More Americans have discovered Turkey's health tourism potential

Turkey is a growing health tourism destination thanks to its close location to European countries (meaning easy transportation), abundancy and efficiency of private health institutions with state-of-the-art technology and qualified medical and service personnel. There are also hot springs which serve to treat or cure many ailments. Turkey offers tourists cheaper cost of surgery and a chance to have a vacation together!

Increasing number of Americans has discovered Turkey's health tourism as a means of lowering their medical expenses. US citizens account for an important share of health tourism patients, mainly due to low prices. Although, thermal springs have been places of major attraction so far, the number of visitors for surgical operations like hair treatment, eye operations and tube baby etc. has been increasing, rapidly.

According to Gul Soydan, Health Tourism Turkey Coordinator, The incoming patient profile has changed amidst the crisis, and the number of US patients has surpassed the number of Europeans. Many people in the United States have been left without insurance, said Soydan. "If a US citizen chooses to have full dental treatment in the US, the cost is USD 100,000; but in Turkey it is USD 30,000 at most. Having realized this advantage, US citizens flocked to Turkey for health tourism during the first six months of this year", Soydan emphasized.

According to a report issued by the health subcommittee of the Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) in June, A person arriving in Turkey for health tourism spends 12 times more than a regular tourist. The report also adds that Medical tourism, which generates a global volume of USD 60 billion, is expected to reach USD 100 billion by the end of 2010. Around 40,000 tourists arrive in Turkey for health tourism per annum, and the goal is to attain one million foreign patients and USD 8 billion in revenue by 2020 which is great news for rental property investors. Turkey's health tourism is expected to cover 36 percent of its overall tourism revenues, which totaled USD 21.9 billion last year.