In 2018, revenues generated by health tourism companies in the Dominican Republic totaled $265 million, 15% more than in 2017, partly because of the competitive prices offered by the country.
Figures from the "Study and Diagnosis of Health Tourism in the Dominican Republic", detail that between 2017 and 2018 the income from this type of tourism increased by nearly $35 million, going from $230 million to $265 million.
A study by PROCOMER has identified potential business models in the US market through different access channels, ranging from "one to one" to the creation of partnerships with the public sector.
From thereportentitled "Exporting health services to US"by PROCOMER in Costa Rica:
In five years the revenue generated from wellbeing tourism activities has gone up almost three times, going from $7.3 million in 2010 to $26.6 million in 2015.
Lower costs in markets such as the US and Canada is the main reason behind the increase in foreign exchange flows generated from medical tourism activities.
Visitors from the US, Mexico, Colombia, Panama, Singapore and Italy are among a growing number of foreigners who came into the country for medical treatment during 2015.
Figures from the Tourism Commission of Health and Welfare at the Guatemalan Association of Exporters (AGEXPORT) indicate that the number of people who visited Guatemala in 2015 for various medical and dental treatments grew by 18% compared to the previous year.
Forecasts are that by the end of 2015, 24.500 foreigners will have entered the country in order to receive medical treatment, generating revenues of $25 million annually.
According to the union one of the reasons which explains the anticipated results this year is the increase in the number of medical centers that have been accredited as providers of medical tourism.
Tourists coming to the country to receive medical treatment come mostly from the US and Canada and spend an average of $131 per day, mainly on dentistry.
From a statement issued by the Guatemalan Tourism Institute:
The Bureau of health and wellness Tourism of Guatemala, formed by the Guatemalan Institute of Tourism, INGUAT, the Chamber of Tourism of Guatemala, CAMTUR, the Guatemalan Association of Exporters, AGEXPORT and the Medical Tourism Association, ATURMED, are joining forces to give continuity to actions that promote this segment.
In the first six months of the year the income generated from this activity grew by 26.6% compared to the same period in 2013.
"... In the first half of 2014 10,338 people came into the country for medical treatment, generating $12,145,969 million in foreign exchange ... This represents an increase of 19.6% and 26.6% respectively when compared with the same period in 2013, when the amount of people who came was 8646 and revenue was $9,595,313."
The Municipality of Nicoya in Guanacaste province plans to build a medical center with participation of private investors from the United States and Canada.
Leveraging the status of "blue zone" Nicoya has earned, a term given to areas with the highest longevity rates in the world, the City is preparing a project for 2015 and looking for private investors to participate in it.
Part of the new office tower being built in the Vivian Pellas hospital at a cost of $18 million will be used for the care of foreign patients.
With patients coming from the United States and Europe, most of whom require services related to stem cells, orthopedics and bariatric surgery, average spending by tourists in the medical sector ranges from between $1,000 $2,000 daily.
The U.S. company American World Clinics reported that the project to be undertaken in Costa Rica includes a hospital, hotel and residences for retirees.
In partnership with a chain and a real estate developer in Costa Rica, the group American World Clinics (AWC) has announced that a resort will be developed in an area near the international airport and foresees that it will attract 10,000 foreign patients each year.
There are now eight clinics dedicated to small outpatient surgery with international accreditation, strengthening the country's position as a medical tourism destination.
Zaldivar Clinic and Day Surgery Center are the two new hospitals accredited by the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities International (AAAASFI).
The Maya Medical Travel Summit will be held on 17th and 18th of July and will offer conferences and business meetings with representatives from companies.
El Salvador Medical Holding (ESMH) will hold a medical tourism congress called "Maya Medical Travel Summit" on the 17th and 18th of July in the Central American nation.
"The meeting will include lectures on medical tourism, business conferences, workshops and visits by international facilitators, who are responsible for sending patients to destinations that offer these services."
The Altara El Tucano project has stopped paying its investors and is to execute the Guarantee Trust.
After the deadline of 30 working days provided to the settlor Altara The Tucano to provide the resources to pay obligations owed to the trust, the administrator, Scotiabank announced the execution of the guaranty for non payment.
"The trust was created to issue bonds to finance the purchase of the Hotel El Tucano, located in San Carlos , Alajuela.
Under the agreement with the insurance company Stop Loss Brokerage Guatemalan medical services will be promoted and a trade mission will travel to Florida.
From a statement from the Guatemalan Exporters Association:
"In 2013, the Tourism Commission of Health and Welfare signed an agreement with Stop Loss Brokerage, a medical insurance company from the United States, a promotion plan created exclusively for Guatemala, called: Latin American preferred Health Plan (LAPHP) which seeks the promotion of medical procedures such as cardiovascular and orthopedic surgeries, among others, in the US.
With the certification obtained by the Nuestra Señora de la Paz hospital the country has six internationally accredited hospitals.
From a press release by the Ministry of Economy of El Salvador:
Medical Tourism is gaining ground in our country, an area in which officials from the Ministry of Tourism and the Salvadoran Tourism Corporation are seeking to position El Salvador as a sustainable and competitive destination.