Vietnam’s wide range of natural resources and its recognition as a store-house of traditional herbal medicines are boosting the health tourism sector.
Health tourism sector is providing a new dimension to the Vietnamese tourism industry. Although health trips are relatively new to the country, they are promising the tourism sector of higher revenue.
In 2007, Asian nations recorded revenue worth US$ 1.6 Billion due to naturopathy tourism and the figure is expected to triple by 2012. Moreover, a large number of countries, including Vietnam, are likely to be benefitted by the industry. The Vietnamese tourism industry is expecting an average of 7-8 Million overseas tourists per year in the next decade, although it is struggling to create an image that can boost the figure.
The prospective growth in the tourism industry is accredited to increasing number of tourists combining tourism with naturopathy. Temperate climate has bestowed Vietnam with plenty of natural resources, especially seaside resorts, mineral springs and hot springs, that support the health tourism by offering wide array of natural health remedies to the tourists.
Moreover, Vietnam’s National Hospital of Acupuncture has collaborated with travel companies to implement a program combining traveling with acupuncture. Tracking the same path, the Health Ministry wishes to combine domestic tourism with the best National Health Service; thereby, benefitting people involved in the industry.
The country is internationally recognized for its traditional herbal medicines. Additionally, Vietnam National Institute and Hospital of Acupuncture are globally renowned and far more reasonable than the similar health institutions in Singapore and Thailand. Thus, in view of present economic environment, Vietnam is appearing as a better option to foreign tourists to undertake health tours.
However, the tourism sector has failed to identify the strategic tourism products to mark its advertising campaigns. Advertising campaigns based on cultural and eco-tourism, the strengths of Vietnam, are considered inefficient to leave any impact on visitors.
According to a Research Analyst at RNCOS, “Although Vietnam is relatively new medical tourism sector, it is steadily earning international reputation. It is capable of offering a wide range of surgical procedures, with superior expertise as well as pre- and post-operative care. Moreover, with the help of better marketing strategies as well as availability of English speaking doctors, the Vietnamese medical tourism industry is expected to present a challenge to it rival medical tourism destinations in Asia.”
Related Market Research Reports:
Booming Medical Tourism in India
Asian Medical Tourism Analysis (2008-2012)
Opportunities in Asian Medical Tourism (2007-2010)
