Tourism Bureau says "health tourism" poised to take off

This article was published by the Taiwan Headlines on March 20, 2006. It reports that in recent years, more and more international visitors are discovering Taiwan as a health tourism destination. Most of the health tourists are people of Chinese descent fro Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, Singapore and the United States.

According to the Tourism Bureau, Taiwan holds five main attractions for ethnic Chinese health tourists. First, these tourists are already familiar with Taiwan. Second, these tourists do not face any language barriers. Third, Taiwan's medical costs are relatively cheaper than those in the United States. Fourth, these tourists have confidence in Taiwan's medical standards. Finally, these tourists can take the opportunity to visit their relatives in Taiwan.

The Tourism Bureau began promoting the health tourism market in 2005. So far, the results are quite significant. Local travel agencies are currently promoting unique tourism programs to attract overseas Chinese from Los Angeles. One such program is a cosmetic treatment and beauty package, while another is a preventive health and medical check-up package. Programs such as these two last for four days and three nights and cost about US$900 to US$1,200. The prices include accommodation and roundtrip, direct flight tickets from Los Angeles to Kaohsiung City in southern Taiwan or Taoyuan County in northern Taiwan.

Currently, the Kaohsiung Municipal United Hospital is offering medical services and various cosmetic treatments to health tourists. The Chang Gung Memorial Hospital's Linkou Branch in Taoyuan County also provides comprehensive medical check-ups.

Travel agencies are planning to widen the health tourism market by attracting a wide range of people, rather than only ethnic Chinese. Meanwhile, in order to further promote Taiwan's health tourism industry, the government is considering whether to make invasive healthcare treatments available to overseas tourists. The government also plans to create more employment opportunities in the industry.