Cultural commonalities promote health tourism in Islamic countries
According to the public relations of the Deputy Minister of Tourism of the Ministry of Heritage, Culture, Tourism and Handicrafts, Ali Asghar Shalbafian stated today, Monday, November 2, at the 5th International Health Congress of Islamic Countries held at the International Conference Center of Radio and Television: “Our view of medical tourism is not purely economic , But is a tool and opportunity to explain the achievements and capacity of the Islamic Republic in the field of medicine. “We were very dependent on medicine before the revolution, but forty years ago, thanks to the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran, many opportunities have been created.”
The Deputy Minister of Tourism of the Ministry of Heritage, Culture, Tourism and Handicrafts, stating that Corona disease could not stop the demand and entry of medical tourists, reminded: “The resulting crisis did not stop the entry of this branch of tourists and during this period “We were doctors.”
“Many of the world’s medical tourism mechanisms are in the form of ‘private business with the government’ (B2G),” Shalbafian noted. “This congress and regional cooperation is an opportunity to attract tourists en masse and provide an opportunity to use B2B and B2G mechanisms.”
“It is usually very difficult to get the approval, the establishment and the implementation of international accreditations,” he added. “Developing relations in the field of medical tourism can facilitate accreditation within Islamic countries.”
“If the development of accreditation based on subscriptions within countries is achieved, we can also discuss the issuance of accreditation and the transfer of insurance policies,” he continued.
“The mechanisms for attracting patients in the world and the large number of tourists they send are based on the accreditation of insurance policies,” Shalbafian said. “This congress can provide a start to a circle of cooperation beyond what is available.”
“The formation of strategic alliances between the businesses of Islamic countries turns the link between them into long-term interactions and has many benefits in the cultural, scientific and economic fields,” said the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts.
“Health tourism is divided into two areas: medical tourism and health tourism,” he said. “Islamic countries must be developed to develop health tourism cooperation. The size of the health tourism market is much larger and larger than medical tourism and is growing rapidly, because the tendency to maintain health and well-being, deterrence and prevention is important, which is also a part of the family income and only to disease and “The medical market is not relevant.”
“Health tourism can be linked to other sectors of medical tourism, but in medical tourism this combination is not recommended,” said the deputy tourism minister. “Health centers around the world have now found their place in accommodation centers and hotels, which indicates the direction of the market.”
We support official health tourism businesses
Shalbafian called the support of official health tourism businesses the main policy of the ministry and said: “Differences in approach between the relevant agencies and ministries can hinder the activities of businesses in the field of health tourism. “In order to strengthen, we must introduce them as the representatives of the Islamic Republic and strengthen them in our tribunes.”
The Deputy Minister of Tourism suggested: “The law on export bonuses for offices of official services and businesses in the field of tourism should be re-established, because in addition to encouragement, we should motivate them. “The State Department can also pursue visa issuance through these official businesses in support.”
“We do not deny possible shortcomings, but sustainable and long-term development depends on supporting businesses in the tourism industry,” he concluded.
The 5th Health Congress of Islamic Countries today, Monday (November 8), with the participation of officials in the field of tourism, tourism health and treatment, and activists and managers of the private sector, managers of medical tourism services companies, hospitals and domestic medical centers from Iran and Turkey, Iraq, Oman, Tunisia , India, Germany and the European Union and some international organizations active in the field of health and treatment and health tourism.
Also yesterday, the second international event to introduce investment opportunities in startups and health tourism, including medical tourism, sports tourism, nature and health tourism, rural tourism and ecotourism, educational tourism, food tourism, medicine and medical equipment and health services began and is scheduled. Introduce the top five startups in Islamic countries.
Simultaneously with these two events, from yesterday morning for three days (November 6 to 7), the exhibition of medical and laboratory equipment and specialized sessions of the 5th International Health Congress of Islamic countries with the presence of health institutions and specialists and tourism services companies and health tourism activists Also, domestic and international hospitals and medical centers active in this field from different countries of the world will be held in full compliance with Corona health instructions in the International Conference Hall of Sada-e Sima in Tehran.