaysia, and South Korea are expected to gain traction during the forecast period, owing to the increased volume of patients for cosmetic procedures in these countries.

The Latin America market is expected to witness slower growth as the region is still in its early stages with respect to offering a robust medical infrastructure to foreign patients. The Middle East & Africa is among the famous destinations for medical tourism for cosmetic and rejuvenation procedures. Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Turkey are popular destinations. For instance, according to the Dubai Health Authority report published in 2022, 630,000 international health tourists visited Dubai in 2021. Affordability of cosmetic procedures is the primary reason for travelers to choose the Middle Eastern countries, leading to growth in the regional market revenue.

KEY INDUSTRY PLAYERS

Diverse Service Portfolio of Healthcare Providers at Lower Cost to Increase Volume of Medical Tourists

The global market is a fragmented one, with majority of the medical service providers emerging from Asia Pacific and Middle Eastern countries. A diversified service portfolio and the constant launch of new programs by healthcare providers are prominent factors responsible for the strong presence of reputed companies. For example, in October 2021, BC Platforms (BCP) entered into a partnership agreement with Bumrungrad International Hospital to boost precision medicine in Southeast Asia.

Bumrungrad International Hospital is one of the leading providers of medical services for international travelers. Such initiatives are likely to boost the medical tourism industry in Asian countries. Moreover, a strong emphasis on international tourists getting cosmetic treatments at a lower cost is anticipated to drive the profit margins of the service providers during the forecast period.

LIST OF KEY COMKPANIES PROFILED:

  • Bumrungrad International Hospital (Thailand)
  • Apollo Hospitals (India)
  • Bangkok Chain Hospital (Thailand)
  • Fortis Healthcare (India)
  • Asian Heart Institute (India)
  • KPJ Healthcare Berhad (Malaysia)
  • Livonta Global (India)
  • Gleneagles Hospital (India)

KEY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS:

  • April 2023 - The Rattinan Medical Centre, specializing in cosmetic surgery and laser treatments in Thailand, in collaboration with FICO Group, launched a new clinic to augment wrinkle-free medical tourism.
  • January 2023 - The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) launched ‘Dubai in One day’, an innovative medical tourism package targeting international patients. DHA’s health initiative at the Arab Health 2023 aimed to allow international medical tourists to book procedures and access a wide range of tourism services within a few hours.
  • August 2022 - The Indian government announced the launch of ‘Heal in India’ initiative on 15th August 2022. The initiative aims to boost medical tourism in India with features such as special desks at 10 airports, a multilingual portal, and simplified visa norms for the incoming international passengers visiting India for medical purposes.
  • November 2021 – Egypt announced the launch of a program intending to provide advanced medical and therapeutic services to foreign patients.
  • July 2019 – The Medical Tourism Association (MTA) announced a partnership with the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) to generate key international partnerships in healthcare and to promote South Korea's world class medical treatments, highlighting its safety as an international medical destination.

REPORT COVERAGE

An Infographic Representation of Medical Tourism Market

Medical Tourism Market

To get information on various segments, share your queries with us

The report includes detailed information regarding various insights and statistics of the market. Some of them are growth drivers, restraints, competitive landscape, and regional analysis. It further offers an analytical depiction of the global market trends and estimations to illustrate the market’s investment potential. The market is quantitatively analyzed from 2019 to 2030 to provide the financial competency of the industry. The information gathered in the report has been taken from several primary and secondary sources.

Report Scope & Segmentation

Frequently asked questions.

In 2022, the market value stood at USD 19.28 billion.

Registering a CAGR of 21.3%, the market will exhibit strong growth during the forecast period of 2023-2030.

The medical treatment segment is expected to be the leading segment in the market during the forecast period.

Growing inbound tourism coupled with preference for low-cost care in medical facilities are the key factors driving the global market.

Bumrungrad International Hospital, Apollo Hospitals, and Bangkok Chain Hospital are the key players in the market.

North America held the highest market share in 2022.

Rising preference for cosmetic procedures is the major trend boosting the growth of the market.

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  • STUDY PERIOD: 2019-2030
  • BASE YEAR: 2022
  • HISTORICAL DATA: 2019-2021
  • NO OF PAGES: 115

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The global medical tourism market size is projected to grow from $24.14 billion in 2023 to $93.38 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 21.3% over the forecast period

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Global Health Tourism Market – Industry Trends and Forecast to 2030

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Market Size in USD Billion

CAGR :  40.40 %

Global Health Tourism Market, By Service (Transport, Accommodation, Hospitality and Others), Type of Treatment (Cosmetic Treatment, Dental Treatment, Cardiovascular Treatment, Orthopaedic Treatment, Bariatric Treatment, Fertility Treatment, Cancer Treatment, Ophthalmic Treatment, Neurological Treatment and Others), Age Group (Senior Citizens, Minors and Adults), Service Provider (Private and Public) – Industry Trends and Forecast to 2030.

 Health Tourism Market Analysis and Size

According to the Turkish Statistical Institute, 642,444 inbound medical tourists visited Turkey in 2021, a 66% increase from 2020. The report includes Thailand, Costa Rica, India, Malaysia, Mexico, Brazil, Singapore, Turkey, Colombia, South Korea, Taiwan, Czech Republic, Spain, Australia, China, and Indonesia as popular medical tourism destinations.

Data Bridge Market Research analyses that the health tourism market which is USD 27.195 million in 2022, is expected to reach USD 410.61 million by 2030, at a CAGR of 40.4% during the forecast period 2023 to 2030. In addition to the insights on market scenarios such as market value, growth rate, segmentation, geographical coverage, and major players, the market reports curated by the Data Bridge Market Research also include depth expert analysis, patient epidemiology, pipeline analysis, pricing analysis, and regulatory framework.

Health Tourism Market Scope and Segmentation  

Market Definition

Health tourism is a subset of the healthcare industry that focuses on the needs of patients traveling across international borders for complex surgeries and medical treatments. Medical tourism is popular among global patients, owing to the low cost of medical treatments in developing countries, which is found to be very expensive in developed countries. Access to low-cost services and medical treatments from various tourism departments and local governments is a major factor in the global health tourism market's growth.

Health Tourism Market Dynamics

  • Rise in globalization trend

Globalization has been a major driving force in medical tourism, allowing many consumers to obtain the highest quality and most affordable health care treatments. Thus, globalization 75% improves health care and reduces costs by 25% to 75%, primarily for Americans and citizens of developed countries. As a result, the globalization trend allows consumers to receive low-cost and advanced treatments across international borders, driving the global health tourism market.

Opportunities

  • Rise in the demand for online medical agencies (OMA)

Most countries have developed strategies to promote digitalization in healthcare services, creating a demand for the best and most valued treatment regardless of region; thus, collaboration with foreign organizations improves, and if diagnostics and surgical treatments improve, the demand for medical tourism increases. As a result, market growth is expected to be driven by the adoption of connectivity technologies, digital platforms, and telemedicine.

Restraints/Challenges

  • Complications in the transfer of medical records

The medical record transfer problem fractures the healthcare system on multiple levels, killing countless patients every day. Doctors and physicians must ze that there is no free market in which patients can take advantage when they are already ill and require emergency treatment. Such a problem is likely to limit the health tourism market.

This health tourism market report provides details of new recent developments, trade regulations, import-export analysis, production analysis, value chain optimization, market share, impact of domestic and localized market players, analyses opportunities in terms of emerging revenue pockets, changes in market regulations, strategic market growth analysis, market size, category market growths, application niches and dominance, product approvals, product launches, geographic expansions, technological innovations in the market. To gain more info on the health tourism market contact Data Bridge Market Research for an Analyst Brief, our team will help you take an informed market decision to achieve market growth.

COVID-19 Impact on the Health Tourism Market

COVID-19 had a significant impact on the health tourism market because almost every country chose to shut down all production facilities except those involved in the production of essential goods. To prevent the spread of COVID-19, the government took stringent measures such as shutting down production and sales of non-essential goods, blocking international trade, and many others. The only businesses dealing with this pandemic were the essential services that were permitted to open and run the processes.

The health tourism market has been impacted by an increase in travel restrictions in many countries, which has halted travel facilities. Furthermore, trade wars caused by deteriorating economic conditions in many developing countries resulted in the closure of many major industries' markets. However, COVID-19 had a negative impact on the health tourism market because there were no cross-border transportation options for consumers, and most companies had to temporarily suspend their medical tourism operations for several months.

Recent Developments

  • In 2019, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd. announced that it had won the Times Health Icons Awards 2019 in five categories. This award has assisted the company in increasing the value of its brand in the market and attracting new customers, resulting in business expansion to various cities and countries.
  • In 2021, UZ LEUVEN opened a COVID testing centre in various locations, primarily for travellers. This has assisted the company in reaching out to new customers and expand its business, particularly during the Ontario Hockey League, organised by the GP association Khobra.

Global Health Tourism Market Scope

The health tourism market is segmented on the basis of service, age group, type of treatment and service providers. The growth amongst these segments will help you analyze meagre growth segments in the industries and provide the users with a valuable market overview and market insights to help them make strategic decisions for identifying core market applications.

  • Accommodation
  • Hospitality

Type of Treatment

  • Cosmetic Treatment
  • Dental Treatment
  • Cardiovascular Treatment
  • Orthopedic Treatment
  • Bariatric Treatment
  • Fertility Treatment
  • Cancer Treatment
  • Ophthalmic Treatment
  • Neurological Treatment
  • Senior Citizens

Service Provider

Health Tourism Market Regional Analysis/Insights

The health tourism market is analyzed and market size insights and trends are provided by country, service, age group, type of treatment and service provider as referenced above.

The countries covered in the health tourism market report are U.S., Canada and Mexico in North America, Germany, France, U.K., Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Russia, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Rest of Europe in Europe, China, Japan, India, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Rest of Asia-Pacific (APAC) in the Asia-Pacific (APAC), Saudi Arabia, U.A.E, South Africa, Egypt, Israel, Rest of Middle East and Africa (MEA) as a part of Middle East and Africa (MEA), Brazil, Argentina and Rest of South America as part of South America.

North America dominates the health tourism market because of the region's well-developed healthcare infrastructure and favourable reimbursement policies.

Asia-Pacific is expected to grow at the highest growth rate in the forecast period of 2023 to 2030 owing to the increasing huge price difference and better quality healthcare services in emerging countries such as China, Japan, India.

The country section of the report also provides individual market impacting factors and changes in regulation in the market domestically that impacts the current and future trends of the market. Data points like down-stream and upstream value chain analysis, technical trends and porter's five forces analysis, case studies are some of the pointers used to forecast the market scenario for individual countries. Also, the presence and availability of global brands and their challenges faced due to large or scarce competition from local and domestic brands, impact of domestic tariffs and trade routes are considered while providing forecast analysis of the country data.

Healthcare Infrastructure Growth Installed base and New Technology Penetration

The health tourism market also provides you with detailed market analysis for every country growth in healthcare expenditure for capital equipment, installed base of different kind of products for health tourism market, impact of technology using life line curves and changes in healthcare regulatory scenarios and their impact on the health tourism market. The data is available for historic period 2011-2021.

Competitive Landscape and Health Tourism Market Share Analysis

The health tourism market competitive landscape provides details by competitor. Details included are company overview, company financials, revenue generated, market potential, investment in research and development, new market initiatives, global presence, production sites and facilities, production capacities, company strengths and weaknesses, product launch, product width and breadth, application dominance. The above data points provided are only related to the companies' focus related to health tourism market.

Some of the major players operating in the health tourism market are:

  • Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd. (India)
  • Fortis Healthcare (India)
  • KPJ HEALTHCARE BERHAD (Malaysia)
  • Nippon Telegraph and Telephone East Corporation (Japan)
  • ADITYA BIRLA HEALTH SERVICES LTD. (India)
  • Samitivej PCL (Thailand)
  • BB Healthcare Solutions (U.K.)
  • UZ LEUVEN (Belgium)
  • Berkalp Co-Limited (Ireland)
  • MEDIC ABROAD (U.S.)
  • AMERICAN MEDICAL CARE (U.S.)
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Home » Medical Devices » Medical Tourism Market

Medical Tourism Market Analysis and Forecast to 2033: By Treatment Type, (Cardiovascular Treatment, Orthopedic Treatment, Cosmetic Treatment, Bariatric Treatment, Dental Treatment, Ophthalmology Treatment, Infertility Treatment, Alternative Medicine, Other Services), Service Providers (Public, Private), Type (Domestic, International), Healthcare Service (Medical Treatment, Wellness, Alternative Treatment), and Region

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Medical tourism, also called medical travel, is the practice of traveling to another country for medical care.

Medical tourism typically involves elective procedures, such as cosmetic surgery, that are not covered by insurance. Patients often travel for care because they can receive high-quality treatment at a lower cost than at home.

Some countries, such as Thailand and India, have developed a reputation for providing excellent medical care at a fraction of the cost of care in developed countries. As a result, they have become popular destinations for medical tourists.

The Medical Tourism Market size was USD 129.0 billion in 2023 and is anticipated to reach USD 379.6 billion in 2033, growing at a rate of 11.4% from 2023 to 2033.

Global Medical Tourism Market Scope and Report Structure

There are a few key trends in medical tourism technology:

1. Online Consultations: More and more medical tourism companies are offering online consultations with doctors and medical professionals. This allows potential patients to get a better idea of what their options are and what procedures might be right for them.

2. Virtual Reality: Some medical tourism companies are beginning to use virtual reality technology to give potential patients a realistic view of what their procedure will be like. This can help to ease any anxiety about the unknown and make the decision-making process easier.

3. Mobile Apps: There are several mobile apps available that can help potential patients compare prices, find doctors, and book appointments. This makes the entire process more convenient and allows patients to make informed decisions about their care.

Key Drivers

The major drivers of this market are the increasing cost of healthcare, a lack of health insurance, and long waiting periods for treatments in developed countries.

Lack of health insurance is another major driver of medical tourism.  This is because the cost of health insurance is rising at a faster pace than wages. In addition, many insurance plans do not cover the cost of certain treatments, such as cosmetic surgery. This forces patients to pay for their treatment out of their own pockets, which can be very expensive.

Long waiting periods for treatments is another factor driving patients to seek medical care abroad. In the United Kingdom, patients have to wait an average of 18.2 weeks for elective surgery. This is because the NHS is understaffed, and there is a shortage of hospital beds. This problem is also seen in other developed countries, such as Canada and Australia.

Restraints & Challenges

There are several key restraints and challenges in the medical tourism market. One of the key restraints is the lack of standardization in the medical tourism industry. This lack of standardization makes it difficult for patients to compare prices and quality of care among providers. In addition, there is a lack of transparency in the medical tourism industry, which can make it difficult for patients to make informed decisions about their care.

Another key challenge in the medical tourism market is the lack of insurance coverage for medical tourism services. This lack of insurance coverage can make it difficult for patients to afford medical tourism services. In addition, there is a lack of regulation in the medical tourism industry, which can make it difficult for patients to find reputable and safe providers.

health tourism growth rate

Global Medical Tourism Market Segmental Overview

The report analyses the global Medical Tourism Market based on treatment type, service providers, type, healthcare service, and region.

Global Medical Tourism Market by Treatment Type

health tourism growth rate

Based on treatment type, the Medical Tourism Market is segmented into cardiovascular treatment, orthopedic treatment, cosmetic treatment, bariatric treatment, dental treatment, ophthalmology treatment, infertility treatment, alternative medicine, and other services. The cosmetic treatment segment is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period. Various reasons, such as increased patient awareness, rising demand for anti-aging therapies, and the high cost of cosmetic implants in developed nations, are driving market expansion. Thailand is mostly known for bariatric and cosmetic surgery. Laser tattoo removal, breast augmentation, liposuction, hair transplantation, botox, and cool sculpting are among the most common operations performed in Thailand. In contrast, operations such as gastric bypass, hip replacement, and knee replacement are less expensive in India than in certain affluent countries such as the United Kingdom and the United States. Tourists favor Costa Rica for dental operations.

Global Medical Tourism Market by Service Providers

health tourism growth rate

By Service Providers, the market is classified into public and private. The private segment dominated the market in 2023 in terms of revenue and is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period. The adoption of modern healthcare technology, as well as the availability of internationally recognized and accredited private care providers, are driving expansion in the market. Furthermore, the private sector delivers speedier services and greater privacy than the government sector. Healthcare institutions in poor nations desire worldwide regulatory certification, which will allow them to obtain access to international healthcare insurance and purchasing networks. Insurance firms in industrialized countries are implementing health tourism provisions into their medical plans to encourage people to seek medical care in other countries. Furthermore, the significant rise in healthcare costs, along with a huge number of uninsured or underinsured people, is pushing visitors who require medical treatment to seek inexpensive healthcare services and treatments in developing countries.

Global Medical Tourism Market by Type

health tourism growth rate

Based on type, the Medical Tourism Market is segmented into domestic and international. In 2023, the domestic segment dominated the market in terms of revenue and is expected to be the same during the upcoming years. Domestic travelers seeking medical tourism may differ in terms of their requirements and interests. Traveling inside a nation for medical treatment is frequently done to save money, have access to specialist care, or be more convenient economically. Tourists in more convenient or accessible locales seek medical attention. Individuals may select a city or area based on personal preferences, airline accessibility, or hospital proximity. Many travelers seek second opinions following a medical diagnosis or recommendation from their local doctor. Alternative therapy choices are frequently explored in other countries for reassurance. Thus, the domestic medical tourism business is expanding. Medical care and wellness resorts are popular among domestic travelers.

Global Medical Tourism Market by Healthcare Service

health tourism growth rate

Based on healthcare service, the Medical Tourism Market is segmented into medical treatment, wellness, and alternative treatment. The medical treatment segment is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period. Increased demand for medical operations, such as dental, orthopedic, spinal, and cardiac, is driving the segment’s rise. The availability of superior facilities and services at reduced costs in developing countries such as India, Singapore, and Thailand encourages tourists from high-income countries to visit these countries on medical visas. Medical treatment operations in these famous places decreased in 2020 due to government-imposed COVID-19 regulations. However, as the limits have been removed in several countries, the acceptance of these treatments is projected to increase, leading to substantial sector development throughout the projection period.

Geographical Analysis of Global Medical Tourism Market

health tourism growth rate

Region-wise, it is studied across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Rest of the World. North America has the biggest market share in terms of Medical Tourism Market value followed by Asia Pacific. A larger number of tourists visiting the United States for medical treatments such as cardiology and orthopedic surgeries, which boosts the revenue margins of medical service providers, distinguishes the regional market. For example, the International Trade Administration (ITA) 2021 report shows that the United States spent USD 3.4 billion on incoming health tourism. Although the country is well-known for outbound tourism, it is also a popular choice for medical treatments due to its upgraded hospital infrastructure and highly qualified specialists.

Because of the low cost of medical facilities in Asian nations, a large number of people come there for treatment. According to the Medical Tourism Index, India is the world’s tenth most popular destination for healthcare treatments. Also, bypass surgery in India costs roughly USD 10,000, but it costs USD 113,000 in the United States. Furthermore, Singapore, Malaysia, and South Korea are likely to gain traction throughout the projection period because of the rising number of patients seeking cosmetic operations in these countries.

Major Players in the Global Medical Tourism Market

The key players studied in the global Medical Tourism Market are Al Zahra Hospital, Al Rahba Hospital, Zulekha Hospital, Samitivej PCL, Phyathai Hospitals Group, Asklepios Kliniken GmbH, Fortis Healthcare Limited, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited, Razavi Hospital, and Jordan Hospital.

Recent Developments

  • In April 2023, Rattinan Medical Centre, Thailand’s leading cosmetic surgery and laser treatment provider, has collaborated with FICO Group to open a new facility to expand wrinkle-free medical tourism offerings.
  • In January 2023, The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has developed ‘Dubai in One Day’, a unique medical tourism package for overseas patients. DHA’s health initiative at Arab Health 2023 is planned to allow foreign medical tourists to arrange operations and access a variety of tourism services in only a few hours.
  • In August 2022, The Indian government announced the commencement of the ‘Heal in India’ project on August 15, 2022. The project intends to increase medical tourism in India by providing specific offices at 10 airports, a bilingual webpage, and reduced visa requirements for incoming international travelers visiting India for medical reasons.
  • In November 2021, Egypt has announced the establishment of a program designed to give modern medical and therapeutic services to overseas patients

Medical Tourism Market Report Coverage

  • The report offers a comprehensive quantitative as well as qualitative analysis of the current Medical Tourism Market outlook and estimations from 2023 to 2033, which helps to recognize the prevalent opportunities.
  • The report also covers qualitative as well as quantitative analysis of the Tourism Market in terms of revenue ($Million).
  • Major players in the market are profiled in this report, and their key developmental strategies are studied in detail. This will provide an insight into the competitive landscape of the Medical Tourism Market industry.
  • A thorough analysis of market trends and restraints is provided.
  • By region as well as country market analysis is also presented in this report.
  • Analytical depiction of the Medical Tourism Market along with current trends and future estimations to depict imminent investment pockets. The overall Medical Tourism Market industry opportunity is examined by understanding profitable trends to gain a stronger foothold.
  • Porter’s five forces analysis, SWOT analysis, Pricing Analysis, Case Studies, COVID-19 impact analysis, Russia-Ukraine war impact, and PESTLE analysis of the Medical Tourism Market are also analyzed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. How big is the Medical Tourism Market?

Ans. The global Medical Tourism Market size was US$ 129.0 billion in 2023 and is anticipated to reach US$ 379.6 billion in 2033, growing at a rate of 11.4% from 2023 to 2033.

Q2. What is the Medical Tourism Market growth rate?

Ans. The growth rate of the Medical Tourism Market is 11.4% from 2022 to 2032.

Q3. Which region holds a major market share for the Medical Tourism Market?

Ans. North America holds a major market share of the Medical Tourism Market in 2022.

Q4. Which segment accounted for the largest Medical Tourism Market share?

Ans. Based on treatment type, the Medical Tourism Market is segmented into cardiovascular treatment, orthopedic treatment, cosmetic treatment, bariatric treatment, dental treatment, ophthalmology treatment, infertility treatment, alternative medicine, and other services. The cosmetic treatment segment is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period.

Q5. Who are the key players in the Medical Tourism Market?

Ans. The global Medical Tourism Market report includes players such as

Q6. What are the factors driving the Medical Tourism Market growth?

Ans. The major factor driving the growth of the market is the increasing cost of healthcare, a lack of health insurance, and long waiting periods for treatments in developed countries.

Q7. What are the key growth strategies of Medical Tourism Market players?

Ans. The key growth strategies of Medical Tourism Market players are product launch, partnerships, and government initiatives.

Q8. Which region will provide more business opportunities for the Medical Tourism Market during the forecast period?

Ans. The North America region will provide more business opportunities for the Medical Tourism Market during the forecast period.

Why GIS?

Chapter 1. Medical Tourism Market Overview 1.1. Objectives of the Study 1.2. Market Definition and Research & Scope 1.3. Research Limitations 1.4. Research Methodologies 1.4.1. Secondary Research 1.4.2. Market Size Estimation Technique 1.4.3. Forecasting 1.4.4. Primary Research and Data Validation

Chapter 2. Executive Summary 2.1. Summary 2.2. Key Highlights of the Market

Chapter 3. Premium Insights on the Market 3.1. Market Attractiveness Analysis, By Region 3.2. Market Attractiveness Analysis, By Treatment Type 3.3. Market Attractiveness Analysis, By Type 3.4. Market Attractiveness Analysis, By Healthcare Service

Chapter 4. Medical Tourism Market Outlook 4.1. Medical Tourism Market Segmentation 4.2. Market Dynamics 4.2.1. Market Drivers 4.2.1.1. Driver 1 4.2.1.2. Driver 2 4.2.1.3. Driver 3 4.2.2. Market Restraints 4.2.2.1. Restraint 1 4.2.2.2. Restraint 2 4.2.3. Market Opportunities 4.2.3.1. Opportunity 1 4.2.3.2. Opportunity 2 4.3. Porter’s Five Forces Analysis 4.3.1. Threat of New Entrants 4.3.2. Threat of Substitutes 4.3.3. Bargaining Power of Buyers 4.3.4. Bargaining Power of Supplier 4.3.5. Competitive Rivalry 4.4. PESTLE Analysis 4.5. Value Chain Analysis 4.5.1. Raw Material Suppliers 4.5.2. Manufacturers 4.5.3. Wholesalers and/or Retailers 4.6. Impact of COVID-19 on the Medical Tourism Market 4.7. Impact of the Russia and Ukraine War on the Medical Tourism Market 4.8. Use Cases

Chapter 5. Medical Tourism Market, By Treatment Type 5.1. Market Overview 5.2. Cardiovascular Treatment 5.2.1. Market Size and Forecast, ($Million) 5.2.2. Market Size and Forecast, By Region, ($Million) 5.3. Orthopedic Treatment 5.3.1. Market Size and Forecast, ($Million) 5.3.2. Market Size and Forecast, By Region, ($Million) 5.4. Cosmetic Treatment 5.4.1. Market Size and Forecast, ($Million) 5.4.2. Market Size and Forecast, By Region, ($Million) 5.5. Bariatric Treatment 5.5.1. Market Size and Forecast, ($Million) 5.5.2. Market Size and Forecast, By Region, ($Million) 5.6. Dental Treatment 5.6.1. Market Size and Forecast, ($Million) 5.6.2. Market Size and Forecast, By Region, ($Million) 5.7. Ophthalmology Treatment 5.7.1. Market Size and Forecast, ($Million) 5.7.2. Market Size and Forecast, By Region, ($Million) 5.8. Infertility Treatment 5.8.1. Market Size and Forecast, ($Million) 5.8.2. Market Size and Forecast, By Region, ($Million) 5.9. Alternative Medicine 5.9.1. Market Size and Forecast, ($Million) 5.9.2. Market Size and Forecast, By Region, ($Million) 5.10. Others 5.10.1. Market Size and Forecast, ($Million) 5.10.2. Market Size and Forecast, By Region, ($Million)

Chapter 6. Medical Tourism Market, By Service Provider 6.1. Market Overview 6.2. Public 6.2.1. Market Size and Forecast, ($Million) 6.2.2. Market Size and Forecast, By Region, ($Million) 6.3. Private 6.3.1. Market Size and Forecast, ($Million) 6.3.2. Market Size and Forecast, By Region, ($Million)

Chapter 7. Medical Tourism Market, By Type 7.1. Market Overview 7.2. Domestic 7.2.1. Market Size and Forecast, ($Million) 7.2.2. Market Size and Forecast, By Region, ($Million) 7.3. International 7.3.1. Market Size and Forecast, ($Million) 7.3.2. Market Size and Forecast, By Region, ($Million)

Chapter 8. Medical Tourism Market, By Healthcare Service 8.1. Market Overview 8.2. Medical Treatment 8.2.1. Market Size and Forecast, ($Million) 8.2.2. Market Size and Forecast, By Region, ($Million) 8.3. Wellness 8.3.1. Market Size and Forecast, ($Million) 8.3.2. Market Size and Forecast, By Region, ($Million) 8.4. Others 8.4.1. Market Size and Forecast, ($Million) 8.4.2. Market Size and Forecast, By Region, ($Million)

Chapter 9. Medical Tourism Market, By Region 9.1. Overview 9.2. North America 9.2.1. Key Market Trends and Opportunities 9.2.2. North America Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Treatment Type($Million) 9.2.3. North America Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Service Provider($Million) 9.2.4. North America Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Application($Million) 9.2.5. North America Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Type($Million) 9.2.6. North America Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Healthcare Service($Million) 9.2.7. North America Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Country($Million) 9.2.8. The U.S. 9.2.8.1. The U.S. Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Treatment Type($Million) 9.2.8.2. The U.S. Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Service Provider($Million) 9.2.8.3. The U.S. Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Application($Million) 9.2.8.4. The U.S. Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Type($Million) 9.2.8.5. The U.S. Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Healthcare Service($Million) 9.2.9. Canada 9.2.9.1. Canada Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Treatment Type($Million) 9.2.9.2. Canada Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Service Provider Concentrators($Million) 9.2.9.3. Canada Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Application($Million) 9.2.9.4. Canada Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Type($Million) 9.2.9.5. Canada Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Healthcare Service($Million) 9.2.10. Mexico 9.2.10.1. Mexico Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Treatment Type($Million) 9.2.10.2. Mexico Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Service Provider($Million) 9.2.10.3. Mexico Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Application($Million) 9.2.10.4. Mexico Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Type($Million) 9.2.10.5. Mexico Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Healthcare Service($Million) 9.3. Europe 9.3.1. Key Market Trends and Opportunities 9.3.2. Europe Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Treatment Type($Million) 9.3.3. Europe Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Service Provider($Million) 9.3.4. Europe Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Application($Million) 9.3.5. Europe Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Type($Million) 9.3.6. Europe Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Healthcare Service($Million) 9.3.7. Europe Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Country($Million) 9.3.7.1. Germany 9.3.7.2. Germany Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Treatment Type($Million) 9.3.7.3. Germany Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Service Provider($Million) 9.3.7.4. Germany Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Application($Million) 9.3.7.5. Germany Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Type($Million) 9.3.7.6. Germany Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Healthcare Service($Million) 9.3.8. France 9.3.8.1. France Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Treatment Type($Million) 9.3.8.2. France Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Service Provider($Million) 9.3.8.3. France Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Application($Million) 9.3.8.4. France Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Type($Million) 9.3.8.5. France Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Healthcare Service($Million) 9.3.9. U.K 9.3.9.1. U.K. Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Treatment Type($Million) 9.3.9.2. U.K. Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Service Provider($Million) 9.3.9.3. U.K. Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Application($Million) 9.3.9.4. U.K. Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Type($Million) 9.3.9.5. U.K. Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Healthcare Service($Million) 9.3.10. Spain 9.3.10.1. Spain Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Treatment Type($Million) 9.3.10.2. Spain Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Service Provider($Million) 9.3.10.3. Spain Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Application($Million) 9.3.10.4. Spain Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Type($Million) 9.3.10.5. Spain Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Healthcare Service($Million) 9.3.11. Italy 9.3.11.1. Italy Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Treatment Type($Million) 9.3.11.2. Italy Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Service Provider($Million) 9.3.11.3. Italy Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Application($Million) 9.3.11.4. Italy Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Type($Million) 9.3.11.5. Italy Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Healthcare Service($Million) 9.3.12. Russia 9.3.12.1. Russia Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Treatment Type($Million) 9.3.12.2. Russia Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Service Provider($Million) 9.3.12.3. Russia Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Application($Million) 9.3.12.4. Russia Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Type($Million) 9.3.12.5. Russia Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Healthcare Service($Million) 9.3.13. Netherlands 9.3.13.1. Netherlands Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Treatment Type($Million) 9.3.13.2. Netherlands Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Service Provider($Million) 9.3.13.3. Netherlands Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Application($Million) 9.3.13.4. Netherlands Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Type($Million) 9.3.13.5. Netherlands Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Healthcare Service($Million) 9.3.14. Switzerland 9.3.14.1. Switzerland Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Treatment Type($Million) 9.3.14.2. Switzerland Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Service Provider($Million) 9.3.14.3. Switzerland Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Application($Million) 9.3.14.4. Switzerland Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Type($Million) 9.3.14.5. Switzerland Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Healthcare Service($Million) 9.3.15. Rest of Europe 9.3.15.1. Rest of Europe Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Treatment Type($Million) 9.3.15.2. Rest of Europe Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Service Provider($Million) 9.3.15.3. Rest of Europe Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Application($Million) 9.3.15.4. Rest of Europe Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Type($Million) 9.3.15.5. Rest of Europe Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Healthcare Service($Million) 9.4. Asia-Pacific 9.4.1. Key Market Trends and Opportunities 9.4.2. Asia-Pacific Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Country($Million) 9.4.3. Asia-Pacific Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Treatment Type($Million) 9.4.4. Asia-Pacific Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Service Provider($Million) 9.4.5. Asia-Pacific Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Application($Million) 9.4.6. Asia-Pacific Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Type($Million) 9.4.7. Asia-Pacific Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Healthcare Service($Million) 9.4.8. China 9.4.8.1. China Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Treatment Type($Million) 9.4.8.2. China Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Service Provider($Million) 9.4.8.3. China Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Application($Million) 9.4.8.4. China Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Type($Million) 9.4.8.5. China Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Healthcare Service($Million) 9.4.9. India 9.4.9.1. India Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Treatment Type($Million) 9.4.9.2. India Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Service Provider($Million) 9.4.9.3. India Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Application($Million) 9.4.9.4. India Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Type($Million) 9.4.9.5. India Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Healthcare Service($Million) 9.4.10. Japan 9.4.10.1. Japan Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Treatment Type($Million) 9.4.10.2. Japan Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Service Provider($Million) 9.4.10.3. Japan Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Application($Million) 9.4.10.4. Japan Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Type($Million) 9.4.10.5. Japan Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Healthcare Service($Million) 9.4.11. South Korea 9.4.11.1. South Korea Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Treatment Type($Million) 9.4.11.2. South Korea Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Service Provider($Million) 9.4.11.3. South Korea Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Application($Million) 9.4.11.4. South Korea Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Type($Million) 9.4.11.5. South Korea Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Healthcare Service($Million) 9.4.12. Australia 9.4.12.1. Australia Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Treatment Type($Million) 9.4.12.2. Australia Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Service Provider($Million) 9.4.12.3. Australia Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Application($Million) 9.4.12.4. Australia Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Type($Million) 9.4.12.5. Australia Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Healthcare Service($Million) 9.4.13. Singapore 9.4.13.1. Singapore Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Treatment Type($Million) 9.4.13.2. Singapore Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Service Provider($Million) 9.4.13.3. Singapore Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Application($Million) 9.4.13.4. Singapore Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Type($Million) 9.4.13.5. Singapore Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Healthcare Service($Million) 9.4.14. Indonesia 9.4.14.1. Indonesia Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Treatment Type($Million) 9.4.14.2. Indonesia Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Service Provider($Million) 9.4.14.3. Indonesia Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Application($Million) 9.4.14.4. Indonesia Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Type($Million) 9.4.14.5. Indonesia Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Healthcare Service($Million) 9.4.15. Rest of APAC 9.4.15.1. Rest of APAC Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Treatment Type($Million) 9.4.15.2. Rest of APAC Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Service Provider($Million) 9.4.15.3. Rest of APAC Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Application($Million) 9.4.15.4. Rest of APAC Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Type($Million) 9.4.15.5. Rest of APAC Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Healthcare Service($Million) 9.5. Rest of The World 9.5.1. Key Market Trends and Opportunities 9.5.2. Rest of The World Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Treatment Type($Million) 9.5.3. Rest of The World Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Service Provider($Million) 9.5.4. Rest of The World Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Application($Million) 9.5.5. Rest of The World Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Type($Million) 9.5.6. Rest of The World Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Healthcare Service($Million) 9.5.7. Rest of The World Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Country($Million) 9.5.8. Latin America 9.5.8.1. Latin America Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Treatment Type($Million) 9.5.8.2. Latin America Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Service Provider($Million) 9.5.8.3. Latin America Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Application($Million) 9.5.8.4. Latin America Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Type($Million) 9.5.8.5. Latin America Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Healthcare Service($Million) 9.5.9. Middle East 9.5.9.1. Middle East Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Treatment Type($Million) 9.5.9.2. Middle East Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Service Provider($Million) 9.5.9.3. Middle East Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Application($Million) 9.5.9.4. Middle East Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Type($Million) 9.5.9.5. Middle East Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Healthcare Service($Million) 9.5.10. Africa 9.5.10.1. Africa Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Treatment Type($Million) 9.5.10.2. Africa Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Service Provider($Million) 9.5.10.3. Africa Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Application($Million) 9.5.10.4. Africa Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Type($Million) 9.5.10.5. Africa Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast By Healthcare Service($Million)

Chapter 10. Competitive Landscape 10.1. Market Overview 10.2. Market Share Analysis/Key Player Positioning 10.3. Developmental Strategy Benchmarking 10.3.1. New Product Development 10.3.2. Product Launches 10.3.3. Business Expansions 10.3.4. Partnerships, Joint Ventures, And Collaborations 10.3.5. Mergers And Acquisitions

Chapter 11. Company Profiles 11.1. Al Zahra Hospital. 11.1.1. Company Snapshot 11.1.2. Financial Performance 11.1.3. Product Offerings 11.1.4. Key Strategic Initiatives 11.1.5. SWOT Analysis 11.2. Al Rahba Hospital 11.2.1. Company Snapshot 11.2.2. Financial Performance 11.2.3. Product Offerings 11.2.4. Key Strategic Initiatives 11.2.5. SWOT Analysis 11.3. Zulekha Hospital 11.3.1. Company Snapshot 11.3.2. Financial Performance 11.3.3. Product Offerings 11.3.4. Key Strategic Initiatives 11.3.5. SWOT Analysis 11.4. Samitivej PCL. 11.4.1. Company Snapshot 11.4.2. Financial Performance 11.4.3. Product Offerings 11.4.4. Key Strategic Initiatives 11.4.5. SWOT Analysis 11.5. Phyathai Hospitals Group 11.5.1. Company Snapshot 11.5.2. Financial Performance 11.5.3. Product Offerings 11.5.4. Key Strategic Initiatives 11.5.5. SWOT Analysis 11.6. Asklepios Kliniken GmbH. 11.6.1. Company Snapshot 11.6.2. Financial Performance 11.6.3. Product Offerings 11.6.4. Key Strategic Initiatives 11.6.5. SWOT Analysis 11.7. Fortis Healthcare Limited 11.7.1. Company Snapshot 11.7.2. Financial Performance 11.7.3. Product Offerings 11.7.4. Key Strategic Initiatives 11.7.5. SWOT Analysis 11.8. Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited 11.8.1. Company Snapshot 11.8.2. Financial Performance 11.8.3. Product Offerings 11.8.4. Key Strategic Initiatives 11.8.5. SWOT Analysis 11.9. Razavi Hospital 11.9.1. Company Snapshot 11.9.2. Financial Performance 11.9.3. Product Offerings 11.9.4. Key Strategic Initiatives 11.9.5. SWOT Analysis 11.10. Jordan Hospital. 11.10.1. Company Snapshot 11.10.2. Financial Performance 11.10.3. Product Offerings 11.10.4. Key Strategic Initiatives 11.10.5. SWOT Analysis

*The List of Company Is Subject To Change During The Final Compilation of The Report

Key players.

  • Al Zahra Hospital
  • Al Rahba Hospital
  • Zulekha Hospital
  • Samitivej PCL
  • Phyathai Hospitals Group
  • Asklepios Kliniken GmbH
  • Fortis Healthcare Limited
  • Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited
  • Razavi Hospital
  • Jordan Hospital.

Market Segments

By Treatment Type

  • Cardiovascular Treatment
  • Orthopedic Treatment
  • Cosmetic Treatment
  • Bariatric Treatment
  • Dental Treatment
  • Ophthalmology Treatment
  • Infertility Treatment
  • Alternative Medicine
  • Other Services

By Service Provider

  • International

By Healthcare Services

  • Medical Treatment
  • Alternative Treatment
  • Rest of Europe
  • South Korea
  • Rest of Asia-Pacific
  • Latin America
  • The Middle East

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Key Trends in Health and Wellness Tourism (2021)

Published: 18 February 2021 Code: GDTT0366MI

GlobalData’s Key Trends in Health and Wellness Tourism (2021) report, provides an analysis of traveller types and key market trends which are contributing to one of the fastest-growing segments within tourism currently – health and wellness.  

Health and Wellness tourism has grown significantly in the past decade. As more people are aware of wellness, mental and physical wellbeing (as well as ways to achieve it), many have combined travel and wellness together, creating a need for the growth of the health and wellness tourism industry. Some countries are evidently hotspots for this kind of travel, but total global wellness inbound arrivals from 2014 to 2019 (before the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic) grew at a 4.1% CAGR. GlobalData forecasts that this is set to grow further from 2021 onwards, with a 4.7% CAGR from 2021 to 2024.

View an all-inclusive summary of the Key Trends in Health and Wellness Tourism (2021) report:

Although the pandemic has halted global travel for a prolonged period, interest in health and wellness travel has not declined. The previous boom in health and wellness travel would have been sustained had COVID-19 not impacted travel. This can be seen from the graph, as it shows that inbound health and wellness arrivals and expenditure is expected to return to pre-pandemic levels by 2022. On top of this interest, due to the pandemic and its impacts, focus on mental health and wellbeing has been more apparent than ever, after billions of people across the world were ordered to stay at home and change their lifestyle completely. This increased focus will inevitably lead to an increased interest in health and wellness holidays in the future when global travel restrictions are lifted.

Important outlook discussed in the report :

  • Countries most likely to take H&W holidays also attract the most H&W visitors: The GlobalData 2019 Q3 Consumer Survey showed that 15% of global respondents took medical and wellness holidays, but that some countries were more likely to go on these type of holidays compared to others. The nations least likely to take this kind of holiday were the UK (3%), Greece (5%), Australia (6%), and Canada (6%)
  • Medical tourist source country depends on national health systems: One aspect that varies drastically across the world is the availability and cost of healthcare. In some countries, such as the UK and Denmark, the healthcare system is fully funded via tax contributions and most procedures are carried out free of charge, where paying for healthcare is not even considered. However in contrast, in the US the healthcare system is privately funded, where residents require private medical insurance or face high bills for simple medical things such as blood tests, ambulance trips and nights in a hospital bed
  • COVID-19 has given the opportunity for focus on health and wellness: One of the few industries to benefit from the COVID-19 pandemic is the health and wellness industry. Due to the impacts the pandemic caused on daily life, such as a change in working patterns, extended time alone and at home, there has been an increased focus on personal health, mental health, happiness, wellbeing, and many more aspects of life

Check our report to get detailed insights on the k ey trends in the health and wellness tourism sector.

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Business Wire

Medical Tourism Global Market Report 2021: COVID-19 Growth and Change to 2030 provides the strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the global medical tourism market.

Major players in the medical tourism market are Apollo Hospital Enterprise Limited, Prince Court Medical Center, Bumrungrad International Hospital, KPJ Healthcare Berhad and Fortis Health Ltd.

The global medical tourism market is expected to grow from $19.79 billion in 2020 to $21.93 billion in 2021 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.8%.

The growth is mainly due to the companies resuming their operations and adapting to the new normal while recovering from the COVID-19 impact, which had earlier led to restrictive containment measures involving social distancing, remote working, and the closure of commercial activities that resulted in operational challenges.

The market is expected to reach $40.03 billion in 2025 at a CAGR of 16%.

High healthcare cost in developed countries is driving growth in the medical tourism market as developing countries are able to provide cheaper treatment. Patients usually travel to developing countries with quality healthcare infrastructure and low healthcare costs.

According to a study conducted by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 0.75 -1.6 million people from the USA travel out of the country for medical care to avoid high treatment cost. For instance, a hip replacement surgery in the USA costs approximately $39,299 while the same surgery in India, Costa Rica or other developing countries would cost between $7000 and $15,000 including logistics.

The medical tourism market covered in this report is segmented by treatment type into cosmetic treatment; dental treatment; cardiovascular treatment; orthopaedics treatment; bariatric treatment; fertility treatment; ophthalmic treatment; others.

Patients travelling across countries for medical treatment are increasingly using electronic health records to store information related to health in digital format. Electronic health record is the systematic collection of patient health and medical examination reports stored electronically.

These health records can be accessed instantly and securely by authorized users. Electronic health records eliminate the need to carry heavy medical records for patients travelling long distances for treatment. Some of the major electronic health records software include eClinicalWorks, Allscripts, Cerner.

In September 2020, IHH Healthcare, a Malaysian-Singaporean private healthcare group focused on upmarket health services acquired Prince Court Medical Centre for $0.25 billion. Through this acquisition Prince Court Medical Centre will complement IHH's cluster strategy of having specialised tertiary hospitals in Kuala Lumpur. Prince Court Medical Centre, a private healthcare facility located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Key Topics Covered:

1. Executive Summary

2. Medical Tourism Market Characteristics

3. Medical Tourism Market Trends and Strategies

4. Impact of COVID-19 on Medical Tourism

5. Medical Tourism Market Size and Growth

5.1. Global Medical Tourism Historic Market, 2015-2020, $ Billion

5.1.1. Drivers of the Market

5.1.2. Restraints on The Market

5.2. Global Medical Tourism Forecast Market, 2020-2025F, 2030F, $ Billion

5.2.1. Drivers of the Market

5.2.2. Restraints on the Market

6. Medical Tourism Market Segmentation

6.1. Global Medical Tourism Market, Segmentation By Treatment Type, Historic and Forecast, 2015-2020, 2020-2025F, 2030F, $ Billion

  • Cosmetic Treatment
  • Dental Treatment
  • Cardiovascular Treatment
  • Orthopedics Treatment
  • Bariatric Treatment
  • Fertility Treatment
  • Opthalmic Treatment

6.2. Global Medical Tourism Market, Segmentation By Type, Historic and Forecast, 2015-2020, 2020-2025F, 2030F, $ Billion

  • International

7. Medical Tourism Market Regional and Country Analysis

7.1. Global Medical Tourism Market, Split By Region, Historic and Forecast, 2015-2020, 2020-2025F, 2030F, $ Billion

7.2. Global Medical Tourism Market, Split By Country, Historic and Forecast, 2015-2020, 2020-2025F, 2030F, $ Billion

Companies Mentioned

  • Apollo Hospital Enterprise Limited
  • Prince Court Medical Center
  • Bumrungrad International Hospital
  • KPJ Healthcare Berhad
  • Fortis Health Ltd.
  • Raffles Medical Group
  • Bangkok Hospital Medical Center
  • Samitivej PCL.
  • Min-Sheng General Hospital
  • Asian Heart Institute
  • Asklepios Klinik Barmbek
  • Spire Healthcare
  • IHH Healthcare Berhad
  • Anadolu Medical Centre
  • Clemenceau Medical Centre
  • Gleneagles Hospital
  • Mount Elizabeth Hospital
  • Klinikum Medical Link
  • NTT Medical Center Tokyo
  • Seoul National University Hospital
  • Wooridul Spine Hospital
  • Aditya Birla Memorial Hospital
  • Barbados Fertility Center

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/widdat

health tourism growth rate

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health tourism growth rate

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  • Medical Tourism

Medical Tourism Market Size, Share, Trends and Analysis by Region, Service (Medical Treatment and Wellness), Provider (Public and Private) and Segment Forecast, 2023-2027- Product Image

Medical Tourism Market Size, Share, Trends and Analysis by Region, Service (Medical Treatment and Wellness), Provider (Public and Private) and Segment Forecast, 2023-2027

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  • Region: Global
  • ID: 5846482
  • Description

Table of Contents

  • Companies Mentioned

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Key Highlights

  • This report provides overview and service addressable market for medical tourism
  • It identifies the key trends impacting growth of the market over the next 12 to 24 months.
  • It includes global market forecasts for the medical tourism industry and analysis of venture financing, social media, company filings, and M&A trends.

Reasons to Buy

  • The report presents in-depth market sizing and forecasts at a segment level for more than 20 countries, including historical and forecast analysis by revenue for the period 2020-2027 for market assessment
  • Detailed segmentation by Medical Treatment - Cardiovascular, Cancer, Orthopedic, Cosmetic, Bariatric, Dental, Ophthalmology, Alternative medicine, Fertility, Other
  • Detailed segmentation by Wellness - Destination Spas, Hotel/resort Spas, Other Spas
  • The report also highlights segmentation by Medical Service Provider Type - Private and Public
  • The report offers technological, macroeconomic, and regulatory trends, along with the drivers and challenging factors impacting the medical tourism market.
  • The growth innovation matrix included in the report divides the market players into four categories, i.e., flagbearers, contenders, specialists, and experimenters, which will help value chain participants understand how the competition is performing based on their revenue growth and their R&D efforts.
  • The report provides an analysis of M&As, venture financing deals, and social media in the medical tourism market.
  • The competitive landscape includes a list of key emerging companies/ disruptors/innovators, venture finance deals, and recent mergers & acquisitions.
  • Competitive profiling, benchmarking, and SWOT analysis of key players in the market to provide a deeper understanding of industry competition.
  • Chapter 1 Executive Summary
  • Chapter 2 Research Scope and Segmentation
  • Chapter 3 Market Overview & Industry Analysis
  • Chapter 4 Medical Tourism - Industry Trend Analysis
  • Chapter 5 Medical Tourism - Dashboard Analytics
  • Chapter 6 Medical Tourism Opportunity and Forecast
  • Chapter 7 Medical Tourism Regional Outlook
  • Chapter 8 Competitive Landscape
  • Chapter 9 Company Profiles
  • Chapter 10 Research Methodology
  • Chapter 11 About Us

Companies Mentioned (Partial List)

A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes, but is not limited to:

  • Mayo Clinic
  • The Cleveland Clinic Foundation
  • Singapore General Hospital
  • Raffles Medical Hospital
  • Charite University Hospital of Berlin
  • Bumrungrad Hospital Public Company Ltd.
  • Seoul National University Hospital
  • Asklepios Kliniken GmbH & Co. KGaA
  • Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd.
  • Bangkok Chain Hospital Public Co Ltd.

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  • August 2023

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UN Tourism | Bringing the world closer

  • All Regions
  • Exploring Health Tourism

Exploring Health Tourism

The ETC/UNWTO publication on Exploring Health Tourism aims to provide a better understanding of the growing segment of wellness and medical tourism. The study introduces the evolution of health-related tourism products and services from all around the world and provides insights into the current situation of the industry, as well as the future potential. It also includes a comprehensive taxonomy that serves as a common reference for tourism destinations operating in this field, as well as a practical toolkit to assist NTOs and DMOs with their planning and management of health-related tourism activities.

Click here   for the Executive Summary of this publication.

ISBN : 978-92-844-2020-9

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Economics & Investments

Medical tourism industry valued at $100b poised for 25% year-over-year growth by 2025.

health tourism growth rate

In a just released report issued by VISA and Oxford Economics, the Medical Tourism industry was valued at a staggering USD 100 billion, with a projected growth rate of up to 25% year-over-year for the next 10 years as an estimated three to four percent of the world’s population will travel internationally for healthcare and health-related treatment. ‍

For years the medical travel industry seemed undervalued, yet VISA’s report accounts for growth factors – like some 340 new international airports over the next decade – and the medical travel market could soar to an astronomical USD 3 trillion by 2025. ‍

In its just-released 2016 report, industry-leading journal, Medical Tourism Index™ (MTI) , listed the top 41 destinations for those seeking value-added services and high quality of healthcare across the globe.

In it, the similar pattern of global growth emerges: that the United States leads in terms of market share of healthcare travel spending, but Asia’s Thailand, Singapore and South Korea continue to thrive . Both VISA’s and MTI’s ™ findings expect China to overtake the US spot within the next 10 years due to the population’s demand for higher quality of care. ‍

The findings don’t just span the global spectrum but also the age spectrum as well; VISA expects 13 percent of all international travel by 2025 to be older travelers. Meanwhile, a recent survey of 31,000 18-34 year olds from 134 countries by popular booking site TopDeck Travel found that some 88% of them travel internationally between 1 to 3 times annually and that the number only continues to grow. ‍

“The borders to quality healthcare access have begun to dissintegrate.” MTI ™ Co-Authors, Renée-Marie Stephano, JD President of the Medical Tourism Association and Marc Fetscherin, Associate Professor of International Business and Marketing at Rollins College, said a joint statement.

“Speculation about the medical tourism industry as a ‘phenomenon’ is over. This report and the rankings of the the Medical Tourism Index™ provide a unique opportunity for investors seeking new ventures to make smart choices in destinations driving patient travel.” ‍

The entire medical tourism and health tourism industry will descend upon Washington, D.C., September 25-28, 2016 for the 9thWorld Medical Tourism & Global Healthcare Congress . Over 3,000 attendees from 50+ countries brought USD 1 billion in new deals last year paving the way for leaders this year to catch the next wave in partnerships and medical tourism investment. ‍

In a conclusion, VISA said, “We believe that medical tourism is primed for accelerated growth as more of these travelers seek new treatments, as well as lower cost or higher-quality care not available in their home country.”

Exploring the Surge of Cosmetic Tourism: Trends and Considerations in Aesthetic Procedures Abroad

Holistic healing: exploring integrative medicine and wellness retreats, meeting the surge: the growing demand for knee replacement surgeries and advances in the field, innovations in medical technology: how cutting-edge technology drives medical tourism, stem cells have powerful anti-aging properties, new shift for thailand’s medical travel landscape as mta launches new moves, continue reading, the new silk road: deconstructing china's luxury healthcare market, the boomers are coming the boomers are coming, financial savings in medical tourism, featured reading, dominican republic’s giant strides to becoming a global leader in medical tourism, exploring niche markets in medical tourism, medical tourism magazine.

The Medical Tourism Magazine (MTM), known as the “voice” of the medical tourism industry, provides members and key industry experts with the opportunity to share important developments, initiatives, themes, topics and trends that make the medical tourism industry the booming market it is today.

Home » Healthcare Industry Market Reports & Analysis » Health Tourism Market

Health Tourism Market

Health Tourism Market By Type (Domestic, International), By Treatment Type (Dental Treatment, Cardiovascular Treatment, Cancer Treatment, and Other Treatment Types), By Service Provider (Public, Private), By Region And Companies - Industry Segment Outlook, Market Assessment, Competition Scenario, Trends, And Forecast 2023-2032

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  • Report Category Healthcare

This report was compiled by Correspondence Linkedin | Detailed Market research Methodology Our methodology involves a mix of primary research, including interviews with leading mental health experts, and secondary research from reputable medical journals and databases. View Detailed Methodology Page

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  • Major Market Players
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Report Overview

Health Tourism Market size is expected to be worth around USD 475.8 Bn by 2032 from USD 78.5 Bn in 2022 , growing at a CAGR of 20.3% during the forecast period from 2023 to 2032.

Health tourism, also known as medical tourism or medical travel, refers to the practice of traveling to another country or region to receive medical treatment. This concept has gained significant popularity in recent years, with more and more people exploring the option of seeking healthcare services abroad. The health tourism market aims to provide individuals with access to healthcare services that may be more affordable, accessible, or of higher quality in a different country.

Health Tourism Market Growth

This industry encompasses a broad range of medical procedures, including but not limited to cosmetic surgery, dental treatment , fertility treatments, organ transplants, and orthopedic surgeries. The motivation behind health tourism can vary from seeking specialized procedures not available in one's home country to accessing cost-effective treatments or reducing waiting times for urgent medical needs.

One of the significant advantages of health tourism is the potential for cost savings. Medical treatments in some countries can be significantly more expensive compared to others. By traveling to a destination where the treatment is more affordable, patients can save a substantial amount of money. This cost advantage is especially relevant for individuals without adequate health insurance coverage or facing high deductibles and copays.

Various industries have recognized the potential of the health tourism market and have started investing in this sector. Travel and tourism companies, airlines, hotel chains, and insurance providers have all tapped into this market to offer specialized services tailored to medical travelers. Some of these companies have even formed strategic partnerships with healthcare providers to offer comprehensive packages that include travel, accommodation, and medical treatment.

However, it is important to address the ethical concerns and responsible practices associated with health tourism. Transparency, explainability, and accountability should be central to the practices followed by healthcare providers and facilitators involved in medical tourism. Both the source and destination countries must ensure that high ethical standards are adhered to, and that patients are fully informed about the risks, benefits, and potential outcomes of the medical treatment they seek.

Driving Factors

Increasing healthcare costs in developed countries.

The healthcare landscape in developed countries has been experiencing a significant rise in costs over the years. This driving factor is greatly influencing the growth of the health tourism market. As healthcare costs continue to soar, patients are seeking alternative options to receive quality medical care at a more affordable price. In developed countries, healthcare expenses can be exorbitant, making it difficult for individuals to afford necessary medical treatments and procedures. High insurance premiums, coupled with hefty out-of-pocket expenses, have led many patients to explore healthcare options abroad. Nations offering competitive prices for medical services and treatments have capitalized on this trend, catering to individuals seeking affordable yet high-quality healthcare solutions.

Rise of International Travel and Ease of Transportation

The rise of international travel and the ease of transportation have contributed significantly to the growth of the health tourism market. Advancements in aviation and the accessibility of travel options have made it easier for patients to reach their desired healthcare destinations. Gone are the days when patients had to endure long and arduous journeys to receive medical care abroad. With the convenience of modern transportation, patients can now travel to their chosen destination within a matter of hours. This ease of travel has further encouraged individuals to explore healthcare options beyond their home countries, fostering the growth of the health tourism market.

Expanding Demand for Elective and Specialized Medical Procedures

Another driving factor in the health tourism market is the expanding demand for elective and specialized medical procedures. While routine medical treatments can be easily accessed within one's home country, certain advanced procedures and specialized treatments may not be readily available or affordable. Countries that recognize this demand have experienced growth in their health tourism sectors by offering a wide range of elective and specialized medical procedures. Cosmetic surgeries, fertility treatments, orthopedic surgeries, and dental procedures are just a few examples of medical services that patients seek abroad. By providing these services, destination countries cater to the growing demand while also offering competitive pricing and quality care.

Restraining Factors

Potential language and cultural barriers in the health tourism market.

In the rapidly growing industry of health tourism, various restraining factors emerge that can hinder its overall potential and progress. These factors include potential language and cultural barriers, potential quality and safety concerns, potential regulatory and legal complexities, potential healthcare system and infrastructure limitations, as well as potential affordability and accessibility challenges for certain patient groups. Understanding and addressing these barriers is crucial to ensure the successful development and advancement of the health tourism market.

Potential Quality and Safety Concerns in the Health Tourism Market

Another significant restraining factor in the health tourism market is the concern over quality and safety. Patients considering medical treatment abroad often worry about the standard of care provided by healthcare facilities in foreign countries. They may question the qualifications and expertise of healthcare professionals, as well as the adherence to internationally recognized standards and protocols. Additionally, there could be concerns about the quality and safety of medical equipment, medications, and facilities. These uncertainties can lead potential patients to opt for treatment within their own country, limiting the growth of health tourism.

Potential Regulatory and Legal Complexities in the Health Tourism Market

The health tourism market is also subject to potential regulatory and legal complexities. Each country has different regulations and legal frameworks governing medical tourism, making it challenging to establish consistent guidelines and standards across borders. The lack of harmonization can create confusion and uncertainty for both patients and healthcare providers. Additionally, legal issues related to liability, malpractice, and insurance coverage can arise when patients seek treatment abroad. These complexities create barriers to the development and expansion of the health tourism market.

Potential Healthcare System and Infrastructure Limitations in the Health Tourism Market

The quality and accessibility of healthcare systems and infrastructure are vital factors for patients considering medical tourism. In some regions, the healthcare infrastructure may be underdeveloped or inadequate to cater to the needs of international patients. A lack of modern facilities, advanced medical technologies, and specialized healthcare professionals can deter potential patients from seeking treatment abroad. Additionally, the availability of post-treatment care and rehabilitation services can also influence the decision-making process of patients. These limitations pose challenges to the growth and expansion of the health tourism market.

Type Analysis

The health tourism market has experienced substantial growth, and one dominant segment is the International Treatment Segment, providing medical procedures to patients who travel to other countries for healthcare services. The segment's prominence can be attributed to rising awareness and affordability of healthcare in emerging economies, enabling patients to seek advanced treatments in developed countries. Additionally, the segment's diverse range of medical services, from cosmetic surgeries to organ transplants, attracts patients globally seeking specialized healthcare not readily available in their home countries.

Furthermore, consumer trends and behavior towards the International Treatment Segment have been positive. Patients perceive international treatments as more advanced and of higher quality, making them willing to travel long distances to access these services. The convenience of combining medical treatments with leisure activities, known as medical tourism, is also a driving factor for consumer behavior towards the International Treatment Segment.

With its strong growth potential, the International Treatment Segment is expected to register the fastest growth rate in the health tourism market over the forthcoming years. This can be attributed to the continuous advancements in medical technology and procedures, as well as the increasing number of collaborations between healthcare providers across different countries. These factors are likely to attract more patients seeking international treatments and contribute to the growth of the segment.

Treatment Type Analysis

The Cancer Treatment Segment is another dominant player in the health tourism market. Cancer treatment requires specialized care and facilities, making it one of the most sought-after medical services for patients traveling abroad. Economic development in emerging economies plays a significant role in driving the adoption of the Cancer Treatment Segment. As these economies experience rapid growth, there is an increased demand for advanced medical treatments, including cancer treatment. However, limited healthcare infrastructure and expertise in these countries drive patients to seek treatment in countries with better facilities and specialized expertise.

Consumer trends and behaviors towards the Cancer Treatment Segment also contribute to its dominance. Patients are increasingly willing to travel for cancer treatment due to the perception that certain countries have a better success rate and access to advanced treatment options. Moreover, the availability of personalized treatment plans, clinical trials, and access to experimental therapies in destination countries further attract patients seeking cancer treatment.

The Cancer Treatment Segment is anticipated to register the fastest growth rate over the forthcoming years due to various factors. Firstly, the increasing prevalence of cancer globally is expected to drive the demand for cancer treatments, thus boosting the growth of this segment. Additionally, advancements in cancer research, technology, and treatment options are likely to attract more patients seeking cutting-edge treatments and better outcomes.

Service Provider Analysis

In the health tourism market, the Public Segment dominates as a service provider. Public healthcare institutions, such as government-funded hospitals and medical centers, play a significant role in providing healthcare services to patients traveling for medical treatments.

The dominance of the Public Segment can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, public healthcare institutions are often perceived as reliable and trustworthy due to their affiliation with government bodies. This factor attracts patients who prioritize safety and quality in their choice of healthcare service providers.

Moreover, public healthcare institutions are known for their affordable healthcare services compared to private clinics and hospitals. This affordability factor makes them an attractive option for patients, especially those from emerging economies, where healthcare costs can be high.

The Public Segment is anticipated to register the fastest growth rate in the health tourism market over the forthcoming years. This can be attributed to the continuous investments and development initiatives by governments in emerging economies to improve their healthcare infrastructure and services. The increasing accessibility and quality of public healthcare institutions in these economies are expected to attract more patients, further driving the growth of this segment.

Health Tourism Market Size

Key Market Segments

  • International

By Treatment Type

  • Dental Treatment
  • Cardiovascular Treatment
  • Cancer Treatment
  • Cosmetic Treatment
  • Orthopedic Treatment
  • Neurological Treatment
  • Fertility Treatment
  • Other Treatment Types

By Service Provider

Growth opportunity, diversification of treatment offerings.

In order to cater to the diverse needs of medical tourists, healthcare providers can expand their range of treatment offerings. By embracing new medical specialties or sub-specialties, they can attract a wider spectrum of patients seeking tailored treatments. For instance, integrating cutting-edge cosmetic and aesthetic procedures, advanced fertility and reproductive treatments, or advanced orthopedic and sports medicine services can provide a competitive edge in the health tourism market.

Development of Holistic Wellness Programs

With the growing interest in wellness tourism, healthcare providers can incorporate holistic wellness programs into their offerings. By combining traditional medical treatments with alternative therapies such as yoga, meditation, and mindfulness practices, they can provide a comprehensive health and wellness experience for medical tourists. This approach not only enhances patient satisfaction but also opens new avenues for collaboration with wellness resorts and spas to offer integrated packages.

Targeting Niche Markets and Medical Specialties

In the realm of medical tourism, expanding into emerging markets is essential, but targeting niche markets and medical specialties is equally vital. Focusing on specific medical disciplines like cardiology, oncology , or advanced neurological care allows healthcare providers to establish themselves as experts in their fields. This specialization attracts patients seeking highly specialized treatments and enhances the destination's reputation in the global health tourism market.

The Power of Collaboration in Health Tourism

Collaboration plays a pivotal role in the health tourism industry, and we understand the significance of forging partnerships with travel agencies and hospitality providers. By working together, we can create seamless travel and stay experiences for our patients, ensuring they feel fully supported throughout their medical journey. This collaborative approach enhances the overall patient experience and contributes to the success of health tourism destinations.

Latest Trends

Growth of cosmetic and aesthetic procedures in health tourism.

Cosmetic and aesthetic procedures have become increasingly popular among individuals seeking to enhance their appearance and boost their self-confidence. With the advancement of medical technology, these procedures have become more accessible and affordable, driving the growth of health tourism. People are now traveling to different countries to avail themselves of such treatments, lured by the combination of cost-effectiveness, expertise, and state-of-the-art facilities offered by foreign healthcare providers.

Demand for Dental and Fertility Treatments

The demand for dental and fertility treatments has witnessed a remarkable surge in the health tourism industry. Dental tourism has gained traction due to the significant cost savings associated with dental procedures in certain countries. Patients are willing to travel across borders to receive high-quality dental care at a fraction of the cost in their home countries. Similarly, fertility treatments, including in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and surrogacy, are becoming increasingly sought after. As treatment success rates improve and affordable options arise, individuals are exploring medical travel as a viable solution to their fertility challenges.

Rise of Destination Marketing and Medical Tourism Packages

The health tourism market has witnessed a significant boost through destination marketing and the introduction of medical tourism packages. Countries with well-established healthcare systems are actively promoting their medical facilities to attract international patients. By investing in comprehensive marketing campaigns and strategic collaborations with travel agencies, these destinations successfully position themselves as premier healthcare destinations. The advent of medical tourism packages that offer inclusive solutions, including travel, accommodation, and treatment, has further facilitated the growth and appeal of health tourism.

Adoption of Telemedicine and Teleconsultation Services

The advent and widespread adoption of telemedicine and teleconsultation services have revolutionized the health tourism industry. With technological advancements, individuals can now remotely consult healthcare professionals, receive medical advice, and even undergo certain diagnostic procedures without physically traveling to another country. Telemedicine has not only expanded access to quality healthcare but has also bridged the gap between patients and healthcare providers, irrespective of geographical boundaries.

Regional Analysis

Europe Region Dominates the Health Tourism Market, It has emerged as the frontrunner in the global health tourism industry, solidifying its position as the dominant player in this burgeoning market. With a rich diversity of healthcare services, cutting-edge medical facilities, highly skilled professionals, and attractive destinations, Europe has become the go-to region for individuals seeking top-quality medical treatments combined with a memorable travel experience.

One of the reasons behind Europe's dominance in health tourism is its ability to strike the perfect balance between medical excellence and the lure of exploration. Patients can not only recover in comfortable, luxurious settings but also explore the rich history, vibrant culture, and breathtaking landscapes Europe has to offer. From the historic landmarks of Rome to the picturesque landscapes of Switzerland, patients can indulge in a truly memorable experience while undergoing their medical treatments.

Another factor contributing to Europe's dominance is its vast network of highly skilled and experienced healthcare professionals. Renowned for their expertise and commitment to patient care, European doctors and medical staff are applauded globally for their professionalism and mastery of their respective fields. Patients have the confidence that their healthcare needs will be met with the highest standards of quality and safety.

The European Union has been instrumental in driving health tourism growth by fostering cooperation among member states, facilitating patient mobility, and setting common quality standards. This collaboration has positioned Europe as a leading provider of accessible and high-quality medical care worldwide. Additionally, Europe's commitment to continuous innovation through substantial investments in research and development ensures that it remains a sought-after destination for advanced medical treatments and procedures.

Health Tourism Market Regions

Key Regions and Countries

North America

Western Europe

  • Switzerland
  • Rest of Western Europe

Eastern Europe

  • The Czech Republic
  • Rest of Eastern Europe
  • South Korea
  • Australia & New Zealand
  • Philippines
  • Rest of APAC

Latin America

  • Rest of Latin America

Middle East & Africa

  • Saudi Arabia
  • South Africa
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Rest of MEA

Key Players Analysis

The health tourism sector is currently witnessing substantial growth, characterized by the presence of dominant players within the market. Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd., Fortis Healthcare, KPJ HEALTHCARE BERHAD, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone East Corporation, ADITYA BIRLA HEALTH SERVICES LTD., and Samitivej PCL are notable contenders in the healthcare industry, distinguished by their distinct healthcare solutions and services. These companies have effectively drawn medical tourists in search of high-quality healthcare services by offering top-notch infrastructure, cutting-edge medical technology, and highly skilled professionals.

Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd. is widely recognized as a prominent entity within the healthcare sector, both domestically in India and on an international scale. Apollo Hospitals has established itself as a prominent player in the health tourism industry, owing to its exceptional infrastructure, advanced technology, and proficient team of medical experts. The medical facility provides an extensive array of medical interventions and healthcare provisions, encompassing specialized surgical procedures, organ transplantation, cancer therapy, and cardiac healthcare. The hospital's dedication to providing high-quality healthcare and adopting a patient-centric approach has resulted in the establishment of a robust reputation among individuals who travel for medical purposes.

Fortis Healthcare, an India-based company, is a significant participant in the health tourism industry. Fortis Healthcare, boasting an extensive network of hospitals spanning the nation, offers a wide array of medical services encompassing diagnostics, preventive health check-ups, and critical care. The hospital group is renowned for its cutting-edge facilities, highly skilled medical practitioners, and exceptional standards of patient care. The dedication of Fortis Healthcare to upholding ethical standards, promoting transparency, and ensuring affordability has positioned it as a favored option among individuals seeking medical treatment abroad.

Aditya Birla Health Services Ltd., a subsidiary of the esteemed Aditya Birla Group, holds a prominent position within the healthcare sector in India. The organization operates a network of multispecialty hospitals and medical centers, offering a wide range of comprehensive healthcare services. ADITYA BIRLA HEALTH SERVICES LTD. has emerged as a prominent player in the health tourism sector, owing to its emphasis on patient-centric care, utilization of advanced medical technology, and a team comprising proficient medical practitioners. The company's focus on innovation, research, and collaboration serves to enhance its standing within the industry.

Top Key Players in Health Tourism Market

  • Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd. (India)
  • Fortis Healthcare (India)
  • KPJ HEALTHCARE BERHAD (Malaysia)
  • Nippon Telegraph and Telephone East Corporation (Japan)
  • ADITYA BIRLA HEALTH SERVICES LTD. (India)
  • Samitivej PCL (Thailand)
  • BB Healthcare Solutions (U.K.)
  • UZ LEUVEN (Belgium)
  • Berkalp Co-Limited (Ireland)
  • MEDIC ABROAD (U.S.)
  • AMERICAN MEDICAL CARE (U.S.)
  • MEDICINE PARK UNITED KINGDOM (U.K.)
  • Hospital Galenia
  • Centro Médico ABC (Mexico)

Recent Development

  • In 2022 , Not to be outdone, Malaysia followed suit by launching an ambitious health tourism promotion campaign. With its tropical landscapes and world-class medical facilities, Malaysia seeks to position itself as a top choice for medical tourists. The campaign aims to highlight the country's diverse healthcare options, from wellness retreats to specialized medical treatments, and it complements Malaysia's thriving medical tourism industry. By emphasizing the unique blend of modern medicine and traditional healing practices, Malaysia aims to attract a growing number of health-conscious travelers seeking holistic healthcare experiences.
  • In 2021 , Building on this momentum, India's announcement about the inauguration of a new health tourism center in New Delhi further signifies the country's commitment to becoming a premier healthcare destination. Equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and employing highly skilled medical professionals, this center aims to attract patients from around the globe seeking advanced medical treatments. India's rich cultural heritage and affordable healthcare offerings make it an enticing choice for medical tourists seeking high-quality care with a touch of cultural immersion.
  • In 2020 , Singapore made headlines when it declared a collaboration with tech giant Google to establish a pioneering health tourism platform. This digital initiative seeks to streamline the medical tourism experience, providing seamless access to a wide range of healthcare providers, comprehensive medical information, and personalized travel arrangements. By leveraging Google's expertise and Singapore's world-class healthcare system, both convenience and quality are set to be prioritized for international patients.

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Health Tourism: Exploring the Industry, Types, and Top Destinations

April 23, 2023.

Health tourism, also referred to as medical tourism or wellness tourism, is a rapidly growing sector within the global tourism industry. It encompasses a diverse range of activities and services, all aimed at improving or maintaining an individual's health and well-being. This article presents an overview of the health tourism industry, discusses different types of health tourism, examines the top 100 destinations, and provides insights into the number of travelers engaging in health tourism. ‍

Definition of Health Tourism

Health tourism is broadly defined as the practice of individuals traveling outside their country of residence to seek medical treatments, procedures, or wellness experiences. The motivations behind such travel may vary but often include factors such as cost savings, access to specialized treatments, shorter waiting times, or the opportunity to combine medical procedures with leisure travel. ‍

Types of Health Tourism

  • Medical Tourism: This category of health tourism focuses on individuals that travel for medical treatments and procedures abroad. Common medical treatments sought by medical tourists include elective surgeries, dental treatments, fertility treatments, and cosmetic procedures. Often, providers offer medical tourism packages that include treatment costs, physician fees, ground transportation and, in some cases, hotel accommodation.
  • Wellness Tourism: Wellness tourism, on the other hand, emphasizes the pursuit of well-being through activities and experiences that promote physical, mental, and spiritual health. Examples include spa treatments, yoga retreats, and mindfulness workshops.
  • Preventative Healthcare Tourism: This type of health tourism revolves around the concept of proactive health management. Travelers in this category may seek routine medical check-ups, diagnostic tests, or alternative medical treatments to prevent potential health issues.

Top Destinations for Health Tourism

While it is beyond the scope of this article to provide an exhaustive list of the top health and medical tourism destinations; some notable countries and regions have emerged as leaders in this industry, particularly for combining medical and wellness services. These include:

  • Thailand: Renowned for its state-of-the-art medical facilities and cost-effective treatments, Thailand has become a popular destination for medical tourists from around the world.
  • India: With its combination of advanced healthcare infrastructure, skilled medical professionals, and affordable treatment options, India has emerged as a prominent player in the health tourism sector.
  • Singapore: Known for its high-quality healthcare system, Singapore attracts health tourists seeking top-notch medical treatments and wellness experiences.
  • Turkey: Offering high-quality medical care at competitive prices, Turkey has become a preferred destination for health tourists, particularly for cosmetic procedures and dental treatments.
  • Hungary: Hungary is well-known for its dental and medical spa tourism, thanks to its high-quality services and natural thermal springs.
  • Costa Rica: This Central American country has made a name for itself in the medical tourism industry by providing affordable, high-quality healthcare services in a beautiful natural setting.
  • South Korea: Boasting world-class healthcare infrastructure and cutting-edge medical technology, South Korea is a top destination for cosmetic surgery and advanced medical treatments.
  • Malaysia: Offering a range of healthcare services at competitive prices, Malaysia has become a popular destination for medical and wellness tourism in     Southeast Asia.
  • Brazil: With its expertise in cosmetic surgery and dental treatments, Brazil attracts health tourists from across the globe.
  • Spain: Spain's modern healthcare infrastructure and affordable treatment options make it an attractive destination for European health tourists.

Travelers Engaging in Health Tourism

The number of travelers engaging in health tourism has been steadily increasing in recent years. According to the Medical Tourism Association, the global medical tourism industry was valued at $58.6 billion in2020, with an estimated 14 million patients traveling for medical treatments each year. This figure is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR)of 12% through 2025, reaching an estimated market value of $142.2 billion.

Wellness tourism, on the other hand, has also witnessed significant growth in recent years. According to the Global Wellness Institute, the wellness tourism market was worth $639 billion in 2019 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 7.5%, reaching $919 billion by 2022. This growth is driven by the increasing global demand for health and wellness experiences, as well as the rise in disposable incomes and greater awareness of preventive healthcare measures.

Several factors have contributed to the growth of health tourism. Some of these include:

Cost Savings: One of the main driving forces behind the growth of health tourism is the potential for significant cost savings. The cost of medical treatments and procedures can vary dramatically between countries due to factors such as labor costs, government subsidies, and differences in the cost of living. By traveling to countries with lower healthcare costs, health tourists can save a considerable amount of money. For example, a heart bypass surgery in the United States may cost around $100,000,while the same procedure in India could cost approximately $7,000. These cost savings can be particularly attractive for patients who are uninsured, underinsured, or require elective procedures that are not covered by insurance.

Access to Specialized Treatments: Another factor driving health tourism is the opportunity to access specialized treatments that may not be available or have limited availability in one's home country. This can be due to a lack of cutting-edge medical technology, a shortage of medical professionals with specialized skills, or restrictive regulations on certain treatments. Health tourists may choose to travel abroad to receive state-of-the-art care or treatments that are considered experimental or unapproved in their home country.

Shorter Waiting Times: In some countries, patients may face long waiting times for certain medical treatments or procedures due to factors such as limited healthcare resources or high demand. These waiting times can be particularly challenging for patients with chronic pain, deteriorating conditions, or urgent medical needs. Health tourism offers the opportunity for patients to bypass these waiting times and receive the necessary treatments more quickly. For example, a patient in the United Kingdom may face a waiting period of several months for a hip replacement surgery, while the same procedure could be readily available in countries such as Spain or Turkey.

Higher Quality of Care: Some health tourists perceive that the quality of care in another country may be higher than what is available in their home country. This perception can stem from factors such as the reputation of the destination country's healthcare system, the use of advanced medical technology, or the expertise of the medical professionals. For example, Singapore is renowned for its world-class healthcare system, attracting health tourists seeking top-notch medical treatments and wellness experiences. Additionally, countries like South Korea have gained a reputation for excellence in cosmetic surgery, drawing patients from around the world to receive high-quality care from skilled surgeons.

Combining Medical Procedures with Leisure Travel: Health tourism also offers the unique opportunity for individuals to combine medical treatments or wellness experiences with leisure travel. Many health tourists choose to extend their stay in the destination country to explore the local culture, visit tourist attractions, or simply relax and recuperate in a beautiful setting. This combination of medical and leisure travel can contribute to the overall well-being of the patient and enhance their recovery process. For example, a patient undergoing dental treatment in Costa Rica might also take the time to visit the country's beautiful beaches, rainforests, and national parks during their stay.

Health tourism has emerged as a significant sector within the global tourism industry, fueled by factors such as cost savings, access to specialized treatments, and a growing focus on wellness and preventative healthcare. As the industry continues to expand, more countries are investing in their healthcare infrastructure to attract health tourists, offering a wide range of medical and wellness services to meet the diverse needs of these travelers. With the increasing popularity of health tourism, it is essential for healthcare providers, governments, and tourism organizations to work together to ensure the highest standards of care and services for health tourists while promoting sustainable and responsible practices within the industry.

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Why Medical Tourism Is Drawing Patients, Even in a Pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic has devastated medical tourism, but pent-up demand remains for affordable treatment in foreign lands.

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health tourism growth rate

By Ceylan Yeginsu

On a cold February morning last year, as she lay curled up in a fetal position on her kitchen floor, Melissa Jackson called her manager at a New Jersey beauty salon to ask for some unpaid time off.

It was the sixth consecutive week that the 39-year-old beauty technician was unable to work full time because of the debilitating pain in her pelvis caused by endometriosis, a chronic condition triggered by the growth of uterine tissue outside of the uterus.

As her symptoms worsened, she started exploring options to get less costly medical care abroad.

In recent years, while still on her ex- husband’s health insurance policy, she had received hormonal treatments to ease the pain so she could go about her daily life. But since her divorce last year and the coronavirus restrictions placed on the beauty industry in March, those treatment costs have become prohibitive, especially with no insurance.

“There is no real cure for endometriosis, but if I want to free myself from this pain then I need to get a hysterectomy,” Ms. Jackson said, her voice shaking as she described the procedure to remove her uterus. “As if the surgery isn’t bad enough, I need to find 20,000 bucks to pay for it, which is just crazy so I’m going to have to find a way to go to Mexico.”

The coronavirus pandemic has pushed millions of Americans into poverty and stripped more than 5.4 million American workers of their health insurance, according to a study by the nonpartisan consumer advocacy group, Families USA. Many people like Ms. Jackson have experienced a significant deterioration in their health because they have delayed medical procedures. The fear of large medical bills has outweighed fear of contagion for some, giving rise to an increased number of patients seeking medical treatment in a foreign country.

“We are seeing a pent-up demand for medical tourism during the pandemic, particularly in the U.S. where a fast-growing number of Americans are traveling across the land border with Mexico for health purposes,” said David G. Vequist IV, the founder of the Center for Medical Tourism Research , a group based in San Antonio, Texas, and a professor at t he University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio.

Even before the pandemic, millions of Americans traveled to other countries for savings of between 40 to 80 percent on medical treatments, according to the global medical tourism guide Patients Beyond Borders. Mexico and Costa Rica have become the most popular destinations for dental care, cosmetic surgery and prescription medicines while Thailand, India and South Korea draw in patients for more complex procedures including orthopedics, cardiovascular, cancer and fertility treatment.

In 2019, 1.1 percent of Americans traveling internationally did so for health treatments, according to the National Travel and Tourism Office , although that figure only accounts for those who traveled by air and does not include the thousands of travelers who crossed the United States-Mexico border. Definitive statistics on medical tourism are hard to come by because countries have different recording methods and definitions of the sector.

Medical tourism has been decimated by coronavirus restrictions, but, even so, the twin crises of the economy and the enormous strain that Covid-19 has placed on the already faulty American health care system are pushing many patients to travel. Demand for nonessential surgeries has also been building up after more than 177,000 scheduled surgeries were postponed in the United States between March and June in 2020, according to the Center for Medical Tourism Research.

“Our market has always been what I call the ‘working poor’ and they just keep getting poorer,” said Josef Woodman, the chief executive of Patients Beyond Borders. “The pandemic has gutted low-income and middle-class people around the world and for many of them the reality is that they have to travel to access affordable health care.”

In April, following the initial global lockdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus, medical travel bookings were down by more than 89 percent in the most popular destinations, including Mexico, Thailand, Turkey and South Korea, according to Medical Departures, a Bangkok-based medical travel agency. Since August, the numbers have slowly been rebounding, but bookings in Mexico, which has seen an uptick in American travelers in recent months, are still down by 32 percent compared to the same period of August to December in 2019.

“Covid-19 has devastated the whole medical tourism ecosystem because of all the uncertainty over travel restrictions and quarantine measures that keep changing across the world,” said Paul McTaggart, the founder of the agency.

“Despite this, we are still seeing a growing number of people traveling and booking trips to address their urgent health needs, especially between the U.S. and Mexico border where patients can travel safely by car,” Mr. McTaggart said. The Center for Medical Tourism Research found that Google searches in the United States for the terms “Mexico medical tourism” went up by 64 percent since July, compared to pre-pandemic levels before travel restrictions were imposed in March.

“Google searches are almost directly correlated with consumer behavior when it comes to travel across borders,” Mr. Vequist said.

Before the winter resurgence of the coronavirus, Ms. Jackson had started to plan and save for a trip to Mexicali, a border city in northern Mexico, where she can get a hysterectomy for $4,000, one-fifth the cost of the procedure offered in New Jersey. Her best friend had offered to drive her there and pay for the gas and accommodations.

“We wanted to make a vacation out of it and have some fun before the surgery because it’s such a heavy and dark thing with real consequences,” Ms. Jackson said. “At 39, I have to come to terms with the reality that I’ll never have kids. That’s even more painful than my condition.”

For now, Ms. Jackson has put the surgery on hold and will wait until the virus is brought under control. Her doctor had pointed to cheaper options for the operation in New Jersey, starting at $11,000 in a local outpatient facility. But Ms. Jackson is adamant about having it in the hospital and says the aftercare is more thorough in Mexico.

“Going for the cheaper option at home means getting lower quality care and taking a risk. That just isn’t the experience for people who do this in specialized hospitals in Mexico,” she said. “It’s cheap and safe.” (Many hospitals and clinics in Mexico and other countries have accreditation to ensure their standards are equivalent to medical facilities in the United States.)

In recent weeks, Ms. Jackson has had a flare up of symptoms, which is common when the condition goes untreated.

“I’m not sure if I will be able to wait for Covid to get better,” she said. “This thing cripples every part of my life.”

The land border with Mexico — closed to tourists — has remained open for essential travel, which includes all medical treatment, and a handful of Americans cross the border every day into Los Algodones (also known as Molar City ) to receive dental treatment or purchase pharmaceuticals.

“It’s just Americans over there getting dental care,” said Jeff Somerville, a Delta Air Lines flight attendant who visited the Supreme Dental Clinic in Los Algodones in September to get his crowns replaced. “You park on the U.S. side and just walk across. It’s easy and felt very safe.” He said the procedure would have cost around $25,000 in Tampa, Fla., close to where he lives in the city of Clearwater. In Mexico, he paid $7,000.

Now, Mr. Somerville, 47, is preparing to travel to Turkey in February for a hair and beard transplant, which will cost $3,000 and includes plasma treatments, medications, hotel lodging for three nights and a translator.

“I’m going to live my life, but I’m going to take my precautions while I do that,” he said. “I’m not going to sit at home and be scared.”

Turkey has remained open to tourists throughout the latest surge of the pandemic in Europe and only visitors from Britain are required to take a test as a precaution against a new, more transmissible variant of the virus. On weekends in Turkey a strict curfew is imposed on local residents to curb the spread of the virus, but foreign visitors are allowed to roam free without any restrictions. On Istanbul’s main Istiklal Avenue, men recovering from hair transplant procedures can easily be spotted with bandages around their heads.

“This is the best time to get surgery,” said Martin Wright, a British tourist, who had a hair transplant in Istanbul in December, before the new variant of the virus was identified in Britain. “Hotels are cheap, sites are empty and you get to have down time in a foreign city where you don’t have to explain to anyone why or how you got a hair transplant.”

Over the summer, when lockdown restrictions were eased across Europe, Britons traveled to the continent to receive medical treatment, after waiting lists for elective surgery on the National Health Service reached record levels. With British hospitals operating at reduced capacity to accommodate patients with Covid-19, hundreds of thousands of patients, who have been waiting for more than a year for non-urgent surgery, are facing further delays, N.H.S. figures show.

Cynthia Hedges, a 77-year-old retired nurse from Plymouth in southwest England, traveled to France in August for a knee replacement after waiting more than 19 months to get the procedure at her hospital.

“It just became hopeless, I could barely walk and was just living off pain medication, which is not good for my health,” she said in a telephone interview. “I know we can’t go far these days, but I became very depressed not even being able to walk to my garden. I know it was risky to travel at the time, but it was the best thing I did. It was worth it.”

Even as travel restrictions tighten, experts in the medical tourism industry see an opportunity as demand builds and health care becomes more inaccessible in people’s home countries.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re in Europe or the Americas,” said Mr. McTaggart of Medical Departures. “Financially challenged individuals will seek out and be more receptive to the idea that you can travel abroad and see substantial savings for medical treatment and get past the line.”

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram , Twitter and Facebook . And sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to receive expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation.

An earlier version of this article gave an incorrect name for a global medical tourism guide. It is Patients Beyond Borders, not Patients Without Borders.

How we handle corrections

Ceylan Yeginsu is a London-based reporter. She joined The Times in 2013, and was previously a correspondent in Turkey covering politics, the migrant crisis, the Kurdish conflict, and the rise of Islamic State extremism in Syria and the region. More about Ceylan Yeginsu

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Health Tourism—Subject of Scientific Research: A Literature Review and Cluster Analysis

Michał roman.

1 Department of Tourism, Social Communication and Consulting, Institute of Economics and Finance, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Nowoursynowska 166, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland

Monika Roman

2 Department of Logistics, Institute of Economics and Finance, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Nowoursynowska 166, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland

Monika Wojcieszak-Zbierska

3 Faculty of Economics, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 28, 60-637 Poznań, Poland

Associated Data

Not applicable.

The purpose of this article is to identify main research areas in health tourism in scientific research. The data used in this analysis span from 2000 to 2022, was retrieved from the Web of Science database, and comprises a total of 1493 bibliometric records of publications. The paper includes both a quantitative and a qualitative analysis. The following four main research areas were identified based on the results: (1) patient satisfaction built upon trust; (2) health impacts of the destination (including the economic aspect, which plays a decisive role in choosing a tourism destination); (3) health behavior as a major part of human activity; and (4) traveling with a view to regain one’s health. Note that the limitations of this study—which mostly affect the methodological part—need to be taken into consideration. This is the consequence of the selected publication database and of the search criteria used, such as the publication year or language.

1. Introduction

Travel and tourism, which keeps evolving, is the world’s largest service industry [ 1 , 2 ]. It drives an increase in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in destination countries, while also strongly contributing to their government’s tax income [ 3 ]. The travel and tourism sector is worth USD 7.6 trillion and accounts for more than 10% of the global GDP, 7% of total international trade, and 30% of service exports around the world. Income from tourism also provides an important currency exchange engine for countries worldwide, thus becoming an enabler of economic growth and investments in a number of other sectors. In 2016, tourism grew by 3.1%, which is 2.5% above the growth rate of the global economy [ 4 ].

As the third largest socioeconomic activity in the European Union, tourism is a major contributor to its gross domestic product and employment. While Europe is the world’s most popular tourism destination, it is not the fastest developing region at a global level. It has experienced a decline in its market share, measured by the visits of and income from international tourists [ 5 ]. In 2018, Europe had the world’s largest number of international visitors (713 million, i.e., more than half of the global total) and saw a growth rate of 6% [ 2 ].

Tourism is a sector whose income keeps increasing [ 6 ]. It forms a major part of many economies, while also having a considerable impact on human (including inter-generational) relationships and on global international connections. At a global level, tourism is viewed as a sector of extreme importance, as it brings crucial benefits to the economy [ 7 ]. Each year, it generates ca. 10% of the global GDP, making it the third largest sector of the economy [ 8 ]. In this context, it mostly performs a macroeconomic function, as it stimulates the socioeconomic development of a country by adding value, which translates into an increase in gross domestic product [ 9 , 10 ].

Tourism is among the largest and fastest developing sectors of the global economy [ 11 ]. By creating jobs, driving revenues from exports, and boosting investments and infrastructural development, tourism both directly and indirectly contributes in a significant way to socioeconomic processes. Note, however, that the COVID-19 pandemic had a disastrous effect on tourism development worldwide [ 12 ].

Even prior to COVID-19, global tourism was facing a number of crises. The main breakthrough events from 2000–2015 include the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the outbreak of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2003, the global economic crisis in 2008/2009, and the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in 2015 [ 13 ].

However, none of the crises listed above resulted in a prolonged global decline in tourism development. Only SARS (−0.4%) and the global economic crisis (−4.0%) entailed a drop in the number of international airline travelers. This would suggest that tourism, as a system, is robust to external shocks. However, there is overwhelming evidence that the consequences of and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic will be of an unprecedented nature. This is why health tourism has recently become increasingly popular. Society needs some rest and support in the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual dimensions, which members can find in a number of locations, including rural areas [ 13 ].

Tourism has a series of important social functions [ 14 ]. Because of the number of purposes it serves, there are ten to twenty classifications of tourism traffic, which are additionally sub-divided into subtypes, kinds, or specific forms [ 15 ].

This includes health tourism, often referred to as therapeutic tourism. Różycki [ 16 ] identifies two more alternative terms: spa tourism and curative tourism (sometimes, in a broader sense, also referred to as health tourism). Although known for quite a long time, it has become particularly popular over the recent years, and is intended to recover and revitalize the body [ 17 ].

Indeed, as people are always in a hurry, they look for ways to alleviate the stress and take care of their mental and physical health [ 18 ]. The increased interest in healthy lifestyles, combined with physical and intellectual activity, has directly contributed to changing the existing patterns of spending free time [ 19 ]. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to identify main research areas in health tourism in scientific research based on the current literature review.

2. Literature Review on Health Tourism

Society demonstrates a growing health awareness [ 20 , 21 ]. Health is believed to be the most important and most precious thing for human life and development, and it can be neither purchased from nor sold to another person [ 22 ]. It represents individual wealth and a private value attributed to a particular human being [ 23 ]. In order for working people to maintain their health in physical, mental, spiritual (related to individual and social awareness), and social terms, they need to relax in their free time, because, otherwise, their bodies may become weaker and exposed to illnesses in the long run [ 24 ].

Claiming that “health is something you either have or do not have” is overly simplistic [ 25 ]. Health is something that needs to be taken care of on a continuous basis; people must seek their well-being, have their illnesses (if any) cured, make their bodies fitter, and—first of all—prevent diseases [ 26 ]. The increased interest in healthy lifestyles, combined with physical and intellectual activity, contributes directly to changing the existing patterns of spending free time. This means shifting from the 3S (Sun, Sea, Sand) model to the 3E (Entertainment, Excitement, Education) and 3A (Action, Amusement, Adventure) models [ 27 ].

As society ages, tourists look for diverse forms of active leisure that will improve their physical and mental condition while allowing their bodies to recover [ 28 ]. As today’s society becomes increasingly wealthy, people demonstrate greater demand for luxury goods and services related to improving their health condition. The increased interest in health tourism is viewed as one of the key developments witnessed in the market for tourism services [ 29 ]. Table 1 presents some selected definitions of health tourism.

Selected definitions of health tourism found in the relevant literature.

Source: [ 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 ].

Health tourism is a combination of active leisure, prevention, and treatment [ 38 ]. Could it become an important driver of rural development? Indeed, it should develop on environmentally sound areas and has a direct impact on the economic development of the territory concerned [ 39 ].

The forms of health tourism are shaped and directly implied by the motives behind it, including [ 40 ]:

  • post-illness and post-trauma recovery,
  • the desire to remove the adverse consequences of stress,
  • anti-ageing and beauty treatments (including plastic surgery),
  • fighting addictions,
  • the decision to improve one’s health condition by undergoing a specialized healthcare intervention or operation in a relaxed atmosphere in an environment not resembling a hospital,
  • a way of accessing increasingly diverse complementary therapies related to preventive healthcare measures.

Health tourism can be divided into the following types, as shown in Figure 1 .

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Object name is ijerph-20-00480-g001.jpg

Division of health tourism. Source: [ 37 , 41 ].

Health tourism has become more popular in the post-2000 era [ 42 ] because society increasingly often needs physical and mental leisure. Furthermore, there is noticeable development in the market of services for disabled tourists.

3. Materials and Methods

3.1. research methodology.

The aim of the article was achieved on the basis of a review of the current literature on medical tourism based on the SotA procedure, as detailed by Barry et al. [ 43 ]. The study used bibliometric methods in order to facilitate the analysis of a large number of publications [ 44 ]. The authors relied on descriptive bibliometrics in analyzing the scientific research trends and in identifying the right scientists and research centers [ 45 , 46 ].

The following tools and techniques were used in the bibliometric analysis: analysis of changes in the number of publications; citation analysis; and the co-word method. The analysis of changes in the number of publications and citations allowed identification of the trends and determination of the levels of knowledge transfer and dissemination by representatives of different scientific centers. In turn, the co-word analysis enabled the identification of main thematic areas addressed in health tourism publications with the use of a cluster analysis method developed by Zhu et al. [ 47 ]. The clustering was estimated with VOSviewer (Visualising Scientific Landscapes) version 1.6.18 (2022) [ 48 ], a tool for building and visualizing bibliometric networks that is capable of handling large text files with descriptions of bibliographic records from well-known databases, including the Web of Science (WoS).

3.2. Data Collection and Research Tasks

The data used in this analysis were retrieved from the Web of Science database on November 15, 2022. Web of Science is one of the major search engines for scientific sources, and it offers a wide variety of documents. The fundamental issue in searching for records is to identify the keywords believed to be of relevance for the problem concerned [ 49 ]. The analysis covered papers with the following expressions in their titles: “health tourism,” “medical tourism,” “spa tourism,” and “spa and wellness.” Only articles that were grouped in the "title" section have been addressed.

This resulted in retrieving a set of 1533 publications, which were then subject to a refined selection process based on the following limitative criteria:

  • (1) date published: the study took account of papers published between 2000 and 2022;
  • (2) publication type: the study took account of papers published in reviewed scientific journals and books;
  • (3) publication subject: the study took account of publications focused on selected keywords.

After applying the limitative criteria, the dataset comprised 1493 publications.

As the next step, the authors tried to discover the general trend in the number of publications and citations, and to identify the main researchers, centers, countries, journals, and research areas related to health tourism.

4.1. General Trend in Health Tourism Publications

Figure 2 presents the number of WoS publications addressing health tourism from 2000–2022. Note that the interest in the topic covered by this analysis follows a steady growth trend. Three sub-periods of development of health tourism publications can be identified: (1) small interest: 2000–2009; (2) medium interest: 2010–2018; (3) high interest: 2019–2022 (with an average of 140 papers per year). The significant growth in the number of publications over the last years can be explained by greater care in addressing health tourism issues.

An external file that holds a picture, illustration, etc.
Object name is ijerph-20-00480-g002.jpg

Number of health tourism publications from 2000–2022. Source: own elaboration based on the dedicated database.

The growing interest in health tourism topics justifies the need for a review with a structured approach to the most recent literature and for identification of future areas of research in that domain.

The largest number of papers were written in English (1343). The database also included articles written in Spanish (68), German (21), Russian (10), Chinese (7), French (6), Croatian (6), Portuguese (6), Czech (5), and Italian (4).

Most publications addressed such research topics as social sciences, business economics, and public environmental occupational health ( Table 2 ).

Top ten research areas related to health tourism.

Source: own elaboration based on the dedicated database.

Table 2 suggests that the authors represented various fields of research. However, a large number of publications addressed topics related to medical sciences, e.g., public environmental occupational health, healthcare, and internal medicine.

4.2. Web of Science Categories

The next step consisted of dividing the scientific publications into Web of Science categories ( Table 3 ).

Web of Science categories.

Most publications (as many as 411) fell into the category of “Hospitality Leisure Sport Tourism”.

4.3. Analysis of Publication Sources

The most popular journals with health tourism papers include Sustainability, Tourism Management, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Iranian Journal of Public Health , and International Journal of Healthcare Management ( Table 4 ).

Scientific journals with the largest number of health tourism publications.

The most popular publishers include Taylor & Francis, Elsevier, Springer Nature, and Emerald Group Publishing ( Table 5 ).

Publishers with the largest number of health tourism publications.

The next step was to present publication authors, their countries of origin, and their affiliations.

4.4. Analysis of Publications by Country and Research Center

The greatest number of health tourism publications were authored by Jeremy Snyder ( Table 6 ).

Authors of health tourism publications.

Most authors of health tourism publications originate from the United States and China. Many other publications were related to authors coming from countries such as Malaysia, United Kingdom, and Canada ( Table 7 ).

Number of publications by country.

The next step focused on analyzing the research centers. Note that research on health tourism was highly dispersed, with the largest number of papers published by employees of Simon Fraser University ( Table 8 ).

Number of publications by research center.

The authors also represented the State University System of Florida, the Ministry of Education Science of Ukraine, and the University of London.

4.5. Analysis of Main Research Areas

The next step in identifying the research areas related to health tourism was the co-word analysis, which served as a basis for the subsequent cluster analysis. Note that the co-word or co-occurrence analysis is a technique that allows examining the actual content of a publication [ 50 ]. It uses words derived from the keywords defined by the author(s), and it can also be employed in analyzing words contained in the paper’s keywords, title, abstract, or index, and even in its full text [ 51 ]. As a consequence, a thematic relation can be established between frequently co-occurring words, which allows identifying thematic clusters and outlining the trends of future research areas.

The co-word analysis was performed as follows:

  • Retrieving database records using criteria detailed in the Methodology section.
  • Exporting data, including authors’ names, title, abstract, keywords, and references.
  • Mapping the relationships that underpin the thematic clusters. The analysis of frequencies was carried out for a set of keywords that occurred in no less than ten phrases.
  • Analyzing the results.

Figure 3 presents the visualization of keywords for the “health tourism” thematic area, with “travel”, “health-care”, “care”, “health”, “satisfaction”, “impact”, “model”, “quality” and “destination” as the most frequent occurrences.

An external file that holds a picture, illustration, etc.
Object name is ijerph-20-00480-g003.jpg

Co-Word Cluster Map. Source: own elaboration based on the dedicated database.

The co-word analysis identified four research clusters related to the topic of health tourism ( Figure 3 ).

Cluster 1 (green): patient satisfaction built upon trust; Cluster 2 (yellow): health impacts of the destination; Cluster 3 (blue): health behavior as a major part of human activity; and Cluster 4 (red): traveling with a view to regain one’s health.

5. Discussion

5.1. cluster 1 (green): patient satisfaction built upon trust.

The first cluster covered by the analysis dealt with medical sciences because it was related to patient satisfaction built upon trust in healthcare institutions. Highly interesting research on these matters was presented in a paper by Khodadad Hosseini and Behboudi [ 52 ]. Their goal was to examine the impacts of brand trust on a population of healthcare service users. Nowadays, healthcare managers and activists tend to increasingly rely on marketing and branding measures in order to attract and satisfy their customers. Hence, the study focused on a conceptual model designed to assess brand trust and the impact of brand image on customer satisfaction. Data were sourced from 240 survey questionnaires. The study found the following to be the most efficient aspects with the greatest impact on customer satisfaction and use of healthcare services: brand image; personnel’s sincerity in handling patients; and interactions and relationships with doctors. The authors believe that identifying important elements related to healthcare branding helps healthcare managers and operators create and protect their brands and, as a consequence, drives an increase in profitability due to greater consumer satisfaction.

Highly interesting findings on how to build patient satisfaction were brought by Liu, Ching-Yick Tse, and He [ 53 ]. The purpose of their study was to compare the impacts of health-related corporate social responsibility (CSR) factors on the intents of casual restaurant customers in the U.S. and China. They adopted an approach based on survey questionnaires to collect data in both countries. A total of 828 complete answers were used to validate the hypotheses through the modeling of structural equations. The results revealed some considerable differences in replies between the two countries. The research framework underpinning health-related CSR aspects, critical variables, and relationships among them was subject to a theoretical test and verification procedure. From a practical point of view, these findings allow the management to develop efficient (yet different) market strategies in order to promote CSR initiatives among consumers with a different cultural, political, and economic background (such as the U.S. and China) in order to increase financial benefits while building consumer satisfaction and loyalty. This is one of the few empirical studies on the impacts of consumer decision-making factors on culinary behaviors based on how the restaurants present their health-related CSR initiatives in countries with different market environments.

5.2. Cluster 2 (Yellow): Health Impacts of Holiday Destinations

In recent years, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of people traveling for health reasons [ 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 ]. Many scientists indicate that domestic and international health destinations are attractive mostly because of the differences in prices of products and services offered [ 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 ]. According to [ 62 , 63 ], a broad range of tourism services and products—combined with the patients and their accompanying persons having an enjoyable stay in a tourist destination—has a clear positive effect on their health. Another aspect of importance to tourists [ 63 ] is the destination itself and its surroundings.

One of the very few positive consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic is people becoming environmentally committed and interested in nature. An interesting study on this was presented by Allison Williams and Rannveig Ólafsdóttir (2022), who indicate that traveling has become possible again, and, thus, people can restart using healthcare tourism services based on natural assets viewed from a therapeutic perspective. Their research suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to drawing a number of conclusions. First, people realized that they can work remotely from any location (obviously depending on the nature of their work). Second, as they rely on innovative solutions to communicate with others (and for other purposes), they started to appreciate the benefits derived from modern technologies. Third, they started to value and pay particular attention to their health. The last aspect indicated by the researchers were natural values. The COVID-19 era saw a breakthrough in tourism because the traveling restrictions and social isolation made people appreciate nature and enjoy leisure in a natural environment. Similar conclusions were presented in a case study for Poland by Wojcieszak-Zbierska et al. [ 64 ], who demonstrated that at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, many people decided to spend their free time on agritourism farms because they found it to be the right option for them and, most of all, to be a safe form of leisure. The study also highlighted that staying on agritourism farms had a beneficial impact on the visitors’ recovery and health. Another important aspect addressed by Xiang Yan and Shenjing He [ 65 ] is the way of financing a stay, which is expected to improve one’s physical and mental health. The authors noted that tourists increasingly often opt for staying in an attractive location, which is supposed to meet their specific individual needs related to maintaining a good physical and mental state while having a thrilling experience. The thing that matters to tourists is the destination, whereas financial resources are often a secondary concern.

As shown by the analysis of international papers, including by Aikaterini Manthiou, Volker G. Kuppelwieser and Phil Klaus; Agapito, D., Mendes, J. and Valle, P.; Cetin, G., Bilgihan, A. [ 66 , 67 , 68 ], respectively, the location of a tourist destination is of tremendous importance to the visitors’ health. This is mostly due to the growing value and importance of needs (especially including higher-order needs) and changes in the structure of the population’s needs and preferences that have been witnessed over the last ten to twenty years. These developments largely affect today’s social consumption model, which triggers changes in the service market and in the production and supply of goods. There is continuous growth in the capacity to meet a broad range of needs, and consumers keep changing their inclinations, preferences, and even habits. In turn, it follows from a study by Hung, W. L., Lee, Y. J., Huang, P. H.; Rodríguez Molina, M. Á., Frías-Jamilena, D. M., Castañeda-García, J. A. [ 69 , 70 ], respectively, that consumer expectations are no longer limited to having a place to rest. Visitors also want their destination to add value through positive emotions, experiences, education, and improved health.

5.3. Cluster 3 (Blue): Health Behaviors as an Important Part of Human Activity (Including the Economic Aspect, Which Plays a Decisive Role in Choosing a Tourism Destination)

Today’s lifestyle concept attracts constant interest from researchers around the world [ 71 , 72 , 73 , 74 , 75 ]. Its definition encompasses the whole range of an individual’s characteristic daily behaviors, which express his/her personality traits. The concept has strongly gained in popularity over recent years because of intense changes in two areas of human life: health and consumption of goods and services. As rightly noted in a number of studies, including by Han H. and Heung V., Kucukusta D., Song H. [ 76 , 77 ], respectively, currently, people can be observed to attach greater importance to their own safety and wellbeing when traveling and upon arrival at a holiday destination. This can be explained largely by the COVID-19 pandemic situation, which has certainly reinforced the changes in health habits related to the adherence to hygiene and sanitary standards at tourism destinations. Health behaviors mean those related to human health; the literature on the subject divides them into health-promoting and self-destructive actions. A number of researchers, including Hofer S., Honegger F., Hubeli J. and Hopkins L., Labonte R., Runnels V., Packer C. [ 78 , 79 ], respectively, emphasize that in order to discuss the changes in health-related behavior, it is necessary to gain in-depth knowledge of the underlying mechanisms. As there is growth in demand for diverse forms of health tourism (including medical tourism), there is also a restructuring of the tourism product offered. According to Białk-Wolf, A., Arent, M., Buziewicz, A. and Alejziak W. [ 27 , 80 ], respectively, many tourists today realize the positive role of physical activity. For a modern human, proper nutrition habits, a positive mental attitude (especially after the aggravation of the COVID-19 pandemic), reliable information, preventive healthcare, and physical activity itself play an important role in improving his/her living conditions. Hence, health behaviors are undoubtedly a major part of today’s human activity.

In turn, another issue was addressed by Forgione DA, Smith PC.; Bagozzi, R. P., Gurhan-Canli, Z. and Priester, J. R.; Lam, T. and Hsu, C. H. C.; March, R. and Woodside, G. [ 81 , 82 , 83 , 84 ], respectively. who found that demand- and supply-side changes in today’s tourism market are driven by changes to the tourist’s purchasing behavior. According to them, there is change in the forms of travel organization; in the quality, duration, and frequency of traveling; and in the ways and forms of spending free time. Consumers increasingly often opt for leisure scenarios that involve physical activity. Many researchers also focused their attention on one more aspect. Namely, according to Hudson S., Xiang R.L.; Heather Hartwell, Alan Fyall, Cheryl Willis, Stephen Page, Adele Ladkin, Ann Hemingway; Allison Drinkert, Neha Singh; Ediansyah, Mts Arief, Mohammad Hamsal, Sri Bramantoro Abdinagoro; Yingru Li, Lin Liu, Jianguo Chen, Jiewen Zhang [ 85 , 86 , 87 , 88 , 89 ], respectively, despite society becoming increasingly aware of the importance of healthcare, there still is need for social education on how to take care of one’s health condition. In turn, Chihiro Morito and Sunildro LS Akoijam, Tabassum Khan [ 90 , 91 ], respectively, note that building adequate levels of awareness of one’s own health behaviors is of key importance, as it drives health-promoting attitudes. Health behavior is also related to a social and cultural context [ 91 ]. Culture has an impact on a number of aspects, including the standards of living and lifestyle of a community, how much they know about their health habits, and how they perceive their health [ 92 , 93 , 94 ]. The use of media in shaping health-promoting attitudes also plays an important role. The technological and technical development, combined with state-of-the-art social messengers, is what makes media an important stream of information, including about health. Hence, social campaigns ran on the TV, radio, FB, and Instagram are designed to make the information reach a wide audience [ 95 , 96 , 97 , 98 , 99 ].

5.4. Cluster 4 (Red): Traveling with a View to Regain One’s Health

Tourism is a form of physical activity [ 100 , 101 , 102 , 103 , 104 , 105 ] that consists in traveling away from one’s place of permanent residence to rest or explore. It includes business trips, as well as holiday, health, and other travels with accommodation away from home. According to the literature on the subject, health tourism means curative tourism, spa and wellness tourism, and medical tourism [ 106 , 107 ]. As shown in a study by Kachniewska [ 108 ], it develops in response to today’s social and demographic changes (including needs related to diseases of affluence and ageing societies), while also triggering the potential for new consumer needs and trends. An interesting aspect was also presented in studies by Saint-Pierre, C.; Herskovic, V.; Roberts, F.S.; Darbellay, F.; Stock, M.; Neil Lunt, Percivil Carrera; Tze-Jen Pan, Wen-Chang Chen [ 109 , 110 , 111 , 112 , 113 , 114 ], respectively, who indicated a new trend emerging in health tourism. It suggests that in addition to products and services, tourists also buy the accompanying experiences, emotions, and sensations when traveling. According to the researchers, the consumers’ health-oriented trips should be connected to a holiday destination that offers appropriate values (e.g., environmental benefits: clean air, favorable climate, mineral waters, etc.), while also delivering some components that affect emotions. Traveling is supposed to be interesting, pleasant, and engaging. Therefore, studies by Pearce, P.L; Buda, D. [ 115 , 116 ], respectively, reveal yet another crucial factor that guides health-oriented trips. The authors mostly focused on explaining the roles and importance of sophisticated technologies and techniques, which make it possible for today’s consumers to travel long distances with the use of state-of-the-art tools.

Nowadays, people expect to be able to relax in a healthy and active way in urban and rural areas. The tourism sector is currently focused on offering a customized portfolio composed of medical, spa, wellness, and other services [ 117 , 118 , 119 ]. People travel to clinics, spa resorts, and sanatoriums (go on therapeutic trips) for different reasons and want to improve their health status by undergoing professional rehabilitation or treatment programs [ 120 ]. An important topic addressed by Neil Lunt and Percivil Carrera was the context of how medical tourists finance their travels. According to them, some tourists rely on social health programs, while others use their own resources (pay out of pocket for accessing dentist, beauty, and programmed treatments). The authors indicate that as a consequence of administrative and legal regulations, tourists very often rely on their own funds in paying for medical services (especially in Europe), which can be viewed as a financial disharmony. They also note that there is still confusion as to the rights of patients who travel abroad, e.g., in order to receive a treatment.

6. Conclusions

The recent years have seen growing interest in and importance of health tourism. A healthy lifestyle, as currently developed around the globe, is at the very core of today’s social changes. It promotes physical and mental fitness; determines the condition of an individual’s body; affects people’s pace of work, efficiency, and mental capacity; and conditions their creativity and ability to take action.

This paper was a review of the current literature on medical tourism. It provided a basis for identifying four research clusters spanning the following content: patient satisfaction built upon trust; health impacts of the destination (including the economic aspect, which plays a decisive role in choosing a tourism destination); health behavior as a major part of human activity; and traveling with a view to regain one’s health. This study provides grounds for some conclusions. First, health tourism contributes to improvements in individuals’ mental and physical health; in that context, an important role is played by the behavioral and emotional dimension and by the experience lived in a tourism destination. Another important aspect to humans is the destination itself and its surroundings, where visitors can undergo a variety of medical and curative procedures and—first of all—take care of their health and recover their vitality. Health-oriented trips, especially in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic, changed the way tourists behave when their own safety is concerned. It means that they expect their hosts to guarantee a safe and peaceful experience during their stay.

The authors realize certain restrictions affecting this study, but believe that a further analysis would provide valuable grounds for continued in-depth scientific research. Indeed, there is a great need for more research on health tourism based on knowledge resources shared between tourism and related sciences.

Funding Statement

This research received no external funding.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, M.R. (Michał Roman) and M.R. (Monika Roman); methodology M.R. (Monika Roman); software, M.R. (Michał Roman) and M.R. (Monika Roman); validation M.R. (Monika Roman); formal analysis, M.R. (Michał Roman) and M.R. (Monika Roman); investigation, M.R. (Michał Roman) and M.R. (Monika Roman); resources, M.R. (Michał Roman) and M.R. (Monika Roman); data curation, M.R. (Michał Roman) and M.R. (Monika Roman); writing—original draft preparation, M.R. (Michał Roman), M.R. (Monika Roman), and M.W.-Z.; writing—review and editing, M.R. (Monika Roman); visualization, M.R. (Michał Roman), M.R. (Monika Roman), and M.W.-Z.; supervision, M.R. (Monika Roman); project administration, M.R. (Michał Roman); funding acquisition, M.R. (Michał Roman), M.R. (Monika Roman), and M.W.-Z. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Institutional Review Board Statement

Informed consent statement, data availability statement, conflicts of interest.

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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RHB Research said private healthcare is set to record stronger numbers this year.

health tourism growth rate

KPJ has been proactively attending various health tourism (HT) expos overseas this year as it intends to boost its HT segment contribution to 40% of the group revenue by 2028.

RHB Research said KPJ is a top pick as it will be buoyed by the improvement in operating efficiency from its hospitals and the pick-up in its medical tourism segment.

For the sector overall, private healthcare is set to record stronger numbers this year, the research house said.

This is due to organic expansion strategies, visa-free entry into Malaysia for tourists from China and India, the growing incidence of non-communicable diseases, rising health awareness among consumers and a rapidly ageing society.

“While the healthcare sector generally has defensive attributes, we continue to advocate for investors to lean towards domestic-centric names in view of better earnings stability,” RHB Research said.

“For healthcare service providers, we expect the first quarter’s performance to be muted due to the seasonally shorter working months that coincided with the Lunar New Year celebration. Nonetheless, results for the second half of the year should continue to hold up steadily,” it added.

The research house maintained its “overweight” stance on the healthcare sector, underpinned by the relatively inelastic demand trends coupled with rising health awareness among consumers and the bigger trend of an ageing society.

KPJ remains its sector top pick with a target price of RM2.12, premised on its strategic rebranding and growth exercise and an improvement in operating efficiency.

Its hospitals under development or upgrading are expected to achieve earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation breakeven by end-2024, the research house said.

Meanwhile, RHB Research said the pharmaceutical sector should see a robust recovery in the second half of the year, underpinned by a pick-up in consumer healthcare and over-the-counter product segments.

Factors aiding this are the spillover effect of rising hospital activity and a surge in foreign tourist arrivals, it said.

Tags / Keywords: medicaltourism , kpjhealthcare , ihhhealthcare , privatehospitals , ageingpopulation , pharmaceuticalsector

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Today’s front page, Sunday, April 21, 2024

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Alarming rise of hotel rates threatens growth of PHL tourism industry

  • BusinessMirror Editorial
  • April 22, 2024
  • 3 minute read

The high cost of travel and accommodation in the Philippines has been a long-standing concern for domestic tourists, destination management companies, and lawmakers. The situation has reached a point where many people now prefer to travel abroad, where they can get more value for their money. The issue is not limited to expensive domestic airfare; even hotels, especially those in Metro Manila, have significantly raised their room rates, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. Unfortunately, this trend is projected to continue in the medium term, posing a serious threat to the government’s goal of attracting 12 million international arrivals by 2028. (Read the BusinessMirror story:  ‘Keys Muna’: Imminent hotel room shortage—and resulting higher room rates—could derail PHL’s ambition to lure more visitors, April 20, 2024).

According to a recent briefing by Leechiu Property Consultants (LPC), there is an impending hotel shortage in the country. Only 87 properties are in the pipeline from 2025 to 2028, adding a mere 25,000 hotel rooms to the supply. This means that by 2028, there will be a total of 308,000 hotel rooms available. To achieve the target of 12 million inbound tourists by 2028, there needs to be an annual growth rate of approximately 10 percent. However, the growth in hotel keys during the same period is expected to be less than one percent, significantly limiting the country’s ability to reach its tourism goals. As a result, room rates and occupancy rates will undoubtedly increase, making travel more expensive for both locals and foreigners.

The majority of the new hotels (40 percent) are concentrated in Metro Manila, with the rest distributed among popular destinations such as Cebu, Boracay, Davao, and Palawan. While this development is promising, it may not be sufficient to meet the growing demand for accommodations. Furthermore, factors such as a high inflation rates and the cost of funding pose significant challenges to hotel development. High inflation rates make borrowing and financing more difficult, hindering the construction of new hotels.

The pandemic has also played a role in delaying hotel constructions. Many ongoing projects were halted, leading to a shortage in available rooms. Additionally, the current cost of funding, as reflected in lending rates, further contributes to the impending hotel shortage.

Inflationary pressures are expected to drive the average daily rates (ADR) of hotels to continue rising, outpacing occupancy and revenue per available room (RevPAR). While ADR typically lags behind occupancy growth, hotels have been focusing on increasing rates to offset higher operating costs driven by inflation. Luxury hotels in Metro Manila have already experienced significant ADR growth, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. This trend, coupled with the slow return of international travelers and rising operational costs, has made it challenging for hotels to generate profits.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) has projected inbound arrivals to reach 11.5 million and domestic trips to reach 137.5 million by 2028. However, the current National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) lacks a clear identification of the number of hotels needed to accommodate these projected numbers. To address this, the DOT is working with the Philippine Hotel Owners Association to develop a strategic action plan for the hotel industry. The plan aims to identify incentives for hotel investments, required facilities, and suitable locations for construction.

It is crucial for the government and relevant stakeholders to address the rising cost of vacationing in the Philippines to ensure sustainable tourism growth. Efforts should be made to encourage the construction of more hotels, especially in popular tourist destinations beyond Metro Manila. Collaboration between the public and private sectors is essential to develop a comprehensive plan that addresses the challenges faced by the hotel industry, such as inflationary pressures and high funding costs. Additionally, exploring measures to promote competitive pricing, improve infrastructure, and enhance the overall tourism experience can help attract both domestic and international travelers.

The Philippines has immense potential as a tourist destination, offering diverse attractions and natural beauty. However, the stakes are high, as a shortage of affordable, quality accommodations could severely constrain the growth of the tourism industry—a critical driver of economic development, job creation, and foreign exchange earnings. Decisive action is needed now to avert this looming crisis and unlock the full potential of the Philippines as a premier travel destination.

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Private health insurance market grows by £385m in a year amid NHS crisis

Demand for private treatment booms as NHS waiting lists remain long, while more people also sign up for dental cover

Britain’s health cover market has grown by £385m in a year as the NHS crisis prompted more people to seek out private medical treatment and demand for dental insurance increased, according to a report.

The total health cover market, including medical and dental insurance and cash plans, grew 6.1% to £6.7bn in 2022, the latest year for which figures are available, according to the health data provider LaingBuisson.

About 4.2 million people were subscribed to medical cover schemes. Including dependants on the policies, 7.3 million people were covered – the highest number since 2008.

Since the market’s Covid-driven drop in 2020, when it declined by 2.2%, it has grown considerably faster than historical norms. Average annual growth was 6.1% between 2020 and 2022, compared with 1.7% between 2008 and 2019.

The NHS waiting list in England continued to lengthen , to a peak of nearly 7.8m last September. In February, it was still 7.5m and half of the patients had been waiting for 18 weeks or longer.

Private medical insurance, the largest part of the health cover market, grew by 6% year on year in 2022 to £5.3bn, more than triple the average annual growth rate of 1.8% between 2008 and 2019. After a decade of decline until 2018, more people signed up, particularly in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic which led to a backlog of major procedures such as hip and knee replacements .

Tim Read, author of the report, said: “Demand began to increase in 2018, as the NHS waiting list began to rise out of control. A new Labour government is likely to aim to tackle it but will have limited fiscal headroom to make substantial progress.

“With people still struggling to access NHS services and the waiting list remaining stubbornly high, there is little likelihood that demand for health insurance is going to fall any time soon.”

Read added: “Growth is led by company-backed schemes, which may suggest an increased awareness of the impact of employee ill-health on a business – and possibly frustration at the impact that an inaccessible NHS is having on productivity.”

Growing numbers of people are also paying out of their own pockets for medical treatment, despite the high cost of some procedures, such as knee operations which typically cost between £12,000 and £15,000.

Dental insurance and capitation plans (fixed monthly payments) have shown the highest growth of the market, up 9.7% year on year in 2022. However, most people who see a dentist privately pay for treatment without any cover.

The emergence of “dental deserts ” – swathes of the UK where NHS dentists are not taking on new patients – means hundreds of thousands of people have turned up in hospitals or at GPs with severe tooth decay .

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The average health insurance premium went up to £1,225 in 2022 from £1,203 in 2021, according to LaingBuisson. Premiums on work policies went up to £975, while individual premiums rose to £2,252.

Insurers have flagged premium rises of more than 10%, with one placing them as high as 40% this year and possibly beyond. This reflects a rise in claims and higher medical costs. Some people who could not get what would have been a cheaper treatment option during the pandemic are now suffering from more expensive conditions to treat, Read said.

The UK health insurance market is dominated by Bupa, France’s Axa Health , Aviva and Vitality Health, which is owned by South Africa’s Discovery.

In dental insurance, the main players are Bupa, Simply Health and Unum, after Cigna left the UK market.

Read said: “I don’t think that the NHS is going to fall apart overnight or that the private sector is going to run rampant overnight. But I do think as people as customers, rather than people as taxpayers, are beginning to reconceptualise the value of paying additionally for healthcare entitlements, which technically they should get on the NHS.”

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15 countries with the negative population growth in the world.

In this article, we will take a look at the 15 countries with the negative population growth in the world. If you want to skip our discussion on the population trends, you can go directly to the 5 Countries with the Negative Population Growth in the World .

According to data from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, a significant decline in global population growth is expected this century. By 2050, most countries (over 75%) will have fertility rates too low to maintain their current population size. This trend is projected to reach near completion by 2100, with a shrinking population in nearly 97% of the total countries.

While there is an expected population decline worldwide , the rate of decrease will vary greatly by region. Wealthier countries, already experiencing very low fertility rates, are expected to see a further decrease in their population. Developed countries in Europe, for instance, have been experiencing low fertility rates since the 1970s. Therefore, we now see many European countries with negative population growth, such as Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia.

This trend has potential environmental benefits, including reduced pressure on food production systems and lower carbon emissions. Additionally, parts of sub-Saharan Africa could see significant economic opportunities emerge. However, in many countries, a decreasing workforce and an aging population could lead to economic strain. For instance, according to a UN study, as fertility rates decline and life expectancy improves, the number of children under five years old is projected to decrease by 40% by 2100. On the other hand, people aged 65 years or above will make up 25% of the global population. This has the potential to pose challenges for many countries.

You can also check out the 15 countries with declining birth rates in 2024.

Overview of the Global Fertility Treatment Market

As low birth rates and fertility rates continue to lead countries towards population shrinkage, it is no wonder that the market for fertility treatments is booming. The value of this market globally stood at $1.5 billion in 2021. It is projected that the market will grow at a rate of 8% per year between 2022 and 2032 and will reach $3.5 billion in 2032. In addition to low fertility rates, increased adoption of the most advanced treatments is a major driver of growth in this market. However, the high cost of treatments, non-coverage of treatments in insurance, stringent government regulations, and ethical issues associated with the treatment are some of the challenges this market faces. Some established companies operating in the global fertility treatment markets, including Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE: TMO ), Vitrolife Sweden AB (STO:VITR), and Hamilton Thorne Ltd. (TSX:HTL).

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO) is a major player in the life sciences industry, offering a wide range of solutions. The company is at the forefront of research in fertility treatments. Recently, it took a step to advance fertility research by introducing two new tools based on next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology. This launch has expanded the company’s existing portfolio in reproductive health by bringing the power of next-generation sequencing to more research labs. This technology allows for faster, in-house testing and analysis, potentially accelerating advancements in the field.

Vitrolife Sweden AB (STO:VITR) is among the global leaders in the field of in vitro fertilization and is actively expanding its global footprint. Recently, Vitrolife Pty. Ltd. New Zealand and Vitrolife Inc. Canada, both subsidiaries of Vitrolife AB, signed exclusive agreements with Memphasys Limited (ASX:MEM), which is a company providing fertility solutions. Under this agreement , Memphasys will be able to sell and distribute Felix System in New Zealand and Canada. A similar agreement was executed between Memphasys and Vitrolife for the Japanese market in August 2023.

Hamilton Thorne Ltd. (TSX:HTL) is another well-known company specializing in tools and services for fertility treatments, research, and cell biology. The company recently acquired Gynetics Medical Products and Gynetics Services, which is a Belgian leader in innovative IVF devices. This move has strengthened the company’s consumables portfolio and expanded its reach into the profitable European market.

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Our Methodology

We have shortlisted the 15 countries with the negative population growth in the world by using data from the CIA . The population growth rates reflect the estimated average annual percentage change in populations as of 2023. Our list excludes small island nations and overseas territories. The countries have been ranked in ascending order of the population growth rates.

By the way, Insider Monkey is an investing website that tracks the movements of corporate insiders and hedge funds. By using a consensus approach, we identify the best stock picks of more than 900 hedge funds investing in US stocks. The top 10 consensus stock picks of hedge funds outperformed the S&P 500 Index by more than 140 percentage points over the last 10 years  ( see the details here ) . Whether you are a beginner investor or professional one looking for the best stocks to buy, you can benefit from the wisdom of hedge funds and corporate insiders.

15. Armenia

Population Growth Rate:  -0.4%

Armenia is a West Asian landlocked country. Armenia's population has faced historical challenges. Early 20th-century wars and famines in the country caused a devastating loss of life, with a further decline following the Soviet Union's collapse. Today, Armenia’s low fertility rate (1.758 births per woman in 2022) hinders natural population replacement, meaning deaths exceed births. This trend, if unchecked, could lead to a further decline in the population growth rate.

Population Growth Rate:  -0.41%

Japan, an East Asian country, is observing a shrinking population. By 2070, estimates predict a 30% decline in the country’s population to just 87 million people. This demographic crisis is driven by a declining birth rate, largely caused by a decrease in marriage rates. Fewer marriages in a traditional and conservative country like Japan means fewer babies being born. In 2023, the number of deaths in Japan was recorded at 1,590,503, up for the third consecutive year. The country's natural population decrease is 831,872. This marks the 17 th year of natural population decline and the biggest population slump in Japan ever.

13. Montenegro

Population Growth Rate:  -0.43%

Montenegro is a country located in Southeast Europe, in the Balkans. The main reasons for the low population in Montenegro are the lack of agricultural land and low migration.  Most of the territory in Montenegro belongs to the karst area of the Dinaric Alps, characterized by barren mountains and unsuitable conditions for agriculture. Montenegro’s population is declining, with an annual average growth rate of -0.43%.

12. Croatia

Population Growth Rate:  -0.47%

Croatia is a country located between Central and Southeast Europe. Croatia's population has been steadily shrinking for decades. In 2022 alone, it dipped by 0.73%. Emigration and a declining birth rate are the main causes. For the past 15 years, more people have left Croatia than those who have entered, further straining the country's demographics. The economic crisis in Croatia is being strongly felt, and the opening of the borders has resulted in hordes of Croatians emigrating to richer countries.

Population Growth Rate:  -0.48%

Russia, the world's largest country by area, faces a shrinking population. Despite its size, many areas are sparsely populated. This trend worsened after the Soviet Union's collapse, as Russia gained vast territory but only half the population. The death rates in the country are high, and life expectancy has dipped. Furthermore, fertility rates in Russia are among the world's lowest, while abortions are high. Consequently, deaths now outnumber births, threatening to lower Russia's population to 130 million by 2046, according to Rosstat, the country's statistics agency.

10. Georgia

Population Growth Rate:  -0.57%

Georgia is a country at the junction of Europe and Asia. The current population of Georgia is 3,717,425, reflecting a 0.29% reduction from last year. From 1992, the county’s population began to decline sharply because of civil war and the consequent mass migration, which continued throughout the 1990s and into the early 2000s. There has been a 15% drop since 2002, with the low population growth rate continuing till this date. Georgia is among the top 10 countries with the negative population growth in the world.

Population Growth Rate:  -0.58%

Moldova is an Eastern European country. The annual population growth in Moldova decreased to -2.22% in 2022 and is currently at a low of -0.58%. The population growth has reached its lowest value in recent years. In terms of population slump, Moldova is a leader among European countries. The main reasons are high mortality rates, low birth rates, and high levels of emigration. Also, Moldova experiences low life expectancy rates, with consumption of alcohol being one of the key factors deteriorating overall health. Moldovans' level of alcohol consumption is 3 times the global average consumption.

Population Growth Rate:  -0.63%

Serbia is a landlocked Balkan country at the junction of Southeast and Central Europe. The current population of Serbia is 7,097,028, reflecting a 0.73% drop from the previous year. Serbia faces a demographic crisis due to low birth rates and outward migration, causing its population of 7 million to shrink at an alarming rate. Estimates suggest a potential decline of 25% if these trends continue. Serbia is in the eighth position on our list of countries with negative population growth in the world.

7. Bulgaria

Population Growth Rate:  -0.66%

Bulgaria, a Balkan country, boasts a coastline on the Black Sea. Bulgaria's population has declined over a decade due to low birth rates and emigration. The Balkan nation lost 11.5% of its population, or 844,000 people, between 2011 and 2021, dropping to 6.5 million. Young people are particularly drawn abroad for better job opportunities, further straining the country's demographics.

6. Micronesia

Population Growth Rate:  -0.70%

Micronesia is a country spread across the western Pacific Ocean. The country's current annual average population growth rate stands at -0.70%. Micronesia is broadly shrinking, and longer-term declines are visible owing to low fertility rates and high rates of emigration.

Click to continue reading and see the 5 Countries with the Negative Population Growth in the World . Suggested Articles:

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Disclosure: None. 15 Countries with the Negative Population Growth in the World   is published on Insider Monkey.

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    The global medical tourism market, valued at USD 93.27 billion in 2022, is anticipated to experience substantial growth, with a projected revenue Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 10.7% during the forecast period, reaching USD 254.54 billion by 2032.

  17. Medical Tourism Industry Valued at $100B Poised for 25% Year-Over-Year

    In a just released report issued by VISA and Oxford Economics, the Medical Tourism industry was valued at a staggering USD 100 billion, with a projected growth rate of up to 25% year-over-year for the next 10 years as an estimated three to four percent of the world's population will travel internationally for healthcare and health-related treatment.

  18. Health Tourism Market Size, Share, and Growth Analysis

    Report Overview. Health Tourism Market size is expected to be worth around USD 475.8 Bn by 2032 from USD 78.5 Bn in 2022, growing at a CAGR of 20.3% during the forecast period from 2023 to 2032. Health tourism, also known as medical tourism or medical travel, refers to the practice of traveling to another country or region to receive medical ...

  19. Health Tourism: Exploring the Industry, Types, and Top Destinations

    According to the Medical Tourism Association, the global medical tourism industry was valued at $58.6 billion in2020, with an estimated 14 million patients traveling for medical treatments each year. This figure is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR)of 12% through 2025, reaching an estimated market value of $142.2 billion ...

  20. Why Medical Tourism Is Drawing Patients, Even in a Pandemic

    Medical tourism has been decimated by coronavirus restrictions, but, even so, the twin crises of the economy and the enormous strain that Covid-19 has placed on the already faulty American health ...

  21. Health Tourism—Subject of Scientific Research: A Literature Review and

    The purpose of this article is to identify main research areas in health tourism in scientific research. The data used in this analysis span from 2000 to 2022, was retrieved from the Web of Science database, and comprises a total of 1493 bibliometric records of publications. ... In 2016, tourism grew by 3.1%, which is 2.5% above the growth rate ...

  22. Exploring key factors of medical tourism and its relation with tourism

    Health, wellness and medical tourism are recognized as one of the most developed and thriving sector of today's tourism industry that has increased its activities worldwide.2. ... the output of medical tourism sector was 4 USD.516 billion with a year growth rate at 18%. Over three million international visitors got medical treatment in ...

  23. Medical tourism to bolster private hospital growth

    Wednesday, 24 Apr 2024. RHB Research said private healthcare is set to record stronger numbers this year. KUALA LUMPUR: Medical tourism will continue to spur the growth in private hospital names ...

  24. Alarming rise of hotel rates threatens growth of PHL tourism industry

    Only 87 properties are in the pipeline from 2025 to 2028, adding a mere 25,000 hotel rooms to the supply. This means that by 2028, there will be a total of 308,000 hotel rooms available. To ...

  25. US travel sector faces long wait for China tourism to hit 2019 highs

    Chinese tourists in the U.S. spent a whopping $15 billion in 2019, more than any other market, according the U.S. travel association. International Trade Administration (ITA) data for 2023 shows ...

  26. US economy: IMF raises growth forecast and urges caution on rate cuts

    The IMF upgraded Tuesday its forecast for US economic growth to 2.7% this year — 0.6 percentage points higher than it predicted as recently as January . The move highlights how the United States ...

  27. Private health insurance market grows by £385m in a year amid NHS

    Private medical insurance, the largest part of the health cover market, grew by 6% year on year in 2022 to £5.3bn, more than triple the average annual growth rate of 1.8% between 2008 and 2019.

  28. US births retreat after pandemic-era growth

    Among women aged 25-34 years, who accounted for more than 2 million births in 2023, the birth rate fell about 2.5%, while births among women aged 20-24 years fell by 4% to a record low rate.

  29. 15 Countries with the Negative Population Growth in the World

    There has been a 15% drop since 2002, with the low population growth rate continuing till this date. Georgia is among the top 10 countries with the negative population growth in the world. Moldova ...

  30. What If South Africa's ANC Is Forced to Share Power?

    Despite the ANC's poor record, the risk it will be forced to share power in an unstable coalition has raised angst among investors. Foreign investors have dumped more than 37 billion rand of ...