Bangkok (TAN): The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is partnering with a Thailand-based medical tourism portal to conduct its first online health and wellness promotion campaign in Bahrain.
More than a hundred travel trade representatives specialising in the health and wellness sector, as well as socialites, diplomats, business people, celebrities and the media from Bahrain and all over the Gulf region have been invited for the Amazing Thailand Health and Wellness Roadshow to introduce the range of services offered by the portal “Doctor A to Z” (www.doctoratoz.co).
Comprising both B2B and B2C sessions, the roadshow in Bahrain on September 17, 2019 will be led by Srisuda Wanapinyosak, Deputy Governor for Europe, Africa, Middle East and the Americas, TAT. Joining her at the briefings and other events will be Doctor A to Z CEO Anucha Panoi.
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This hybrid roadshow is designed to enhance the exposure of special Thai health and wellness products and services in the Gulf and Middle East countries, broaden the source markets of health and wellness visitors to Thailand, and facilitate their communications process to link buyers with sellers, and products with suppliers.
It is the first time online communications technology has been applied for conducting such a marketing promotion.
Positioned as an online medical hub, Doctor A to Z amalgamates several Thai health and wellness practitioners, products and services under one website. They include JCI accredited hospitals, clinics, centres and individual doctors specialising in a wide range of disciplines.
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This provides both health and wellness trade buyers as well as consumers an efficient and convenient way to find the right “solution” to their specific problem.
Bahrain was chosen as the first city for the offshore launch of this service because it is still generating positive numbers of health and wellness visitors to Thailand.
“Although there is fierce competition in the health and wellness sector, Thailand is still a popular destination due to the high quality of our products, services and facilities, as well as other factors; such as, value for money, personalised care and good holiday opportunities for family members,” Srisuda said.
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“Our vision is to develop Thailand as a ‘Digital Gateway on Health and Wellness with the support of TAT, the National Innovation Agency and the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA),” said Panoi. “Our outstanding point is that we have a medical team with more than 20 years of experience. The technology developed by our team… makes it more cost-effective and efficient for anyone with a specific health and wellness requirement, whether it is preventive or cure, to find the right person, place or product to meet it. This saves a lot of time and money on both sides and ensures the best possible delivery of service.”
The B2B session will allow the trade buyers from Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the GCC countries to connect directly with the Thai sellers. The B2C session will include a business dinner with invited VVIPs, diplomats, business people, celebrities and the media from the same countries.
Saudi Arabian trade buyers are also being invited as Saudi citizens are allowed to come to Thailand for medical treatment. This presents a great opportunity to promote this market, as Bahrain geographically shares a land border and direct bridge connection to Saudi Arabia.
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The Thailand government has approved 90-day visas for patients and medical visitors from China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam as well as the GCC which include the Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The Thai health ministry has so far listed 118 hospitals and healthcare centres that are eligible to provide a confirmation letter to patients or visitors seeking medical treatment in Thailand.
In 2018, Thailand is estimated to have received 3.42 million visitors for health and wellness, generating income of THB 140 billion (USD 4.5 billion). The main source markets were Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, UAE, Oman, Australia and New Zealand, with an average length of stay of 10-14 days.
The top demand categories are medical check-ups and treatment for heart disease, cancer, diabetes, joint surgery, joint replacement, dental, eye surgery, as well as cell transplant, surgery, joint replacement, dental, eye surgery and cell transplant.
