Access Tourism NZ TOURISM FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, SENIORS, AND AGEING BOOMERS IN NEW ZEALAND AND WORLDWIDE

Two new text books on accessible tourism are available through the European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT) from Channel View Publications. The first is “Concepts and Issues” (eds: Dimitrios Buhalis and Simon Darcy), which sets out to  explore and document the current theoretical approaches, foundations and issues  in the study of accessible tourism.  Professor Nigel Morgan, The Welsh Centre for Tourism Research states that this volume harnesses “the best conceptual  developments on the topic” and that it will “take accessible tourism and universal design debates into the mainstream of academic enquiryand industry practice“

The second volume is “Best Practice in Accessible Tourism” (eds: Buhalis, Darcy, and Ivor Ambrose).  It focuses on policy and best practice in accessible tourism, reflecting the ”state-of -the-art” as expressed in a selection of international chapters. It brings together global expertise in planning, design and management to inform and stimulate providers of travel, transport, accommodation, leisure and tourism services to serve guests with disabilities, seniors and the wider markets that require good accessibility. Chapter 8, written by Sandra Rhodda of Access Tourism New Zealand, describes the state of accessible tourism in this country.  Overall, the book gives ample evidence that accessible tourism organisations and destinations can expand their target markets as well as improve the quality of their service offering, leading to greater customer satisfaction, loyalty and expansion of business.  Accessible tourism is not only about providing access to people with disabilities but also it addresses the creation of universally designed environments that can support people that may have temporary disabilities, families with young children, the ever increasing ageing population as well as creating a safer environment for employees to work. Noel Scott, of the University of Queensland, Australia says that the volume “provides a ‘state-of-the-art” assessment of both theory and practice. This book establishes a new field of study and provides the benchmark against which other contributions will be judged. It integrates the work of all the key players and should be read by academics, managers and government policy makers.”

Serbia’s third conference on opportunities and challenges in accessible tourism for people with disabilities will be held in Belgrade, June 6-7, 2011.  The conference is being organised by the Tourist Club of the Association of Paraplegic and Quadriplegic “Dunav” Belgrade in cooperation with the Ministry of Economic and Regional Development.  It will focus on serving visitors with disabilities, especially in rural areas, and on improving profitability and sustainability in Access Tourism.  It will also focus on legislation and the development of accessible tourism in Serbia and throughout the European Union, information technology and universal design in accessible tourism, and accessible tourism in relation to mountain tourism, sport, health, spa, and wellness tourism.   Attendees are expected to include people from government, tourism associations and agencies, the transport sector,  academics, and the disabilities sector.

For more information visit Dunav or email tkdunav@gmail.com

The Annals of Leisure Research is seeking papers for a special issue that examines the inclusion and citizenship of people with disability in “cultural life” (recreation, leisure, the arts, sport, or tourism).  The purpose is to:

a)      clarify what the terms inclusion and citizenship mean in different cultures;

b)      to place inclusion and citizenship to ‘cultural life ‘(recreation, leisure, the arts, sport or tourism) across discourses relating to economic, social and environmental contexts that affect people with disabilities participation; and

c)       to discuss the terms inclusion and citizenship from the ideological frameworks of government, researchers, providers of service or disability advocacy groups.

Submissions are sought from the consumer (demand), providers (supply) and coordination/regulation (government) sector perspectives. The guest editors invite interested researchers to contribute theoretical, methodological or empirical papers related to the theme of this Special Issue. The topics of potential papers include but are not limited to:

• The role of inclusion and citizenship in the construction of ‘cultural life’(recreation, leisure, the arts, sport or tourism) environments and experiences;
• What is the impact of inclusion/exclusion on the person and their experiences?;
• The social and/or cultural construction of inclusion in ‘cultural life’(recreation, leisure, the arts, sport or tourism) activities and experiences;
• The role of inclusion in the construction of cultural, sub cultural and personal identities of different societies;
• The role of inclusion in the construction and/or deconstruction of the intersection with gendered, ethnic and sexual identities within the experience of ‘cultural life’(recreation, leisure, the arts, sport or tourism);
• How experiences of inclusion compare and contrast between different dimensions of disability (e.g. mobility, vision, hearing, cognitive, sensitivities etc.);
• The impact of inclusion and citizenship within space and place making

Important Dates:

• Abstract deadline: 30 June 2011 to Jerome(at)dal.ca
• Notification of acceptance of abstracts deadline: 1 August 2011
• Submission for double-blind reviewing process: 30 November2011
• Review Process Notification: 30 January  2012
• Special issue publication: June or December 2012

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The World Leisure Journal announces a special issue on Leisure, Health, and Disability aimed at a wide range of topics. Empirical research (both qualitative and quantitative), systematic reviews, scholarly descriptions, brief reports, and book reviews are invited.

Sample topics may include:

•  Models of disablement and their implications for leisure and health research
• Intersections of aging and disability
• Disability demographics and statistics as they apply to leisure behavior and services
• World Health Organization’s ICF and its implications for leisure and health services
• Research on service provision for individuals with disabilities (including therapeutic
• recreation)
• Policy and systemic issues relating to disability, health, and leisure
• Medical and health-related travel and tourism
• Accessible travel and tourism
• Trends and issues in leisure and health service provision for individuals with disabilities
• Research and service gaps in leisure and health for individuals with disabilities
• New methodologies for researching leisure, health, and disability phenomena
• Technology’s impact on the equalization of opportunities for those with disabilities

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The second series of the annual CEO-level conference, Ageing Asia Investment Forum (AAIF) will be the first conference in Asia focused on healthcare and ageing well for Asia’s ageing baby boomers.  By 2050, the number of people in Asia above 60 years of age is expected to be 1.2 billion, four times higher than in Europe and the United States, combined. In Asia-Pacific, baby boomer (born between 1946 and 1965) consumers control and an estimated wealth of US$11 trillion.

AAIF will be held in Singapore from 4 – 6 April at Pan Pacific Hotel.   Focused on the business of enabling healthy ageing, 40 CEOs from over 12 countries will discuss investment and collaboration opportunities for Asia’s emerging silver industry.  Over 200 international top business, government and not-for-profit leaders from various major baby boomer and ageing markets will attend the forum.  An international panel of speakers form Asia’s fastest ageing markets – including Japan, China, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore will present and discuss:

• Health tourism
• Successful Japanese business models in accessing the ageing market
• industry collaboration and PPP investment opportunities in ageing Asia
• Asian healthcare groups strategies on longevity, preventive health, wellness, seniors housing and step-down care
• Identifying seniors’ living solutions for Asia: ageing-in-place versus retirement communities

With the European Union  estimating the Access Tourism market in Europe to be worth €80B, it is foolish not to take the chance to look make the Vuokattin region of  Finland  a destination of choice for everybody to enjoy regardless of their physical capabilities.   So says Danny Silva, Project Manager of the ELMA project at Vuokatti For All.    The  ELMA Project is committed to serving the region and all those who select Vuokatti and Kainuu as their destination of choice whether it be for holiday, business or any other reason.  It aims to create a high level sport and leisure environment for people with disabilities (PwDs).   “In my personal opinion (although influenced by proven research) sport is a pleasurable and healthy activity for all and Vuokatti’s main potential is sport and leisure tourism and the fact that a barrier-free sport and leisure environment is a rare but very desired thing, we now have the tools to become unique and a sought out destination” says Silva.    ELMA want to support all individuals and inspired entrepreneurs who look to develop in the Accessibility markets.   Silva reminds people that being accessible is not just about ramps and elevators but also about hospitality, friendliness, security, support and lots of fun.

 ELMA is also working with Snowpolis – a unique technology park with 27 companies specialising in wellness and sport – to coordinate the “Able Access for All Exchange” program (AAAE).  The AAAE is a European Union Calypso Project  for low season tourism exchanges for PwDs and others to travel to Europe’s holiday spots.  The AAAE will involve 2 other member states: Portugal and Cyprus.  Snowpolis will coordinate the activities of this project and the participating countries. The activities aim at studying, testing and proposing the possibilities of creating tourism exchange programs between organizations of different member states whilst using specific target groups to experience unique programs of the visited countries and promote low seasonality as a key period for a holiday.

The University of North Carolina Wilmington has included Access Tourism in their Recreation, Sports Leadership and Tourism Management programme.  Last summer participants in the course  also spent two weeks in Italy learning about health and medical tourism. They studied how accessible tourist attractions were to people of all types, including those with physical disabilities. They learned about the planning that goes into determining widths of doorways, for example, said Nancy Hritz, a professor at the university.

The first Baby Boomers turn 65 in just two weeks.  In the USA alone, 12,000 people a day will have a 65th birthday, and this will continue for the next 20 years.   According to the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), countries around the world are starting to strategically plan for aging Boomers who seek the best health products and services by creating state-of-the-art medical facilities.   Germany is currently seen as one of the best destinations for medical tourism and the Oetker Hotel Collection is now developing luxurious accommodations for foreign patients.  Some reports have estimated that there are around three million patients traveling abroad for treatment each year and almost one-fifth are from the Middle East.

“We are the first grand hotels in Germany, if not in Europe, to provide a so-called medical spa and continue our tradition with contemporary means, which differentiates us from other competitors,” Samir Daqqaq, senior vice president for developmen told the news provider quoted by AARP.   He also explained that the hotels are targeting patients who are looking for the best services, rather than the most affordable. While Germany can’t compete with the cheap procedures offered by countries such as India and Thailand, it does offer some of the most advanced treatments in the world.  Daqqaq estimated that 40 percent of patients are looking for advanced technology, while only 9 percent are trying to find lower costs.  He also commented on the impact that retiring baby boomers will have as they start to travel more.

“The boomers will… be a source market for the global tourism industry for several decades and will have the biggest impact when the latter part of the group retires around 2024.” 

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There are many excellent examples of attention being paid to older travellers in other parts of the world.  For example, Oz-Bus is reaching out to this demographic by offering products to suit their mature years – twin-share instead of dorms, small hostels, and no multi-share hostels.  Why? Because Oz-Bus noticed that 60% of its bookings were by over-30s, and 25% by over 60s.  Peter Beattie writes in the Australian that Baby Boomers, third age or senior tourists represent the richest ageing group in history and a class of older travellers: wealthier, healthier, more active and with higher expectations than their predecessors is emerging

In Israel, the Jerusalem Post highlights how that countries growing aged population has resulted in the development of a travel industry for seniors.  According to the article, “there are currently roughly 700,000 seniors and pensioners residing in Israel and a growing number of them enjoy good health and sufficient financial resources to enjoy their retirement years”.  The article interviews the Director of Beshvil Hazahav, a travel company specialized in tours for seniors, who points to the fact that “many retirees enjoy good health and longevity” and that “they are also at an age when they no longer have mortgages to pay and children to support”, as the reason many of them choose to travel.

In the UK,Shearings Holidays, which is the UK’s leading specialist tour operator for the mature traveller, offers holidays throughout the UK, Europe and beyond by coach, air and rail, as well as sea and river cruises. The company is part of Shearings Group, which employs over 3,000 staff and comprises as well National Holidays, Caledonian Travel, a chain of 50 holiday hotels under the Bay and Coast & Country brands, and eight Wallace Arnold Travel shops.   Travelmole reports that the company is to appoint two new sales managers in a bid to work with travel agents to drive sales in the over 50s market.  The new staff will work on pumping up activity in the south east which the operator sees as a key development region.  Commercial director Caroline Brown said: “As well as widening our product portfolio to help agents increase their sales from the over 50s, we’ll also be growing our agent support team. Agents who choose to work with us can benefit from the loyalty and high holiday spending of the over-50s market. Some of our agents have customers that book over 20 holidays each year with Shearings and 20% book more than one holiday a year.”

In addition, The International Longevity Centre UK has just produced a new report called The Golden Economy, which points out the following:

• In the UK, those aged 50 or over spent £276 billion in 2008‚ making up around 44 per cent of the total family spending in the UK.  Yet, despite the size of the market, for many, the private sector does not meet their needs.
• The older consumer market is expected to grow by 81 per cent from 2005 to 2030 while the 18-59 year old market will only increase 7 per cent.

 In the USA, Baby Boomer spending is growing at a pace that’s leaving younger generations far behind. Spending by the 116 million U.S. consumers age 50 and older was $2.9 trillion last year — up 45% in the past 10 years. USA Bureau of Labour Statistics data show that meanwhile, the 182 million people younger than 50 spent $3.3 trillion last year — up just 6% during the same decade (USA TODAY).  Marketers who ignore Boomers do so at their peril. For one thing, Boomers are about to get a lot richer. People 50 and older will inherit an estimated $14 trillion to $20 trillion during the next 20 years.

 Meanwhile, NZ ignores this market.

In a first for New Zealand, The New Zealand Tourism Research Institute at Auckland University of Technology has created a Research Programme Area in Access Tourism headed by Sandra Rhodda. 

 NZTRI’s Access Tourism programme aims to research and develop Access Tourism in NZ.  Access Tourism is tourism, travel, and hospitality for people with permanent or temporary disabilities, seniors, parents with strollers, and any person with a need for improved access.  This is an interdisciplinary research area that addresses the challenges and opportunities presented by Access Tourism.

The Access Tourist already represents a sizeable proportion of our tourism markets.  Between 17 and 20% of the population in our main markets already report a disability, and this percentage is bound to grow because the large Baby Boomer cohort is ageing and disability increases with age.  Those aged 45 or older already comprise almost half of our domestic and international visitors (and over 70% of our cruise ship visitors).

Areas of interest include:

• Research and policy development
• Understanding the Access Tourism market
• Awareness promotion and education of government and industry to the potential of Access Tourism
• Access Tourism product development and marketing in NZ
• Promotion of cooperation in a developing Access Tourism sector, including in the public and private sector
• Access Tourist satisfaction and motivation
• Economic and social benefits of Access Tourism
• Access Tourism as an important factor in tourism sustainability
• Relationship of Access tourism to Health, Wellness, and Medical Tourism
• Opportunities for Access Tourism legacy development around major events such as RWC2011

The International Business Times reports that eight-to-ten years ago, medical tourism was hardly large enough to be noticed. Today, more than 200,000 patients per year visit Singapore alone and nearly half of them are from the Middle East (source: Travel Memo).  This year, approximately half-a-million foreign patients are expected to travel to India for medical care, up from 150,000 in 2002. Factors that have accelerated medical tourism include the high cost of health care, long wait times for some procedures, the ease and affordability of international travel, and improvements in both technology and standards of care in many countries (Travel Memo). 

An Australian report just out (Health Tourism in Australia: Supply, Demand and Opportunities) presents a detailed examination of health and wellness tourism in that country.   The research suggests that Australia would benefit from developing niche medical tourism offerings based on Australian medical strengths/expertise.  Meanwhile, New Zealand continues to lag in even considering the development

NZTRI staff at the conference

Podcasts of the presentations made at the inaugural Access Tourism New Zealand conference held in Auckland yesterday are now availabe on the NZ Tourism Research Institute website.  Presentations include those made by Sandra Rhodda, Director of Access Toruism NZ (talking about Access Tourism and New Zealand), Minnie Baragwanath(Access Tourism in Auckland), Diana Palmer (World Access Tourism), Bill Forrester (Inbound Tourism and Access Tourism), Mary Schnackenberg (The tourist with vision disabilites), Chris Peters (Tourism and the deaf or hard of hearing), Alexia Pickering (A wheelchair users experiences), Kathy Olsen (Accessible websites and information), Chris Ross (Transport and the disabled), and Auckland Disability Law (Legal aspects of Access Tourism).

It is estimated that by the end of 2010, more than 400,000 Americans will use treatment abroad for a variety of health needs (Travel Impact Newswire).   Recently, a health traveller blog was launched which includes forums where consumers of Medical Tourism can have their say.  The Health Traveller website hopes to help consumers make informed choices when they are contemplating medical or health treatment abroad.  It points out that – while not yet mainstream – travelling overseas for medical treatment is not new. In ancient Roman times documented cases of people travelling comparatively vast distances to locations of health were not uncommon. What is new is that the major reason Americans are travelling overseas is that the high cost of elective, non-acute medical procedures is making such procedures inaccessible at home in the US. 

The list of medical travel destinations is growing rapidly. In terms of overseas visitor numbers it is difficult to get a good estimate for each country.  While there are currently more than 130 countries that want to offer options for treatment abroad, the locations currently most sought out by U.S. health travellers include such locales as India, Thailand, Mexico, Costa Rica and Singapore.  Certainly, medical tourism is not as well developed in New Zealand as it could be and we are – to our detriment – trailing our tourism rivals in developing this industry (Access Tourism NZ, 16 August 2010). In its broadest sense, many patients often view treatment abroad as an opportunity to address health conditions while seeing the world (The Health Traveller).  For this reason, it is imperative that Access Tourism be developed alongside medical tourism, as has pointed out on this website many times before.

Indian hospital operator Fortis Healthcare has agreed to purchase a 23.9% (US$687 million) stake in Singapore-based Parkway Holdings.  This could lead to a major shakeup in the global health-care industry. So writes Bruce Einhorn in the Bloomberg Business Week.  Medical Tourism, which occurs when a person leaves their own country to seek medical treatment in another country, is a growing trend.  Nearly 150,000 Americans travelled abroad in 2007 for international medical care, and numbers drastically increased throughout 2008 and 2009.  Such treatment could be cosmetic or health related.  In Asia, Singapore has the best reputation for doctors and hospitals, and Parkway is well regarded.  India has for some time now had ambitions to be a major player in the medical tourism market and its hospitals are generally much less expensive than those in Singapore or other medical-tourism destinations such as Thailand or the Philippines. For instance, a hip replacement that costs $43,000 in the U.S. could cost $12,000 in Singapore and just $9,000 in India, writes Einhorn. Single heart bypass surgery, depending on severity, may cost an average of $25,000 to $40,000 in the United States, while an individual travelling to destinations such as India may receive such care for approximately $10,000.   By buying the Parkway stake, Fortis has now positioned itself to become the regional leader in Medical Tourism.  There will be a strong presence in India, where Fortis has 46 hospitals  for the most price-sensitive patients, and a new base in Singapore for higher-end customers aiming for more luxury.

New Zealand is missing out on Medical Tourism as there seems little government resolve in developing this market.  In fact, the most recent Ministry of Tourism figures for medical visits to NZ show that such visits have remained at around 0.01% of our total visitor count for the last seven years.  Our neighbours, Australia, held their first Health and Wellness Tourism conference in September 2009.   At that conference, it was discussed how Health and Wellness tourism is estimated to be worth in excess of US$1 trillion and is one of the fastest-growing drivers in the travel industry.  Ruth Grau, Springboard Vacations USA and Medtral NZ has stated that New Zealand has a potential of 2000 medical tourists a year ( Inside Tourism 742, June 19, 2009), and explains why New Zealand is attractive to medical tourists.   In addition, Dr. Hans Raetz, who is involved in the development of a Southern Cross private hospital in New Zealand tourism hotspot Queenstown says that there is a real possibility for medical tourism at the resort (Travel Memo 24 March 2009).  In fact, the Tourism Industry Association of New Zealand, in its brief to the incoming Minister of Tourism in December 2008, stated that the “wellness market (has) the potential to attract high value visitors and would benefit from target marketing’.  Meanwhile, Medical Tourism “has not been something that has been considered’, according to Associate Minister of Tourism Jonathan Coleman (Inside Tourism 742, June 19, 2009)

A Global Medical Tourism Expo and Congress in Peuerto Vallarta Mexico will look at the trends and opportunities offered by the Medical Tourism in Mexico.  Medical Tourism is the largest growth sector within the area of health services industries.   Attendees will include representatives from Mexico’s Tourism Bureau, state Tourism Bureaus, the Ministry of Tourism, universities, tourism developers, tourism businesses, hospitals, clinics, and medical associations.   Thousands of US, Canadians, and Europeans already travel to Latin America countries searching for cheaper drugs and medical treatments, including  stem cells implants, plastic surgery, heart surgery, dental implants, alternative treatments, and medical and wellness spas.  US citizens alone spent US$20b on medical tourism in 2008, and this is expected to rise to US$79.5b by 2017.  US insurance companies are fostering strategic alliances with out-of-country hospitals because it is cheaper for them to send their clients abroad for treatment than to pay for the same treatment to be done in the US.  The stay of a foreign patient includes on average 1 to 4 weeks for recovery, so that access issues will need to be addressed.

In size and purchasing strength, Baby Boomers – those born between 1946 and 1964 – represent the largest group of consumers. And, according to Margo DeAngelo and Phyllis Schiller, recession or recovery, they’re still spending in the USA. In their article, DeAngelo and Schiller quote some facts about American Boomers from a number of authorities.  These include: 

• 78 million American Boomers have an annual purchasing capacity of US$2 trillion despite the current recession; 
• they comprise a quarter of the population and thus the biggest generational segments;
• 14% are already over 65; over the next ten years, the growth of the 50+ age group will be 22%, compared to the growth of 18-to-49-year-olds, which is going to be 3%; 
• 33% have significant financial assets;
• Americans in their fifties, are less interested in “stuff” and more in experiences.

The influence of Boomers in the market place – including in tourism – is not confined to the USA.  According to Audrey Kauffmann (Vancouver Sun), “from Japan to Germany, senior citizens make up a lucrative and fast-growing opportunity in the tourism industry, with deep pockets, disposable income and free time.”   Older travellers have strong purchasing power, and have become common targets for marketers.  For example, travel companies in Germany and Austria are launching new programs to attract Boomers, and one businessman created a “50plus Badge” to help seniors identify ranked hotels across Austria and Germany that are suitable to older folk.  Amenities at these hotels include wider doors that are wheelchair accessible.

Michael Londregan, a California-based travel agent, who oversees Qantas’s holiday arm in the US and Canada, said at the Australian Tourism Exchange trade fair in Adelaide recently that Baby Boomers were the key market returning to international travel (The Australian).   In fact, Australia has for several years now been aware of the increasing importance of ageing Baby Boomers to the market in many sectors.  For example, demographer Bernard Salt, from business advisory firm KPMG, told the Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) symposium there would be a soaring popularity in health-based tourism, from spa treatments to cosmetic surgery, as the wealthy and cashed-up Baby Boomers of the western world reached their 60s, 70s and 80s in the next decade and beyond. ATEC also recognizes that Baby Boomers are the growing international drive market and that they have the time and money to spend exploring destinations that are off the traditional tourist track.  They also recognize that growth in the cruise industry is being “fueled by the ageing of many domestic populations and the relative wealth of retiring Baby Boomers”.

Accor Hotel regional general manager Neil Scanlan told the Cairns Strategic Tourism Forum last week that Tourism North Queensland (TNQ) is missing out on the huge Baby Boomer market because it focuses too much on younger travellers.  According to Travel Weekly, Scanlan told his audience that the people with the funds, the time, and the inclination to travel are more likely to be mature aged, but that little is done to attract them.  In comparison, the younger market is small compared to the millions of Baby Boomers, both in Australia and worldwide.   Meanwhile, a tourism repositioning report prepared for the Queensland Department of Resources, Energy, and Tourism in February 2009 identifies Baby Boomers as one of the best segments for providing good tourism growth and yield for the region.  The report states that

“The world’s population is aging, and an increasing proportion of the Baby Boomers are entering retirement. Time rich, healthy, disposed to spend on travel, and inquisitive, they represent an increasingly important target segment for tourism destinations. In the current economic climate where the younger age segments are under some pressure, their value does increase.  They have the potential to be long stay and repeat customers for a destination which can deliver a range of experiences and lifestyle options conducive with their new priorities in life. The UK and Japanese markets would appear to be prime opportunities for this segment development. The NZ and domestic market also have potential which should be explored.  TNQ needs to consider what modifications of services and product are required to attract this segment,  Their interest in self development and learning is an important consideration in their choice of destinations and holiday options. A destination which can deliver programs to stimulate this segment alongside its natural appeal will have an advantage.  As part of the aging process there is a related interest in, and demand for medical facilities and service.  This includes “soft” health services as well as major surgical.   Medical tourism is a sector which has grown, in recent years, but is not only servicing the older segments but increasingly younger age groups. “

In an effort to increase tourism, island nations such as Barbados and the Philippines are launching initiative to lure older travellers in need of high quality healthcare. The International Medical Travel Journal reports that a  task force for the government of Barbados will create a National Healthcare Quality Council to regulate private product and service providers in six sectors, including universal access to tourism products and services.  The target market is seen as “ An aging population with increasing demands for cosmetic surgery, spas and retirement communities.”  Head of the Barbados Departmetn of Tourism Richard Sealy, has said that health and wellness tourism is growing faster the general tourism and Barbados plans to develop its health and wellness market.  A recent study by the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) found that Barbados needs to do more to capitalize on this profitable niche market.  Filipino legislators are also working to promote medical travel, a global industry that is expected to be worth $188 billion within the next three years, according to the Manila Bulletin. The Philippines is developing medical tourism under the initiative of the Department of Tourism.  While the Philippines has had medical tourists for three decades, numbers have recently risen from 60,000 foreign patients in 2007 to about 100,000 foreign patients in 2008, bring in about $350 million since the program was launched in 2006.  The Department of Tourism expects the Philippines to have 200,000 foreign patients by 2015, generating $3 billion.  In the central Philippines, there are now 44 hospitals and health facilities accredited for medical tourism by the Department of Health and the Department of Tourism. Three of these medical facilities have been accredited by the Joint Commission International , an international organization providing accreditation for hospitals and other healthcare facilities worldwide.

In its research report “Poland Medical Tourism Market 2013 – An Untapped Opportunity”, IMRS has identified Poland as one of the most promising destination for medical tourism in Europe. In recent years tourists from countries like the UK and Germany have increased visits to hospitals and clinics in Poland for medical consultations and procedures. Driving this increase has been lower treatment costs in Poland and shorter waiting times. Also important has been Poland’s entry into the Europena Union, and,as a European country, it is placed in its market and there are no visa issues for Europeans.   The only challenge for Poland comes from already established medical tourism destination like India, Singapore and Thailand. According to the report, the medical tourism industry in Poland has the potential to grow exponentially because it has government support and an increasing number of private healthcare facilities.  A growth of 15% in medical visits to Poland is expected over the next several years.