What Is Health Tourism? How Does It Work?

Health tourism is the travel of people from their place of residence to another country for preventive, curative and health-improving services. During these journeys they make use of both health and tourism opportunities in the countries they visit. People who travel to a country other than the one they live in to receive health-related services are called health tourists.

Health tourism is also known as “medical tourism”. Defined by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), it started from the hybrid idea of tourist routes combined with the health sector and has become an economic and touristic model of increasing importance. Health tourism allows health institutions to grow and develop.

How is health tourism carried out?

In order to provide health tourism services, health institutions and agencies must first obtain a Health Tourism Authorisation Certificate from the Ministry of Health. The documents requested vary depending on the type of business.

After completing the official establishment process, the infrastructure, equipment and personnel quality of your health facilities play a critical role in a successful start. You should also offer translation and guidance services in order to overcome language barriers. To provide detailed information and support for prospective patients you can set up a multilingual website, and even a call centre.

For health institutions and tourism agencies that have obtained the necessary permits, the process continues with the correct use of digital marketing methods. In short, advertising and promotion strategies carry significant weight for institutions and agencies working in health tourism. The two technical pillars of that work are SEO and GEO consulting for search visibility and landing page design for collecting patient enquiries.

What are the types of health tourism?

Alongside curative services, the protection and improvement of health is also very important in health tourism. For that reason the field is examined under several headings.

Medical health tourism

This covers medical treatments — treatments that affect people’s lives and need to be carried out within a certain period. Medical tourism includes procedures performed in hospitals and clinics. The prominent service areas in medical treatment are:

• Dental treatments
• Aesthetic procedures
• Cancer treatment
• Cardiovascular surgery
• IVF treatment
• Orthopaedic surgery

Thermal tourism

Thermal tourism is also considered within health tourism. Mineral waters containing dissolved minerals are associated with rest, recovery and general wellbeing. People travel to countries or regions with thermal waters for physical health and mental rest. Thermal facilities provide services for rehabilitation, treatment and rest.

Tourism for elderly and disabled travellers

This covers elderly care and specialised care services for disabled people. When elderly and disabled travellers change countries in order to benefit from care services, rehabilitation and social activities, that falls under this heading.

Which countries perform health tourism the most?

Among the countries that accept the most patients in the field of health tourism, Mexico, India, Thailand, Brazil, Türkiye and Singapore are at the top of the list.

When did health tourism start in Türkiye?

In Türkiye, health tourism policies have been officially determined since 2010, and various policies regarding health and medical tourism have been developed within development plans. The first official structure for health tourism began with the establishment of a health tourism unit within the Ministry of Health.

The clinical branches most preferred by international patients visiting Türkiye are gynaecology, internal medicine, ophthalmology, medical biochemistry, general surgery, dentistry, orthopaedics and traumatology, infectious diseases, and ear, nose and throat.

What are the advantages of health tourism for businesses?

Access to global markets. Through health tourism you can move beyond your local market and reach international audiences.

Visibility for technology and expertise. Health tourism gives you the opportunity to present your facility’s technological infrastructure and areas of expertise to patients from different parts of the world.

Revenue in foreign currency. Health tourism opens a channel with the potential to generate foreign currency income for health institutions and agencies.

Whether these advantages materialise depends on completing the authorisation process, on operational readiness and on how well the promotional work is designed. Planning and carrying out medical procedures remains solely the responsibility of the health institution and its physicians.