FITUR 2018 Underscored the Significance of Medical Tourism

This year, FITUR, the international tourism fair in Madrid, Spain has broken its historic record with 251,000 visitors, which is 2.5% more than last year.

As many as 10,000 companies from 165 countries and different regions participated in the 38th edition of the event, with an important economic impact of more than 270 million Euros for Madrid.

Health tourism is a sector of great importance uniting two strong points of the Spanish economy: wide and varied offer of tourism and high sanitary quality. Hence, the international tourism event included a section of this growing tourist niche.

There were also contents, conferences and round tables on tourism that featured top-level international speakers on topics of maximum relevance, B2B and B2C spaces, meeting points and public information.

There was a discussion on ‘Intercontinental Medical Tourism Trends in Europe’ in which speakers agreed that, with their particularities, their fellow citizens can find quality healthcare in their countries.

Many might ask why these people seek out healthcare treatment outside of their countries? The answer is that they are spending less, getting the same or better quality of treatment and avoiding higher costs.

European cross-border directive speaks about the conditions under which citizens can move to another EU country for availing medical assistance, as well as the reimbursement that you should receive in their country of origin.

The main objective of the UEHP is to promote Private Health Care in Europe, defending that it is a fundamental element for the support of the health system in any country in the world.