The executives of the Alanya Health Tourism Association visited the members of the Alanya Tourism Operators Association (ALTİD) Board of Directors, who convened under the chairmanship of Burhan Sili, President of the Alanya Tourism Operators Association (ALTİD) and Board Member of the Turkish Hotel Association (TÜROFED), together with Alanya State Hospital Chief Physician Dr. Tevfik Yazan, Alaattin Keykubat University Lecturer Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ali Rıza Aktaş, Deputy Chief Physician Dr. Okan Badıllıoğlu, Dr. Mustafa Yağlıcı, Dr. Erkan Karadağ, Health Tourism Specialist Ahmet Girgin, and Selahattin Ay. In the meeting, where important steps were taken for future health tourism cooperation, the following topics were discussed:
20 MILLION TRAVELERS FOR HEALTH TOURISM
The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) states that as of the end of 2015, the number of people traveling for health purposes will reach 20 million. If health tourism, which consists of thermal, medical, elderly, and disabled categories, is implemented, it will ensure that tourism is spread across 12 months with high-income tourists and foreign exchange inflows will be increased.
HEALTH TOURISM INCLUDED IN THE 10TH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
With the health tourism development program (1.17) included in the 10th Development Plan of the Republic of Türkiye, the goals are to create a capacity of 100 thousand beds in thermal tourism, reach 1 million 500 thousand (600 thousand for treatment purposes) foreign thermal tourists, generate 3 billion dollars in revenue, be among the world's top 5 destinations in medical tourism, treat 750 thousand foreign medical patients, generate 5.6 billion dollars in revenue, create a capacity of 10 thousand beds in senior tourism, and have 150 thousand foreign tourists visit our country.
13 THOUSAND TOURISTS TREATED AT ALANYA STATE HOSPITAL
In Alanya, where an environment of trust has been established, the satisfaction rate of tourists is quite high. Alanya State Hospital, which works with all travel and health insurance providers and provides services in four languages, serves 13 thousand tourists a year in the field of tourism health. With the commissioning of the new hospital to be built, this rate is projected to increase by around 300 percent.
RESIDENT FOREIGNERS ARE AN ADVANTAGE FOR ALANYA
In Alanya, 3 private hospitals, 1 eye center, 5 private polyclinics, 1 medical center, 1 private oral and dental health center, 25 private practices, 19 oral and dental health polyclinics, 47 dental practices, and 1 state hospital are providing services. In addition to quality healthcare services, the geographical location, easy access via Gazipaşa-Alanya Airport (GZP), short waiting times, a trained workforce, and a high rate of resident foreigners provide significant advantages for Alanya in terms of the ability to conduct and sustain health tourism.