The country's leading hospitals, the emerging spa industry and local tour operators are combining forces in anticipation of what they hope will be a steady influx of health and wellness tourists to the country in the next few years.
The country's leading hospitals, the emerging spa industry and local tour operators are combining forces in anticipation of what they hope will be a steady influx of health and wellness tourists to the country in the next few years.

Representatives of these allied sectors are setting and strengthening programs, in conjunction with the Public Private Partnership (PPP) Task Force on Globally Competitive Service Industries, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Department of Tourism, the Department of Health, and the Department of Foreign Affairs to meet the expected demand for their services and facilities when these health and wellness tourists begin coming in, as they, in fact, have been doing so.

Health and wellness tourism is a key area in the National Competitiveness Agenda, designed by the National Competitiveness Council and the PPP Task Force on Globally Competitive Service Industries, as one in which the Philippines enjoys advantages that must, however, be developed and enhanced to help improve the country's overall competitiveness in the global market.

Among the areas which are being addressed are the facilities and services by local hospitals, including medical procedures to be offered, the excellence and consistency of spa and wellness clinics' services, the fees to be charged as well as the ability and readiness of tour operators to service the needs of medical tourists and their families.

The Philippine Tour Operators Association (PHILTOA) and the Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) are coordinating with leading Philippine hospitals and spa operators to develop specific medical tourism products that the country can offer to relevant medical and counterpart organizations overseas.

"We welcome the initiatives of various sectors that cater to health and wellness tourists to adequately meet their demand for the services of our hospitals, surgeons, nurses, medical aides, therapists, and other healthcare professionals right here in the country," Ruy Y. Moreno, Director for Operations, Private Sector, National Competitiveness Council (NCC) said.

Optimism on this is based on the positive reaction generated by a Hospital Cluster Mission participated in by nine of the country's leading hospitals and headed by Mr. Moreno, organized by the NCC and the PPP Task Force on Globally Competitive Service Industries together with the Department of Trade, the Department of Health, the Department of Tourism and the Department of Foreign Affairs. The Mission, which visited the U.S. the middle of this year, met prospective customers, including Filipino-Americans who welcome the double opportunity of availing of world-class medical services and of visiting their families here.

Initial estimates bare that health and wellness tourism could generate for the country around US$2.0 billion in the next five years.