Neglected for years, health tourism was brought into the limelight following the election of President Hassan Rouhani in 2013. Two years later, a council was formed with representatives of the health and foreign ministries, the Medical Council of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization to organize the country’s health tourism sector. The Health Tourism Strategic Council has been able to instill discipline in the sector by regulating institutions operating in this field.
About 98 hospitals and 14 travel companies have so far been issued health tourism permits across the country. Furthermore, Iran’s Tourism Development Association has been formed by the council to help attract investment and garner the support of government entities. The association is also responsible for promoting authorized centers and introducing them to both Iranians and foreigners. It is expected to introduce health tourism service providers through a comprehensive online portal. Iran’s ultimate goal is to earn around $25 billion a year through tourism by 2025, around $2.5 billion of which will come from medical tourism. According to a report in 2016 by Big Market Research, the global medical tourism market is expected to reach $143 billion by 2022. It was reported in May that the number of tourists traveling to Iran for advanced medical services has grown by 40% in the past five years (Source: Financial Tribune).
Health Tourism: Old Practice and New Theory
