South Florida are Ready for Overseas Patients

Seriously ill patients from overseas who need sophisticated treatment that is unavailable or very expensive in their homelands are becoming regular in Broward and Palm Beach counties.

These services are not just for rich foreigners who can afford big bills. Health officials said three-quarters of overseas patients coming to South Florida today are workers with health insurance from the Caribbean and Latin America.

While some uninsured South Floridians leave the country to find low prices on elective treatments, health care officials said they are stepping up efforts to find insured overseas patients.

Such patients already bring as much as a half-billion dollars a year to the local economy, but health executives said South Florida can bring more patients here.

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Source: MT.com

Las Vegas on Medical Tourism

Medical tourism is gaining popularity and some Las Vegas doctors and tourism officials believe Las Vegas has a lot to offer when it comes to attracting patients.

Las Vegas is synonmous with showgirls and slot machines not healthcare. In fact, many significant Nevadans have left the state when they have needed specific medical care. Now, that could be changing.

“We have great healthcare all around us, but we just don’t give it a chance, and we’re led to believe you have to leave town and you don’t,” said CEO Doug Geizner with the Southern Nevada Medical Industry Coalition.

Source: Latest News on Medical Tourism

American Express Goes for Wellness

With 12 years of experience, Breckon Jones serves as Director of Health & Benefits, in American Express’ Global Compensation and Benefits team, with responsibility for the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region.

Jones’ initiatives in this field have led him to several speaking opportunities and to the title of the only benefits professional to have won the European Employee Benefits: Most Effective Healthcare & Well Beings Strategy, two years in a row for two different employers.

“Our goals are to raise employee awareness of their benefits entitlements and to increase appreciation of those benefits,” Jones said.

Since launching the program in 2010, American Express has already reaped some of the benefits.  “We know that giving our people choice, leads to greater employee engagement and in turn increases performance. Employee feedback surveys show an increase in engagement and favorability of the system as a result of introducing the flexibility to customize their total reward package,” explained Jones.

Source: MT Mag

OK Woman Goes to India for Inexpensive Surgery

An Oklahoma woman saved tens of thousands of dollars — and possibly her life — through the booming industry of medical tourism.

Overweight most of her life and up to 350 pounds, Jan Neufeld knew she had to do something about it.

“When you’re that heavy, you worry about things nobody else would think of,” Jan Neufeld said. “You worry before you sit in a chair. Will that chair hold me?”

Neufeld knew she needed to have gastric bypass surgery, but she couldn’t afford the $40,000 price tag here in Oklahoma. That’s when a friend told Neufeld she could have the surgery done in India for about a quarter of the cost. And the results are astounding.

“It was scary to even think about it, but a light of hope,” Neufeld said.

Source: MT.com

China in Key Position to Attract Medical Tourists

The Ciming Health Check Group received nearly 1000 phone calls, many from Chinese patients interested in anti-aging treatments near Lake Lucerne or face lifts in Seoul. Many of the company’s advertised packages start at US$10,000 including treatment, travel, and accommodation and can run $30,000 or more.

For these companies, selling medical travel packages to growing numbers of Chinese customers wishing to receive treatment abroad is already big business. Now, Chinese firms want to promote their own facilities at home to growing numbers of foreign medical tourists.

China’s major urban centers of Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou have already attracted growing numbers of medical tourists due to advanced technology, higher quality of service, and affordable prices.

In addition, Hainan Island’s natural beauty has been marketed as therapeutic for foreign patients receiving treatment there.

Source: SHMTPPP

Foreign Tourists Shrug Off Mexico Drug Violence

Mexico for the third consecutive year saw an increase in foreign visitors,government tourism figures out Monday showed. Tourism is Mexico’s third most important source of hard currency, after oil exports and remittances by Mexicans living abroad.

Some 22.6 million foreigners visited Mexico in 2011, just slightly less than the record 23 million in 2008, the office of Tourism Secretary Gloria Guevara said in a statement.

The figure is two percent higher than 2010, and 5.7 percent higher than 2009, the statement said.

Source: Yahoo News!

COTRI Predicts in Chinese Outbound Travel This Year

COTRI predicts Chinese Outbound Travel to Exceed 80 Million Trips in 2012.

China has had yet another year of massive growth in terms of outbound tourism, confirming the predictions made by COTRI at the beginning of 2011.

The China Tourism Academy (CTA) put the final figures as approximately 70 million trips overseas in 2011, an increase of more than 20% from the 57.4 million trips in 2010.

The 13 million jump from 2010 to 2011 corroborates the prediction made by the Director of COTRI China Outbound Tourism Research Institute, Professor Dr. Wolfgang Georg Arlt, who in January 2011 boldly said to expect a double-figure increase, despite the conservative estimates made by others in the field.

Source: Travel Daily News

UAE Tourist Arrivals Forecast to Hit 9 Million in 2012

The BMI report forecasts that overseas arrivals in the UAE during 2012 will climb to 9 million, a healthy 9% increase on the 8.2 million tourists that arrived in the UAE last year.

Echoing that sentiment, Arabian Travel Market (ATM), the leading travel exhibition in the Middle East, is witnessing strong online visitor interest ahead of this year’s event, with the number of pre-registered visitors already up 132% from the same time last year.

“With unrest particularly in Egypt and North Africa last year, the UAE experienced an influx of tourism, boosting its status as a regional safe haven,” said Mark Walsh, Portfolio Director, Reed Travel Exhibitions.

“With Emirates and Etihad opening-up at least ten more destinations between them this year, not including low cost options FlyDubai, and Air Arabia, future tourism growth is assured. ATM not only provides a platform for the travel and tourism industry, it acts as a barometer and the massive increase in our online registrations certainly supports BMI’s forecast,” he added.

Souce: Travel Daily News

Foreign Office Warns Brits Over Maldives Travel

The British Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) has urged travellers to avoid “all but essential” travel to Malé Island in the Maldives.

The moves comes after former vice president Mohammed Waheed Hassan stepped up to become president following the resignation of Mohamed Nasheed resigned after police joined widening street protests against his government.

Police are believed to be holding former president Nasheed.

However, Waheed Hassan has called for calm and stated his intention of forming a government of national unity in the Indian Ocean nation.

Source: Travel News

Medical Tourism In The Philippines

Nowadays, medical tourism is one of the fast-growing industries in the world. It has been identified as part of the national industry of one country in promoting the affordable high quality healthcare and, at the same time, the enormous and captivating beauty that lies within.

In medical tourism one can undergo treatment and procedures coupled with travel luxury at less expense. The costs of the procedure and travel at the same time can be much lesser compared to the expenses in healthcare treatment and procedure in the United States, Europe and in other parts of the world.

As part of growing national industry, a country promotes medical tourism. This has been addressed with serious dedication not only in the practice of medical treatment and expertise, but also as part of  the rising tourism industry as one component of national economy.

The Philippines is composed of thousands of islands with exotic and natural beauty. With its captivating natural attraction and warmth hospitality of the people, the Philippines, is undeniably taking medical tourism industry earnestly as part of their growing economy.

Today, the Philippines is one of the countries in Asia that is growing as a tourist destination of choice for various medical and vacation needs. This has been the preferred country as haven for tourists looking for quality healthcare coupled with travel escapade at an affordable price.

The Philippines has been the home of best hospitals, medical centers and health institutions approved by the most trusted source of international healthcare accreditation in the US, particularly the Joint Commission Accreditation. By which, this has been facilitated with experts in the fields of medical practice.

The Philippine healthcare industry composed of world-class physicians offering globally competitive expertise. Philippine doctors and healthcare providers are trained and exposed in wide range of medical training in various schools in Asia and United States making them globally competitive and capable physicians in the world. Combined with their good command in English, allowing them easy to understand and communicate with patients from different parts of the globe.

They are equipped with the most comprehensive range of the latest and most sophisticated technologies and health facilities in diagnosing and treating patients. And, the recovery of patients can be very relaxing when combined with Filipino friendly, warm, caring and hospitable attitude that is perfect after the procedure.

The costs of medical treatment and procedure in the Philippines are less expensive compared to other medical tourism destinations in the world. They are very much affordable compared to other countries offering medical services and treatment of patients.

At the portion of the quantity that a medical traveler would likewise spend on the same medical treatment and procedure in the United States and Europe, one can get the same world-class quality treatment in the Philippines combined with exotic travel escape and ecotourism destinations making the Philippines as one of the preferred medical tourism destinations in the world.

The most common procedure of medical treatment in the Philippines that can be done at less expensive amount are dermatology, cosmetics and plastic surgery, orthopedics treatment, like hip replacement surgery, total knee replacement, ophthalmology, cardiology, dental treatment, weight loss surgery, and cancer therapy treatments. By which it can be undergone at a very affordable price and at the time the patients needed it most.

So, if you are one of the travel savvy looking for a place to go and at the same time having your health checked, undergo treatment or procedure at a very affordable price, choose Philippines. You will be served with utmost care and hospitality of world-class professionals and at the same time relaxing in the scenic beauty of nature.

In the Philippines, the recovery of patients, has never been this fun and relaxing. One can indulge in some of the world’s famous beaches, resorts, and in other natural and exotic tourist destinations, coupled with Filipino warm spas and massage while recovering from the procedure.

Why look for any other place, when you can afford in the Philippines the world-class quality healthcare services and luxury at a very affordable price!

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