Rehab Health Tourism in Thailand
The Impressive Growth of Medical Tourism in Thailand
Thailand receives around 26.5 million tourists each year (source: World Tourism Organisation) making it one of the most popular global destinations for holidaymakers. This country is loved for its wonderful culture, hospitable people, breath-taking scenery, and excellent weather. In recent years though, this tropical paradise has been attracting a new type of tourist. These individuals may spend some of their time lying on the beach, visiting temples, and experimenting with local cuisine, but their main reason for being in Thailand is something quite different – they have come here for medical treatment.
Medical tourism is huge in Thailand, and this industry is growing at a rate of 16 per cent annually (source: BBC Travel – The Rise of Medical Tourism in Bangkok). This means there are currently around two million visitors arriving with the intention of getting some type of medical treatment during their stay. So, why would people travel all the way to Thailand to do this?
Why is Health Tourism to Thailand so Popular?
Health tourism generally has a long history in Thailand. People have being coming here for decades to learn how to meditate – although this is often viewed as a spiritual quest, some individuals do see it as a tool to deal with stress and improve their health. Thai massage has also always been popular with tourists. It is only in recent years though that traveling to Thailand for medical treatments such as surgery has become popular.
There are a number of factors that have made it possible for medical tourism to become such a major industry in Thailand including the availability of quality world-class treatments, luxurious hospital accommodation, cheap airfares, and easily accessed information online (it is doubtful that this industry could exist like it does without the internet). Of course, one of the main driving forces behind medical tourism is that you can receive treatment at a fraction of the amount of money you would pay in most western countries. Thailand is also a wonderful place to recuperate following any type of procedure.
If you live in a country like the UK, you may be faced with a long waiting list for many types of medical treatment unless it is an emergency. You can cut this waiting time down by going private, but this can be prohibitively expensive. In this situation, it can make sense to travel to Thailand for the treatment. Even after you factor in airfares and other expenses, it can still be significantly cheaper than receiving treatment at home.
Popular Types of Health Tourism to Thailand
- Addiction rehabs.
- Full medical check-ups.
- Health spas.
- Plastic/cosmetic surgery.
- Dental treatment.
- Training camps/weight-loss boot camps (e.g. Muay Thai camps).
- Meditation retreats.
- Gender reassignment (sex change operation).
- General surgery.
- Bariatric surgery (weight-loss surgery).
- Fertility treatments.
- Stem cell therapy (experimental and caution recommended).
- Blood tests.
- Sexually transmitted disease (STD) treatment.
- Cancer treatments.
- Anti-aging treatments.
- Tattoo removals.
Reputable Private Hospitals Close to Hope
Bangkok Hospital
2 Soi Soonvijai 7, New Petchburi Road, Huaykwang
Bangkok, 10310.
Telephone – 0 2310 3000
Email – contact form on website
Pattaya International Hospital
255/4 Moo 9 Soi Pattaya 4 Pattaya 2nd Road Nongprue
Banglamung Chonburi 20150
Telephone: 0-3842-8374
Email – picpih@pih-inter.com
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