Athens Eyes Medical Tourism Potential

Recognizing the enormous potential of a dynamically developing sector, the Athens Development & Destination Management Agency (EATA) presented a study on the industry of private health services and medical tourism at the International Health Tourism Convention held in the Greek capital last week.

Citing the city’s high-quality medical services, lower costs, availability of highly qualified human resources, affordable accommodation and favorable legislation, the municipality aims to develop partnerships and work towards promoting Athens as a medical tourism destination by providing integrated services offered in package deals.

The recent example presented in Greek daily Kathimerini of a family from Kuwait who came to Athens after extensive research to get hair transplant operations demonstrates Greece’s increasing role as a prime health tourism destination.

According to the EATA study, the global market for medical tourism is estimated at 30 billion dollars (2009-2010 data) with approximately five million patients worldwide spending on average 6,000 dollars per trip, including travel and accommodation costs.

The study revealed that more than three million trips were made in 2011 by European citizens for health/wellness reasons while two million trips realized were exclusively for medical care. Additionally, approximately 1.2 million US citizens sought medical care abroad in 2014.

Kathimerini reports that according to Athens University findings, revenue for Greece from health tourism can amount to 2 million euros through 400,000 patients in the next decade.

Greece is already being selected for plastic surgery, treating infertility, dental and hair transplant procedures.