Germany makes bid for Gulf health tourists

Germany is making a bid to encourage medical tourists from the GCC with a special roadshow for the travel trade.  

The German National Tourist Office (GNTO) held a roadshow for travel trade in the GCC highlighting the quality of wellness and medical travel to Germany. The final stop on the 27 September was in Dubai and involved a series of workshops by institutional, medical and tourism representatives as well as specialised doctors from Germany.

A recent study by GNTB found that Germany is among the top wellness, health and medical tourism destinations for international travellers.

In 2010 there were a total of 968,336 overnight stays from Gulf Arabs to Germany - an increase of 26.4% on the previous year. Germany is the second most visited European country out of the Arabian Gulf region.

Antje Roeding-Boudier, director of marketing and sales office for the Gulf Countries at GNTO said: “Germany’s healthcare system benefits from its unrivalled reputation abroad, thanks to its highly trained doctors and medical staff, the excellent medical infrastructure and the great offer in diagnostics” she explained.

 GNTB has also produced specialised material in Arabic on medical tourism,including a brochure: 'Medical tourism – You'll be well looked after in Germany' which provides information for international patients as well as on traditional touristic highlights. And a a special page, available both in English and Arabic and dedicated to health related tourism in Germany, can be found at the GNTB newly designed website www.germany.travel.