The Medical City, DoT partner to boost PH's medical tourism

THE Medical City (TMC) and the Department of Tourism (DoT) joined hands for the Discover Your Wellness medical tourism project at Grand Hyatt Manila in Taguig on July 17, 2024.Discover Your Wellness, a travel and wellness online series, aimed to promote the Philippines as a medical tourism destination through TMC's network hospitals and health care services while simultaneously highlighting the country's tourist attractions and cultural offerings.TMC President and Group Chief Executive Officer Eugenio Jose Ramos presented a clear view on the relation of health and tourism.He said medical tourism had to do with the tourists' health care experiences if, for instance, they felt sick or would need to seek medical care in a foreign country. Ramos remarked that such circumstances would provide a unique perspective and experience during a trip.By uplifting medical tourism in the Philippines, TMC's collaboration with DoT aimed to provide tourists with a holistic, quality medical experience that banked on Filipino people's warmth and care. Ramos proudly described Filipinos as among the friendliest and warmest people in the world, who were known for being highly professional and proficient English speakers.Through TMC's five high-quality care hospitals and 65 ambulatory clinics, Ramos said the collaboration with DoT would be "a special opportunity to prove [TMC's] worth to the Department of Tourism and to our country, whose time as a major tourism destination has come."For her part, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco stressed that the Philippines' rich cultural heritage, breathtaking islands and various attractions would serve as an ideal backdrop for an exceptional medical tourism experience, offering more than just recovery and rejuvenation.Frasco asserted: "Our visitors will have the advantage of immersing themselves in our culture, enjoying our culinary delights, and partaking in our values and wellness activities that promote physical, mental and emotional well-being. The synergy between our tourist attractions and medical services, therefore, offers a holistic wellness journey that is truly unique to the Philippines."Agreeing with Ramos' sentiments, the Tourism chief said it was the Filipino people themselves who placed the Philippines over and above the tourism in other nations. Frasco further assured medical tourism guests of the unique care, dedication, warmth and affection that only Filipinos could provide.By signing the memorandum of agreement, both the DoT and TMC intended to highlight the unique blend of modern medical services and traditional wellness practices available in the country.Frasco added that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s administration identified medical tourism as a priority portfolio, aligning with DoT's goal of strengthening the foundation of the tourism industry, and positioning the Philippines as a premier health and wellness and medical tourism hub in Asia and beyond.In fact, the Philippines recorded over 30,000 tourism arrivals for medical purposes in 2023, which contributed an estimated P15 to P25 billion in tourism receipts. With this in mind, Frasco highlighted the massive potential of medical tourism in the country, which was expected to reach over $207 billion in 2030.Furthermore, the DoT vowed to develop and expand the country's health care offerings as part of its tourism product portfolio. This included DoT's strategic collaborations with health and medical facilities along with the stronger promotion of dental, aesthetics and wellness tourism.Episode 1 of Discover Your Wellness series focused on South Luzon. The series would be available via TMC's digital platforms.Frasco concluded: "We are blessed to be partnering with The Medical City in our government's efforts to expand the medical tourism portfolio of the country. Together, we will emphasize the advantages of choosing the Philippines for medical care, where patients can expect world-class health care services, complemented by our hospitality and our beautiful landscapes."In addition to its partnership for the Discover Your Wellness project, the DoT also announced the Medical Tourism Concierge and Lounge project in Ninoy Aquino International Airport terminals, which would serve as a facility for guests to experience comfortable rest spaces, personalized welcome and escort services, expedited visa customs clearance, and a one-stop-shop for medical inquiries and tourism advice.To make tourists feel even safer and secured, Frasco also announced the establishment of tourist emergency or first aid facilities across tourist destinations such as La Union, Palawan, Boracay, Puerto Galera, Bohol and Siargao.