3/4 PP: Health Tourism

A little history

• Health and tourism have always been connected - one of the main outcomes

  • Earlier forms of tourism centered around health

  • Famous spas of the French Specific healing properties of the Alps, Roman Baths in Bath, England.

• All strongly tied to health of the participants

  • Incidental outcomes

  • No actual medical treatments

So Many Different Terms…

What are the major differences between health, medical and wellness tourism?

• Health tourism deals not only with getting rid of disease, but complete needs

• Wellness tourism takes on a more holistic approach. Think about Spas

• Medical involves people traveling for remedies that are supported by the medical and scientific communities

Drivers of Medical tourism

What are the major drivers of medical/health tourism

Major Drivers

• Political factors

  • Political system of a country actively supports health living

  • Overburdened health care system

    • National system may not support or have benefits for all

    • Open heart surgery - US $150,000; India $10,000

• Economic Factors

  • Impact of recession?

  • Cuts to health spending

  • Reverse movement

  • Greater investment in facilities

Major Drivers

• Socio-Cultural Factors

  • Life expectancy

  • Health lifestyle

• Technological Factors

  • Apps and the internet

  • Ease of care

• Natural Factors

  • Climate Change

• Legal

Where and Who?

• Prevalent throughout the world

• Most recognized in Singapore, Thailand, and India

• Also prevalent in Eastern Europe, the Carbbean, Africa, and the Middle East

Changes in Health/Medical Tourism

• Historically focused on potential clients from rich, first world countries

• This is changing

• Many Japanese companies will send employees abroad for medical care; cheaper than Japanese care

• Diaspora and understanding - get treatment in native land

Japan and Health/Medical Tourism

• There are two areas of health/medical tourism

• The most well-known is for those traveling for procedures that may be inaccessible in their country

• Or to find procedures that are cheaper, but still performed at reputable facilities

Preventative Medical Tourism

• A second form is preventative care

• What sorts of characteristics does Japan possess that could make it successful in this area?

• Spas, yoga and meditation, locally sources food, abundance of outdoor recreation, and hot springs.

Medical Tourism in Japan

• Japan has one of the top rated medical systems in the world

• Government will provide a visa for medical stay

• Top care in many areas such dental care, cosmetic surgery, various forms of cancer

• Many wealthy Chinese clients historically traveled to Japan for care

• Remains somewhat out of reach due to lower cost competitior in Asis.

Health Tourism Markets

U.S. generates most revenue and spends the most ton health tourism

Other big earner - Turkey, Republic of Korea, Jordan, Thailand

Big spenders - Kuwait, Germany, Nigeria

Different destinations have different attributes

Europe - history and thermal springs

U.S> - Fitness power house

Africa/Middle East - Emerging destination with strong hospitals.

Offerings

• Medical resorts and hotels

  • Hotel spa vs. spa hotel

• Natural resource facilities

  • Medical use of water

  • Pannonian lakes, Tuzla

• Retreats

  • At 2,500; probably much more

Motivations

• Health tourism has a host of push and pull factors

  • Price

  • Location

  • Reputation

  • Availability

• Demographics

  • Age

  • Sex/Gender

    • Often female dominated; men being recognized as a viable market

  • Generation

Cultural Considerations

Why does culture create challenges in Health Tourism?

• Cultural traits may make some patients adverse to certain treatments

• Issues related to language

• Religious issues

• Role and expectation from a patient care

• Special diets

Differing Approaches

• Many people do travel for procedures overseas because of the tourism aspect; different approaches though

  • Some countries market minor procedures as a small part of the tourism experience

  • Some locations chosen because they are already known as a great tourist destination

• Others are more integrated - Raffles in Singapore has teamed with hotels and tourism agencies

  • Will arrange not only medical needs, but also things around the tourism experience

• Excellent boost for tourism industry

  • Medical tourists spent $1.6 billion in Thailand in 2003.

Challenges in Ethics

Perception that care in other countries is not as good or safe

Less cost = worse care and services

Extreme and controversial procedures

Stem cell procedures. Surrogacy. Death tourism. Transplants.

Biosecurity

Remove patient from comfortable environment

Only serving the wealthy; not the poor

Opportunities

• Hotels and hospitals becoming inseparable partners

  • People in long term care want more comfortable living areas

  • Hotels near hospitals have greater occupancy

• For people staying with a loved one for a long term procedure and recovery, a need to get out

  • Hospitals are using concierge services

• Essential part of Affordable Care Act

  • Level of care essential to earning money

  • Provide better experience then bland hospital

  • Interior should be inviting