ABOUT THE IST INTERNATIONAL HEALTH TOURISM CONGRESS

Although our country has a great potential in respect of health tourism, the problem from insufficient utilization of such resources became very explicit among the sector representatives. Up to present, our hospitals, thermal spring facilities and tourism agencies struggled so much to find ways to do implement in health tourism, to acquire a share from the globally circulating annual turnover of 100 billion USD. They participated in many activities, and spent a lot; however, no fair progress was achieved, and all parties could not be ever gathered together.

In the past, announcements of fairs, symposiums etc. were made for 2 – 3 activities, but they were cancelled before starting. Foreign participants and authorities were not brought to the fairs, and the matter were not totally explained to them. Nevertheless, the sector extend its assistance, and spent great moneys.

Despite all these difficulties, the 1st International Health Tourism Congress, which was opened by our esteemed Minister of Health, Prof. Dr. Recep AKDAĞ, was completed with a great success. The congress lasted for 3 days, and on the last day, a trip to several private and public hospitals, cultural and touristy places was held for foreign visitors, and the potential of our country was presented to the guests with its whole reality.

About 400 participants were present in the congress. 53 foreign participants, authorities from 25 various countries, and sector representatives coloured our congress. Thus, our Congress by its first congress became of international nature. The matters of the global point achieved by medical tourism, thermal tourism, and elderly tourism, presentations of promotion, marketing and service were comprehensively discussed in that congress. Information exchange was made, business contacts were established. But what left its mark at the congress was that it was remarked by our country to say : “We are all going to take place in world health tourism as well, and this is our potential”. Another matter was that, it gave a hope and excite to the representatives of the health tourism sector. It was also important and significant that foreign participants from 25 various countries including India, USA, Germany, Hungary, Jordan, Uzbekistan, Moldova, and Albania were present at the congress which was fairly successful and an international activity in real terms. Today, our Association has become a leading and important Civil Society Organization in Health Tourism field. And March 14th, 2008 has become a birth date in the Health Tourism of Turkey.