Greece and WHO Discuss Health and Wellness Tourism Cooperation

The meeting headed by Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni (photo center). Photo source: Tourism Ministry.

The prospects of health and wellness tourism and ways to work together topped the agenda of talks between Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni and World Health Organization (WHO) Special Advisor Joao Breda.

Kefalogianni, accompanied by Deputy Tourism Minister Elena Rapti, briefed Breda on plans to revise and update a legal framework to facilitate the development of health and wellness tourism.

Breda pledged his support, adding that he looked forward to working with the Greek tourism ministry in this direction.

On her part, Rapti, who is responsible for special interest tourism, outlined the framework of the ministry’s cooperation with the WHO, which focuses on ensuring the best health of those employed in tourism; the quality of medical services rendered in the sector; ensuring medical care infrastructure on the islands; and ways of exchanging knowhow with other countries.

World Health Organization (WHO) Special Advisor Joao Breda with Deputy Tourism Minister Elena Rapti. Photo source: Tourism Ministry.

Rapti also informed Breda of planned reforms and available RRF funding (28 million euros), which will be channeled into the development of spa and wellness tourism.

She added that Greece offered high quality services in medically assisted reproduction, plastic and aesthetic surgery, hair transplants, dental treatments, orthopedic treatments, and wellness.

Lastly, the WHO requested that the organization’s first council of the Health Tourism Alliance be held in Greece. Last summer, the UNWTO and WHO/Europe agreed to strengthen ties between tourism and public health in Europe’s smallest states.