The country generated $13 million in medical and dental tourism services provided to 24 thousand visitors in 2017.
In a statement, the Ministry of Tourism indicated that "... Dental services, outpatient surgeries, stem cell treatments, bariatric surgeries, among others, are the most requested services in the country because of their quality of services and prices compared to other destinations."
Between 25,000 and 30,000 patients arrive in the country every year in search of medical services such as surgeries of various types, and dental procedures, among other things.
Authorities estimate that approximately 8 out of 10 health tourists come to the country with a companion, which opens up possibilities for increasing demand for tourism. Among the services most in demand are general, aesthetic and plastic surgeries, weight loss treatments, dental implant procedures, oncological and orthopedic treatments.
In Panama companies dedicated to the activity are complaining about the absence of a state policy or strategy to help promote the country as a destination for medical tourism at the international level.
Although Panama has all the necessary characteristics to make it a relevant market for medical tourism, a specific policy to promote the activity led by the Tourism Authority could encourage much more development of the activity in the country."...'The only disadvantage Panama has as a destination for medical tourism is that this sector has not been recognized by the state as a tourist product or a real feature of its organizational infrastructure,' said Luis Santamaría, general director of Panasalud S.A., to Prensa.com."
The health tourism segment, still in its infancy in the country, could achieve a higher degree of development if a strategy is implemented jointly by tourism companies and medical centers.
Low prices of treatments and medical infrastructure are the main factors which favor growth of the medical tourism segment in Costa Rica, which could also be applied in Nicaragua, once a work plan starts to be implemented which involves coordination between hospitals, government and companies in the tourism sector.
Up to September 2016 tourist activities such as business, medical treatments and traditional tourism generated $3.624 billion, 16% more than the same period in 2015.
While traditional or vacation tourism is still the main source of revenue generated in the tourism sector, with 64% of total revenue up to September 2016, other activities such as medical tourism and business trips are gaining more and more strength.Revenues generated in the segment of medical or wellbeing tourism accounted for 13% of the total, while revenues generated by business tourism accounted for 15%.
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.
The First Congress of Tourism Integration will be held on the March 22nd and 23rd in Panama City, with the objective of establishing a road map for the sector.
With this conference the Tourism Authority of Panama is aiming to bring together the different players in the industry in order to establish the roadmap for the sector.
"... Twelve workshops will be held, each relating to a market segment.The idea is that each workshop presents the current situation in its segment, holds a debate and draws conclusions which can be translated into action, " said Alfredo Motta, event organizer to Laestrella.com.pa.
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.
Investors and companies in the medical tourism and wellbeing sector will be meet on November 25th in San Jose to explore business alternatives and publicize their services.
The event is being organized by the Council for the International Promotion of Medicine in Costa Rica (Promed) and will be held at the San José Palacio hotel from 2 pm. The activity will be attended by companies and investors in the health and tourism sectors, who will present success stories in wellness 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 2014 the industry generated revenues of $21.2 million, 8.5% more than in 2013.
In 2014 19,000 tourists, mostly from the United States, visited the country to have a procedure or undergo treatment, whose average prices are up to four times lower than in the United States.
Tourism Minister Jose Napoleon Duarte, told Elsalvador.com that "... When medical tourism began to emerge, tourists came for dental care, but today they are also looking for specialized surgeries, treatments for cancer and heart ailments, which are gaining importance worldwide. Aesthetic plastic surgery is also experiencing a big boost. "
Agroganadera Pinilla SA has announced the sale of La Posada, in Hacienda Pinilla, Guanacaste, to the company Rythmia Holdings Company SRL, which will convert the facility into a center for medical treatment.
From a statement issued by Agroganadera Pinilla, SA:
Agroganadera Pinilla, SA, owner of Hacienda Pinilla Beach Resort & Residential Community in Guanacaste, announces the sale of the Hotel La Posada to the company Rythmia Holdings Company SRL, a subsidiary of Rythmia LLC, a company based in California, USA.
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.