UAE - Reed Travel Exhibitions’ Middle East travel and tourism exhibition, Arabian Travel Market, is to tap into the lucrative US$100m healthcare tourism sector by introducing a dedicated pavilion at the 2011 show.
According to consultants McKinsey and Company, healthcare tourism worldwide will be worth US$100bn by 2012. Healthcare tourism involves people visiting a country in order to have an elective procedure. In a recent survey published by Dr. Prem Jagyasi, 35 countries were recognised as healthcare tourism providers including the UAE (11th on the list).
“The UAE is clearly promoting itself as a quality destination for medical tourism,” said group exhibition director for Arabian Travel Market, Mark Walsh. “Dubai in particular has invested wisely in healthcare infrastructure and over the last few years 14 hospitals have been accredited to Joint Commissions International standards in the US.”
Arabian Travel Market is in its 18th year and is expected to attract 2,236 exhibitors and in excess of 22,000 visitors in 2011.
