PH eyes to be a health and wellness tourism hub in Asia-Pacific region

Summary

The Philippines is working to position itself as a leading health and wellness tourism hub in the Asia Pacific, with efforts supported by the Department of Tourism (DOT) and First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos. The country aims to boost its economy by hosting the International Health and Wellness Tourism Congress, which showcases Filipino culture and traditional healing practices like hilot, alongside advanced healthcare services. With 80,000 to 250,000 international visitors annually for health purposes, the Philippines ranks third in Asia and 24th globally in medical tourism, targeting up to 1 million international patients by 2030.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Department of Tourism (DOT) is actively working to position the Philippines as a health and wellness tourism hub in the Asia Pacific region.
• 😀 Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco emphasized the importance of hosting the second International Health and Wellness Tourism Congress.
• 😀 The Congress gathered representatives from 38 countries, highlighting Filipino culture and traditional healing practices like hilot.
• 😀 The event was supported by First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, further boosting the country's image in the global health tourism sector.
• 😀 The Philippines ranks third in ASEAN and 24th globally in the Medical Tourism Index, with around 80,000 to 250,000 foreign tourists visiting annually for health and wellness purposes.
• 😀 The country is seeing a growing trend in medical tourism, with projections to reach up to half a million international patients by 2030.
• 😀 DOT has set a future target of 1 million international medical tourists, signaling its commitment to expanding the market.
• 😀 Filipino traditional healing practices like hilot are integral to the country's appeal in the health and wellness tourism market.
• 😀 The Philippines aims to capitalize on its top-tier healthcare services to attract more international patients for wellness and medical treatments.
• 😀 Market expansion efforts are central to DOT's plan to grow the country's health and wellness tourism industry in the coming years.

Q & A

What is the Philippines' goal in health and wellness tourism?

The Philippines aims to establish itself as a leading health and wellness tourism hub in the Asia Pacific region.

What event is the Department of Tourism focusing on to achieve this goal?

The Department of Tourism is focusing on hosting the International Health and Wellness Tourism Congress, specifically the second edition of the event.

How many countries participated in the second International Health and Wellness Tourism Congress?

Representatives from 38 countries attended the second International Health and Wellness Tourism Congress.

What role did First Lady Louise Araneta Marcos play in the event?

First Lady Louise Araneta Marcos supported the event, highlighting the government's involvement in the initiative.

What aspects of Filipino culture were highlighted at the Congress?

The Congress showcased Filipino culture, particularly traditional healing practices such as hilot, alongside the country's advanced healthcare services.

How many foreign tourists visit the Philippines annually for health and wellness purposes?

Between 80,000 and 250,000 foreign tourists visit the Philippines each year for health and wellness purposes.

What is the Philippines' current ranking in the Medical Tourism Index?

The Philippines ranks third in the ASEAN region and 24th globally in the Medical Tourism Index.

How many international patients could the Philippines see by 2030?

The Philippines could see up to half a million international patients by 2030.

What is the Department of Tourism's target for health and wellness tourism in the future?

The Department of Tourism aims to expand the market and reach a target of 1 million international patients in the future.

What role does the Agora Group play in the context of health and wellness tourism in the Philippines?

The Agora Group provided insights into the potential growth of the health and wellness tourism market in the Philippines, projecting a significant increase in international patients by 2030.