Turkish health sector hopes to attract 2 million medical tourists
09-Oct-15, Hurriyet Daily News
Turkey’s growing medical tourism industry has been growing quickly, but the sector is eyeing even greater profits over the next decade, hoping to become the destination for the 650 million living in the region, according to the head of the Turkey Health Tourism Development Council.
With a know-how already well in advance of its neighbors, Turkey’s health sector is now aiming to attract 2 million patients and earn incomes of $20 billion by the country’s centenary in 2023, according to Meri İstiroti, the president of the Turkey Health Tourism Development Council.
%20Hurriyet%20Daily%20News.jpg "Turkish health sector hopes to attract 2 million medical tourists (c) Hurriyet Daily News")
Image: Hurriyet Daily News
“We have been telling the economy, tourism and health ministries that if we can make Turkey a brand, we will become a sector that can help decrease the current account deficit,” she said.
There has been a steady increase since 2005 when we received 126,000 international patients. In 2010, we reached $2.4 billion in income with 487,000 international patients. The numbers for 2014 were 727,000 patients and $5.5 billion. Our target is 2 million patients and $20 billion in income.