Korea to Host Medical Tour Conference in Nov.
By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter
Seoul will host the third International Medical Travel Conference Nov. 11 through 14, according to the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO).
The meeting is one of the largest international medical tourism events. Previous conferences were held in Singapore in 2006 and in the Philippines in 2007.
Participants will be able to share information on medical travel trends and new markets as well as have business meetings between customers and providers of specific tour programs.
``The event will be a chance for Korea to promote its quality medical services around the world and invite more foreign patients. Participants will also be able to open up new markets,'' a KTO official said.
In last year's conference, 300 medical travel-related groups from 23 countries, including travel agents, insurance companies, hospitals and government agencies, promoted their programs and formed networks.
``We'll keep trying to attract medical tourists by taking part in international meetings and holding presentations in foreign nations together with the Korea Health Industry Development Institute and the Council for Korea Medicine Overseas Promotion,'' he said.
As of 2007, KTO's six overseas offices in New York, Tokyo, Dubai, Sendai, Chicago and Hong Kong promoted medical tourism programs. The Chicago branch invited 270 patients with a program that it jointly developed with Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, Inha University Hospital and Korea University Guro Hospital.
More information about Korea's medical travel is available at www.koreahealthtour.co.kr.