ITB Berlin expands the Medical Tourism segment

Even greater demand for places in the Medical Tourism segment, now in its second year – New location in Hall 21.b – Presentations and lectures on new trends and developments at the Medical Tourism Pavilion – The Health Tourism Industry Conference is the official partner

Medical tourism is one of the markets of the future: following last year’s successful launch of the important and fast-growing Medical Tourism segment, growing demand means it has had to relocate to a larger hall (21b). Lectures and presentations will take place there, and visitors will be able to get detailed information on clinics, destinations and medical health insurances. The Health Tourism Industry Conference (HTI) is this year’s official partner of the Medical Tourism Pavilion. HTI, which this year is organising conferences in Zagreb and Brussels, specialises in medical congresses all over Europe. Taking place for the first time, the Medical Media Lunch will be held on Wednesday, 7 March, followed by the ITB Medical Night on Friday, 9 March.

Medical tourism offers huge prospects for the global tourism industry. According to the latest report by VISA and Oxford Economics, current turnover in the world’s medical tourism industry is around 50 billion dollars. Over the next ten years growth is forecast to reach up to 25 per cent per annum. The international rise in demand for Medical Tourism places at the World’s Largest Travel Trade Show reflects this trend.

This year, for the first time, the Medical Media Lunch will take place on Wednesday, 7 March from 1 to 2.30 p.m. at the Medical Tourism Pavilion. Following this event, the Medical Travel Quality Alliance (MTQUA) will present the world’s ten best clinics catering for medical tourists. In her lecture on ‘The forest and its health potential – a green pharmacy’, Dr. Karin Lehrmann, of Kaiserbäder Insel Usedom, will illustrate the health benefits of trees. In their lectures, Berlin Health Excellence and Deutscher Heilbäderverband will highlight Germany’s role as one of the world’s leading medical tourism destinations.

On Thursday, 8 March, the HTI Conference will present its latest news. Other international exhibitors will include the Dünyagöz Eye Clinic, the Esnaf Hospital from Turkey and the Conseil National of the Etablissement Thermaux from France. The Institute for Research and Development of Medical Tourism from Gdansk will update visitors on the latest developments in medical tourism in Poland. Also providing information on their health services will be Europäischer Heilbäderverband, Kvarner Health, the International Medical Group from the Dominican Republic and the Energy Clinic from Croatia. Other exhibitors will include Visit Jordan with the King Hussein Cancer Center, the largest of its kind in the Middle East.

As in every travel market, digitalisation is a hot topic in the Medical Tourism segment. On Friday, 9 March, Dr. Andreas Keck will talk about ‘The Digital Challenges in Global Medical Tourism’. Topics addressed by other lectures will include the changes and developments taking place in medical tourism, and the resultant challenges facing hotels and destinations. Over the course of 30-minute sessions Toscana Promozione Turistica (www.visittuscany.com/en/) will provide information on Tuscany’s many spas. Every day from 4 p.m. onwards, exhibitors and visitors can get together at a Networking Reception, where they exchange in-depth knowledge and establish new contacts.

On Friday, 9 March, taking place at the Capital Club on Gendarmenmarkt in Berlin, the exclusive ITB Medical Night will also provide an opportunity to network. The event is sponsored by Toscana Promozione Turistica and participation is by special invitation only. To register please email ITB@diversitytourism.com.