Along with Eastern Europe and the Asian sub-continent, Egypt too has jumped on to the medical tourism bandwagon and is doing well. Health tourism has become a lucrative trade for Egypt because of the prohibitive cost of medical care in Europe and America. This, coupled with low travel costs, Egypt’s already healthy tourism industry, and a good infrastructure has led to the country establishing itself as one of the forerunners of medical tourism. 1 in 10 patients from the EU opts for medical treatment outside his own country. Not only are Egyptian hospitals and health care centers benefiting but also the entire economy is experiencing a positive trickle down effect.
Tourists that come for medical attention provide business to hotels, restaurants, shops, etc. Health tourism or medical tourism is not a particularly modern phenomenon; in ancient Greece Epidaurus was a popular destination for those who wished for the god Asclepius to cure them of their illnesses. As far as Egypt is concerned, inspite of its reputation as a tourist destination, the country still does not have a mature health care outsourcing industry. The reason is lack of awareness amongst tourists and poor advertising by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism.
The country has an impressive 1350 natural springs with waters that have myriad therapeutic uses. Recently, the MoT and the Egyptian Tourism Authority hosted an ambitious conference to promote health tourism in Egypt. Such information dissemination will also help establish greater co-operation between public and private sectors. Egypt hopes to increase the number of tourists to its shores to 11 million by 2012 and to this end it hopes that medical tourism will play a big role.