Boost for medical tourism industry

With the capital’s vision to become the most trusted medical tourism destination by 2030, DCT Abu Dhabi recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Medical Tourism Association (MTA), to host MTA’s annual World Medical Tourism & Global Healthcare Congress in Abu Dhabi.

TT Bureau

The World Medical Tourism & Global Healthcare Congress brings together experts and organisations from more than 100 countries worldwide and regularly attracts more than 10,000 visitors, approximately 200 exhibitors and sponsors and up to 100 hosted VIP buyers.

The MoU agreement, signed by HE Saif Saeed Ghobash, Undersecretary of DCT Abu Dhabi and Jonathan Edelheit, CEO, Medical Tourism Association, opens a pathway for the two entities to strategically cooperate to further build a medical tourism proposition for consumer markets in several key areas, including Russia, China, India and across the GCC. The agreement also includes the opening of a new MTA office in Abu Dhabi as well as the production of a new Abu Dhabi destination guide. The MoU will see DCT Abu Dhabi and MTA co-ordinate their efforts in a variety of ways, including compiling an assessment of Abu Dhabi’s current medical tourism strategy as it looks to develop targeted markets, coordinating digital marketing initiatives, launching dedicated promotional roadshows across China, Russia and the GCC, as well as organising Familiarisation tours to Abu Dhabi’s state-of-the-art medical facilities for specific hosted buyers.

Ghobash said, “This agreement between our organisations is in line with our mandate to promote Abu Dhabi on the world stage and to support Abu Dhabi’s Economic Vision 2030, designed to guide our emirate’s growth and development. The experience and knowledge shared under this MoU will greatly enhance the emirate’s ability to appeal to our intended markets as we look to increase the contribution of medical tourism to the UAE’s economy.

Edelheit mentioned, “The partnership between the MTA and DCT Abu Dhabi will boost the medical travel industry. This MoU establishes a 10 year partnership demonstrating Abu Dhabi’s long-term commitment to emerging as one of the most advanced and sustainable medical tourism destinations in the world. Strategically moving our global event to Abu Dhabi will align our mutual goals and provide accessibility for buyers of medical travel, insurers, hospitals and investors to a more central location.”