TAT forecasts two million medical tourists to visit Thailand in 2010

According to a report in etravelblackboardasia.com, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has forecasted that up to two million medical tourists are expected to visit Thailand for health care services in 2010. In recent years, thousands of medical tourists have visited Thailand for health checks, dental and cosmetic surgery and other medical treatments as prices are approximately half the price in United States or Europe.

As per TAT and Department of Export Promotion (DEP), the surge in medical visitors saw foreign patients generate an estimated USD six billion for Thailand in 2008.  The number continues to grow the medical sector in the country possessing an annual growth rate of 14 per cent, surpassing its GDP. TAT said that the growth of medical sector was helping in development of medical device sector, as well as boosting the country’s research and clinical trials of advanced medicine and stem cell treatments. Research and markets reported that in 2008 Thailand welcomed more international medical tourists than any other country in Asia.