Medical and health tourism gains dedicated hall at ITB Berlin 2023

Medical and health tourism is being represented in larger numbers than at any previous ITB Berlin, with the sector having a dedicated hall for the first time at this year’s event.

For the first time, numerous medical and health tourism experts from Germany and around the world are sharing their knowledge in their own hall (26c) which is devoted entirely to this segment.

Turkey is among the countries strongly represented with specialist clinics, health and spa hotels, associations and destinations. M2 Health Travel is the main organiser of this segment. The Dünyagöz Eye Clinic is also exhibiting again at ITB Berlin. In addition to the many Turkish players, numerous international exhibitors are represented in the pavilion. They include FIT Reisen, the European Historic Thermal Towns Association (EHTTA), The European Spa Association (ESPA), the association of the Health Tourism Industry (HTI), Ensana Health Spa Hotels and Bangkok Hospital.

“Particularly after the Covid pandemic, medical tourism has played an important role in restoring health and well-being in society“, said Rika Jean-Francois, commissioner for Corporate Social Responsibility at ITB Berlin and in charge of this segment. “This segment is growing every year and keeping abreast with the latest findings and technologies“, she observed. At the same time it was important not to forget the challenges of climate change, she added. Rika JeanFrancois: “We need to rethink before restarting and must cooperate at global level. As with all the other tourism segments, medical tourism must become more sustainable.“

Medical & Health Tourism at ITB Berlin kicked off with an ITB Clinic tour on Monday. This was co-organised by ITB Berlin, Berlin Health Excellence and Visit Berlin. The programme featured an all-day tour for medical buyers and agencies, along with individual tours, presentations, lunch and transfers.

Together with ITB Berlin’s partners HTI, EHTTA and ESPA, the official opening of the Medical pavilion takes place on Tuesday from 1.45 to 2pm. The event is sponsored by the Catalan Tourist Board.

On Wednesday, 8 March 2023 on the pavilion stage, panel discussions as well as further presentations and interviews with experts will take place. Topics will include ’The Europe Question – how to attract Travellers from Europe’, and ’New Products in Health Tourism’, as well as robotics and sleep medicine. Barcelona is also promoting itself as a destination for medical tourism.

On Thursday, 9 March 2023, the focus will also be on learning, with lectures being held by international speakers on the pavilion stage. Events will kick off at 10 a.m. with a presentation on ’Digital Marketing and Building Trust for Medical Travel for Treatment’, followed by two interviews with experts and a presentation at 11.30 a.m. entitled ’Great Spas of Europe’. At 1.30 p.m., the panel discussion topic will be ’IntraRegion Medical Tourism’. Afterwards, visitors can find out more about medical tourism in India from a lecture entitled ’Heal in India’.

Medical, Wellness & Health track at the ITB Berlin Convention 2023

Connecting health and sports tourism will be the task of the Medical Tourism session at this year’s ITB Berlin Convention on Thursday, 9 March 2023 on the Green Stage in Hall 3.1. A UNWTO Roundtable discussion on ’Connecting sports tourism to health’ will take place which will discuss ways to establish major synergies between sports and health.

Afterwards, marking International Women’s Day, the day’s last event at the convention is entitled ’Women and Medical Value Tourism’. Together with the female panel members, session moderator Ivana Kolar, CEO and founder of Tourizam365, will also talk about gender medicine.

Entries are currently open for the World Spa Awards 2023 programme. Spa, health, medical and wellness brands which are leaders in their fields are invited to participate in the annual programme, which serves to celebrate and reward industry excellence.

Full details of the Medical Tourism programme can be found at itb.com/medicaltourism

Last year saw strong visitor arrivals to the island, the return of events and a significant number of tourism developments