The Cypriote government is one of many governing administrations worldwide to recognize the potential of medical tourism and global healthcare. Recently, the Cypriote Minister of Health, Dr. Christos Patsalides, presented a strategic plan to develop and promote the medical tourism industry in Cyprus. During a press conference in Nicosia in late September, The Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, Mr. Antonis Paschalides, said the target “is to take the correct steps to promote Cyprus as the ideal destination for tourists in health matters”.
Health Tourism is twofold
At the conference, the head of the Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO), Mr. Alecos Ouroundiotis, explained that health tourism is twofold, “It comes under two categories: medical tourism, which includes specialized medical therapy; and well-being therapy which includes spas, alternative medicine, relaxation and rejuvenation”.
Due to its climate and geographic location, together with its excellent healthcare facilities, Cyprus is valued as an ideal location to attract health tourist that would like to combine treatment with holidays, recover with relaxation.
Although holding many advantages, there are still some disadvantages that the Cypriote government, tourism authorities and healthcare providers must battle; such as the historic associations with turmoil, that the country is mainly associated with recreational tourism and the fact that Cyprus does not have a medical school.
Cyprus’ competitors for medical tourism
Some of Cyprus’ closest competitors are likely to be countries such as Greece, Spain, Egypt, Turkey and Hungary.
Since the press conference in September, the Cypriote government has communicated to all national medical centers and universities with its intention to develop cooperation in order to upgrade the country’s medical services. The Ministry of Health also promotes cooperation with Israel, through which Cyprus hope to gain knowledge and experience in the medical field through the training of medical staff and a general upgrade of its hospitals.
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