Medical tourism heads down under

6-May-2008

Australia can expect to see a rise in the popularity of medical tourism, according to a demography expert.

Delegates at the Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) symposium were told that demand is set to increase in the form of elderly medical tourists looking to purchase spa treatments or cosmetic surgery.

Bernard Salt, from business advisory firm KPMG, claimed that people set to reach their 60s, 70s and 80s next decade are "not going to age like preceding generations".

"They've got the means (and) it fits in with the recuperative qualities of a holiday," he said, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

Matt Hingerty, managing director of ATEC, claimed that Australia was well-positioned to take advantage of the rise in medical tourism demand.

"They're travelling for health services - everything from spiritual guidance, spa treatments, weight loss, cosmetic issues, right through to major elective surgery," he revealed.

"And Australia's excellent health system and clean environment means that we have excellent potential to involve ourselves in that market."