by David Cazorla
Tourist trends in Costa Rica seem to be developing around a new market: the business of medical tourism. At present, the American market represents 50% of the world market for medical tourism. With higher levels of taxation, general expenses, and medical costs, North America continues to suffer. Many people are looking for lower-cost locations that still provide world-class care for their medical needs. Costa Rica is beginning to stand out as a perfect option.
MANY OPTIONS
To take a small getaway to Costa Rica in difficult times can represent a search for wellness, and to seek the enormous advantages of being attended to by excellent medical professionals in an exotic location. There is now huge competition for the growing health tourism market from places such as Singapore (250,000 patients per year), India (growing from 150,000 patients in 2002 to a half million in 2005), Thailand, Hungary, Estonia and Spain. Costa Rica is seeking to be the point of reference in Latin America in front of powers like Mexico, Brazil and Panama.
FUTURE GROWTH
According to studies of the National Chamber of Tourism (CANATUR), in spite of the world economic recession, the year did not end badly in all areas. The study suggests that if Costa Rica continues investing in publicity, its medical tourism will continue producing dividends. The niche already is being supported in the international expos where Costa Rica participates as an “international center of medicine.” Private hospitals such as CIMA, has an IT department that enables the hospital to carry out video conferences so that doctors can share patient medical histories in order to offer greater security in their methods. Thanks to that data processing capability, an equal quality of medicine can be done in Costa Rica as that of Europe — but at a huge cost savings.
In the most well-known private hospitals, 50 to 60 operations per month are being conducted, with 90% foreigners seeking the services. In Costa Rica the foreigners, chiefly American, are saving between 35% and 60%, depending on the surgery. This savings is then often used for traditional tourist activities, eco-tourism, or even the purchase of real estate.
Despite the crisis in the United States, a trip to Costa Rica makes more sense than ever. It is a place that has proven to offer world-class medicine where a patient is guaranteed to save money. And, of course, Costa Rica offers the extra bonus of being one of the top destinations in the world for travel and living.
David Cazorla is the Marketing Manager for Ameurope Global Services. He is a specialist in all areas of Costa Rica tourism. He can be contacted directly at ameuropedavid@gmail.com
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