Health and Wellness Next on Tourism Ministry Agenda

Ways of establishing Greece as a leading health and wellness destination topped the agenda of a meeting between Tourism Minister Elena Kountoura and Athens Medical Association president George Patoulis, this week.

Patoulis, who also presides over the Central Union of Municipalities of Greece (KEDE),  proposed the development of a national strategy that will shape the country’s competitive profile and ensure international visibility of Greece’s medical tourism packages. Patoulis stressed that Greece has significant comparative advantages and can strengthen its position in the health tourism market.

“We are taking initiatives and in cooperation with important stakeholders from the health and tourism sectors taking solid and substantial steps; we hope to place our country on the map of this new market. Greece’s human resources have a high scientific standing and its health services are among those with the highest standards in the world,” said Patoulis.

Patoulis and Kountoura went on to discuss ways to cooperate with international organizations, including the International Medical Tourism Center and the World Institute of Greek Doctors, in order to secure networking as well as tapping into the potential interest of Diaspora Greeks.

Kountoura pledged her full support, adding that in this direction the ministry is backing the upcoming “Health Tourism: A Driver of Development of the Greek Economy & Establishing Greece into a Leading Destination 12 Months a Year” to be held on the island of Ithaki on May 26-27 and organized by KEDE.