Niche Markets

IVF (in vitro fertilization) treatments with the support of highly trained medical experts can be the driving force behind medical tourism to Greece, a recent conference on the subject, held in Athens, found.

The President of Russia Vladimir Putin is interested in further strengthening Greek-Russian relations, which includes cooperations for the development of medical tourism in Greece, the head of the health sector of the Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Industry informed Alternate Tourism Minister Elena Kountoura.

The Greek Medical Tourism Council (ELITOUR) has joined forces with UK-based health tourism marketeers Intuition Communication for the promotion of Greece to international markets as an ideal medical tourism destination.

Alternate Minister Elena Kountoura and the president of the Central Union of Municipalities of Greece (KEDE) Yiorgos Patoulis last week explored the role of the country’s local authorities in regards to health tourism.

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.

Greek Alternate Minister of Tourism Elena Kountoura focused on the significant growth prospects of Medical Tourism in Greece during the International Health Tourism Convention (IHTC) in Athens.

Greece is setting its sights on becoming a strong medical tourism destination and sector professionals expressed their confidence on Wednesday, that this is possible with the modernization of Greek hospitals, reforms to the institutional framework, improved cooperation between private insurance providers and hospitals and cooperation with international tour operators.

“Tourism in Crete is a key area of wealth,” Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni said at a conference held to explore possibilities of developing special interest tourism types to create a development strategy for South and inland Crete.

The Chinese traveler represents the biggest opportunity for brands in the hospitality and tourism sector and is the largest demographic segment of global travel, Agility Research & Strategy, a world class leading research agency focused on the Affluent consumer, recently informed Greek tourism professionals.

The Greek Government is making efforts to facilitate investment through a national zoning plan for tourism that is currently being drafted and will include guidelines for the development of large tourism resorts designed to accommodate a range of top quality infrastructure.