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The government has announced that
Thailand is to be promoted as the Wellness
Capital of Asia, attracting those seeking medical and healthcare services
from all over the region. The four destinations slated to be fully promoted
by the government are
Chiang Mai,
Bangkok,
Phuket and
Samui, all of which
are already successful tourist destinations with impressive medical
facilities.
Chiang Mai, as the second city to Bangkok in terms of current development
and economic growth, is a perfect destination for health and medical care
offering international standards of services and treatments at competitive
prices when compared to other world destinations. This drive to promote
Chiang Mai as the region's medical hub will go along hand in hand with the
government's efforts at turning the northern city into a regional aviation
hub which should see the province's tourism revenue increase dramatically
over the coming years.
As to the plan, the government aims at improving, standardising and
promoting three health-related businesses, namely the medical service,
healthcare service, which consists of health and beauty spas as well as
traditional Thai massage, and Thai herbal products to become internationally
recognised.
Even prior to promotion, Chiang Mai has enjoyed the patronage of numerous
health tourists over the years from Israelis seeking dental work and
Canadians undergoing minor surgery to retired Europeans benefiting from
health treatments, as well as the ever-growing number of those who enjoy the
city's numerous spas. The fact that the costs of these services are a
fraction of what they are in their home countries, combined with Chiang
Mai's other bounteous attractions, tourists seeking medical holidays are
ever on the increase. Thai hospitality as well as world standard skills and
the proficiency of Thai doctors are part and package of the secrets behind
the increasing popularity of the Chiang Mai healthcare and service
businesses.
Chiang Mai rivals Bangkok in terms of medical personnel and modern
facilities. The province's doctors are highly trained and skilled as are
other healthcare personnel. A large number of hospitals, clinics and spas
offer convenience and efficiency with quick service and a Thai smile. Up
until now, word of mouth testifying to the reliability, capability and
proficiency of Thai surgeons and medical staff has been the main force to
attract medical tourists from around the world and customer satisfaction
means that this medium of promotion is only going to increase.
Of course Chiang Mai also sells itself. The province is renowned for its
delicate balance of culture and modernity. Numerous attractions, both
cultural and natural combined with terrific shopping,
hotels,
golf courses,
spas, restaurants and other existing tourist infrastructures all add to the
charm of Chiang Mai.
Message from Dr. Kannika Phornphutkul, President of Chiang Mai Health
Service Promotion Association and a director of the Rajavej Hospital.
The Chiang Mai Health Service Promotion Association, which currently has
50 members belonging to various health care businesses, was founded to
assist all members, whether they are established businesses or newly formed,
to step confidently onto the world medical business stage. Apart from its
assistance in promoting the members' businesses, it also sets standards for
healthcare service quality as well as assisting all members to gear up their
standards to meet international levels and increase their capacity and
competitiveness.
With highly qualified doctors from the Medicine Faculty of Chiang Mai
University on hand to support all government as well as private hospitals
with their medical know-how, equipment and support staff, Chiang Mai has a
high potential to become the centre of medical care and service in the
region.
In order to complement rather than compete with each other, each hospital
has already set their own distinctive 'champion product', or selling point,
to be promoted jointly with other hospitals rather than as direct
competition against them. This will help all members of the association to
promote themselves and step up together as one very encompassing, impressive
and fully-rounded package.
Even though the association's philosophy aims at promoting the healthcare
business, the association's members will also be helping to promote and
benefit other businesses in the same space such as accommodation, souvenirs,
OTOP, transportation businesses and others related to the tourist industry.
The world standard medical and healthcare services will prove to be a strong
magnet to benefit Chiang Mai as a whole.
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