Dominican Republic looks to bolster health tourism

Santo Domingo.- Dominican Republic’s Export and Investment Center (CEI-RD) on Friday announced support for the Dominican Health Tourism Association’s (ADTS) 1st Forum, which aims to position the country as a health destination and explore investment and financing options in that sector.

CEI-RD director Jean Alain Rodríguez said Iberoamericana Universidad (UNIBE) will collaborate with the forum to be held at UNIBE auditorium on April 10, and signed an agreement for the sustained development and investment in Dominican Republic’s health tourism.

Health or medical tourism is a global phenomenon which gains momentum and relevance during the last 10 years, and involves traveling to a country or region for treatment or medical procedures including surgery, rehabilitation and aesthetic therapies or spas.

Rodriguez said health tourism as an economic activity forms part of the government’s goal to attract 10 million tourists per year, and promotes and raises the standards of quality in health as a national brand.

"According to the Medical Tourism Association (MTA), health tourism accounts for more than 60 billion dollars in annual sales, estimating a growth of 25% per year and generates 2.5% of total travel by plane, so it’s important to pay attention to this interesting sector with its great potential to attract new business and investment," said Rodriguez.

"Foreign investment in this important sector fosters competitiveness, productive contacts, market positioning and installed capacity of the health system, encouraging the transfer of knowledge and performing vanguard procedures," the official said, accompanied by ADTS president Dr. Alejandro Cambiaso Rathe.