Strong involvement in the booming medical tourism market: ITB Berlin partners with the 9th HTI Conference in Brussels.

The medical tourism market is becoming more and more important for the global travel industry. Now, the World’s Leading Travel Trade Show is reiterating its commitment to this segment with a new partnership.

From 26 to 27 November 2018 ITB Berlin will be partnering with the HTI Health Tourism Industry Conference (www.hticonference.com), which is being held for the ninth year in succession and will take place in the Belgian capital Brussels. This is the largest specialist event of its kind in Europe and the number one meeting place for representatives of the medical tourism sector.

Attendees will be able to take advantage of sessions with leading representatives of the industry and delegates of the European Parliament. Furthermore, buyers and service providers can arrange up to 15 prior appointments with potential business partners. ITB Berlin will also be among the leading representatives at one of the many discussion panels on medical tourism at this specialist event.

The travel trade show was quick to recognise the importance of this growth market a number of years ago. Studies estimate the worldwide value of this industry at around 50 billion dollars and forecast an annual growth of up to 25 per cent over the next decade. Among the reasons for the significant rise in medical tourism are lower medical costs abroad, correspondingly attractive offers at tourism destinations, as well as treatment and medication that is sometimes not available at home.

This year, for the second time, visitors flocked to the Medical Tourism Pavilion at ITB Berlin. Next year, service providers including hospitals, medical facilities, spas, hotels and destinations will present their products and services there again. The Medical Tourism Presentation Hub will provide information for trade visitors about industry trends and developments at workshops, presentations and panel discussions.

In 2019, the special Medical Media Lunch will once again have exclusive first-hand information for editors. On the Friday of ITB there will be a repeat of the successful ITB Medical Night, an exclusive networking event that targets exhibitors, buyers and media representatives with an interest in medical tourism. Additionally, next year will witness the launch of the Medical Buyers’ Lounge which is devoted specifically to buyers from this sector.

In addition to the strong presence of this segment at ITB Berlin and the show’s partnership with the HTI Conference in Brussels, a new collaboration between ITB and Baki International, Health & Travel Solutions from Turkey will underline the commitment of the World’s Leading Travel Trade Show. Based in Istanbul, these experts in the Turkish medical tourism market will also be represented with their own display at ITB’s Medical Tourism Pavilion in March 2019.