After a year where traveling became less common, 2021 holds the promise of a surge in medical tourism. Global Market Insights reported that the medical tourism market was valued at USD 10.1 billion in 2020. The market is expected to grow at 12.1% CAGR from 2021-2027. Medical tourism trends for 2021 are as follows.
Higher Travel to Developing Countries
Global Market Insights also predicted that more medical tourists would choose developing countries as the location to receive their medical care and procedures. With borders in many developed countries remaining closed, the developing countries are expected to rise in the medical tourism market. The boom from the tourism aspect of medical tourism is attractive to developing countries’ governments, and with hospitals seeking to attract foreign patients, quality of care and equipment will match that of past top medical tourism destinations.
Asian Countries Rising to the Top
The Medical Tourism Association predicts that Asian countries will see a rise in popularity for medical tourists. Their ever-updating technology paired with a high standard of care and hospitality is attractive to medical tourists from all over the world. The cost of medical care in Asian countries has long been some of the lowest as well.
More Skilled and Specialized Practitioners
Another trend predicted by the Medical Tourism Association is the rise of specially trained practitioners for medical tourism. There are a number of types of procedures that medical tourists commonly travel for, such as cosmetic surgeries like angioplasty, rhinoplasty, and breast augmentation. 2021 and the coming years should see more and more surgeons trained specifically to master these procedures that attract foreign patients. In fact, the MTA suggested that training centers and medical schools may begin programs training doctors and surgeons dedicated to working with medical tourists.
Take a Medical Tourism Trip in 2021
The future of medical tourism is bright and only getting brighter. With all medical tourism comes risk, so it’s best to enter into it fully prepared. You can help protect yourself and your travel companion from unexpected expenses with medical tourism insurance. Please contact us to get a quote prior to your trip.
