OFFICE OF PRODUCT RESEARCH AND
DEVELOPMENT
Department of Tourism
Health Tourism
Definition :
“Tourism associated with travel to health spas
or resort destinations where the primary
purpose is to improve the traveler’s physical
well being through a regimen of physical
exercise and therapy, dietary control, and
medical services relevant to health
maintenance.”
-- WTO-
Objectives
To position the Philippines as a competitive
health vacation destination in Asia
To broaden the marketability of the
Philippines as a destination by way of
diversifying its tourism products
To increase awareness on Philippine
Medical Tourism in target markets through
aggressive marketing and promotion
programs
Components
SPA TOURISM
MEDICALTOURISM
ISLANDS OF WELLNESS …
PHILIPPINES
Concept
Health tourism in the Philippines
will comprise a wide range of
body pampering, health and
beauty treatments
Integrates and promotes
traditional Filipino healing
modalities and use of local herbs,
oils and essences.
Spa Categories
Day Spa (15)
Hotel Spa (8)
Resort Spa (5)
Destination Spa (4)
Club Spa (1)
Medical Spa (2)
Filipino Spa Experience
Traditional Filipino Touch Therapy
• Hilot
-
deep tissue therapeutic
body massage
• Dagdagay - traditional foot massage
from the Mt. Province
International Recognitions
2004 Spa Asia Crystal Awards
• The Farm at San Benito - Best Retreat, Best Holistic Healing
Program and Best New Age Activity
• Mandala Spa - Best Rejuvenation Program
2005 Spa Asia Crystal Awards
• The Farm at San Benito - Spa of the Philippines, Best Holistic
Healing Program and Best Wellness Center
2005 Asia Spa Baccarat Award
• The Farm at San Benito - Medi Spa of the Year, Retreat of the Year
•
Mandala Spa - Spa Treatment of the Year (Watsu), Destination Spa
of the Year
•
Spa Association of the Philippines, Inc. (SAPI) – Spa Association of
the Year
Prospects for spa investment in the
Philippines
Abundance of natural resources thermal springs, organic and natural
products, herbs, oils (Virgin Coconut
Oil) and essences
Human resource
Unique Filipino culture and tradition
Competitive cost
Investible Areas
Spa Resort Development
- Panglao Island, Bohol
Spa Town/Thermal Spa Development
- Puerto Princesa, Palawan
- Coron, Palawan
- Murcia, Negros Occidental
- Mambajao, Camiguin Island
- Malabuyoc, Cebu
- Ba-y, Laguna
Philippine Medical
Tourism
Philippine Medical Tourism
Concept
To offer cost-effective medical treatments
while simultaneously showcasing tourist
attractions in the Philippines. Special
itineraries shall be available for both domestic
and international patients who are interested
to combine treatment with leisure
Advantages in Developing
Medical Tourism
Competitive medical costs
Availability of state-of-the-art
medical equipment
Filipino doctors are trained with
western medical orientation
The Philippines is recognized as
having highly skilled medical
professionals
Advantages in Developing
Medical Tourism
Filipino medical practitioners have a
nurturing and caring attitude
Fluency in the English language
Marketing Strategies
Government to Government - Bilateral
agreements focusing on medical health
exchange
Hospital to Hospital - Local hospitals to
forge partnership with foreign hospitals to
send their surplus patients to the Philippines
Referral and/or Co-Management – Work
closely with foreign medical referral
companies and overseas doctors
Promoting the Philippines as a medical
tourism destination to existing foreign
tourism markets
Our Competitors
Thailand
Malaysia
Singapore
India
Target Markets
Overseas and Former Filipinos (North
America, Canada)
Australian Market
Island States in the Pacific (Nauru, Papua
New Guinea, Guam, Palau, Federated
States of Micronesia )
Japanese
Koreans
Middle East (United Arab Emirates, Saudi
Arabia, Bahrain)
DOT-Accredited Hospitals
St. Luke’s Hospital
Asian Hospital
The Medical City
Makati Medical Center
Capitol Medical Center
University of Sto. Tomas Hospital
St. Frances Cabrini Hospital
Comparative Health Care Costs
Room
Rate
Medical
Check-up
Surgery
CABG
Facelift
Thailand (Bumrungrad)
$49
$290
$7,500
$2,700
Malaysia (Sunway Medical)
$51
$300
$10,000
$2,600
Singapore(East Shore & Mt.
Elizabeth)
$200
Data not
available
$19,000
$5,500
India
Data not
available
$55
$10,000
Data not
available
Philippines
$23
$218
$15,000
$1900
(Lowest)
lowest)
(3rd lowest)
(Lowest)
(2nd
Cost Comparison of Medical Services in
Selected Countries
Medical
Service
Thailand Singapore
Malaysia
Medical Check- $294.00
Up (Female)
Double Eyelid $1,300.00
$357.00
Cataract
Surgery
$1,011.00
$710-$1,300.00
$8,900.00
$3,900$5,300.00
$9,500.00
$6,580$9,200.00
Hip
Replacement
CABG
$900.00
__
$7,700.00
---
$302.00
$530-$660.00
Sample of Medical Tour Packages
A.
BLEPHAROPLASTY
Inclusions:
 Doctor’s Professional Fees, other fees
during surgery and use of equipment and supplies
during the procedure
 Medical check-Up before and after the
surgery
 8 days/ 7 nights hotel accommodation
 Daily buffet breakfast
 Roundtrip transfers (hotel-airport-hotel; hotelhospital-hotel)
 Half day city tour
 Rejuvenating massage
OTHER MEDICAL TOUR PACKAGES
1. Breast Surgery
2. Liposuction
3. Botox
4. LASIK (Laser-assisted in Situ
Keratomileusis)
5. Dental Implant
6. Dental Crowns
Incentives
SPA TOURISM
•
Reduced Import Tariff on Selected
Spa Equipment
MEDICAL TOURISM
•
Income Tax Holiday
•
Reduced Tariff (1%) on
Selected Medical Equipment
Key Accomplishments
Organized the Spa Association of the Phils., Inc.
(SAPI)
Participated in 2003,2004 and 2005 BioSearch Faira Philippines Health and Wellness Show organized by
CITEM
Participated in international travel fairs and spa
events (ITB, Berlin, ISPA, Singapore, PATA, Kuala
Lumpur, Malaysia, Moscow Leisure Fair, Russia,
WTM, London)
Published articles re Philippine spas in SPA Asia
Magazine in cooperation with SAPI (Spa Asia Crystal
Awards)
Organized wellness familiarization tours for media
groups from Europe, Asia Pacific, US
Key Accomplishments
Won international recognition from
reputable spa award giving bodies (Spa Asia
Crystal Awards and Asia Spa Baccarat
Award)
Organized conduct of Licensure Exam for
Massage Therapists in Cebu
Organized training on “Hilot” and
“Dagdagay” for massage therapists of
DOT-accredited spas
Formulated Rules and Regulations for the
Accreditation of Spas and Tertiary
Hospitals
On-Going Activities
Marketing and promotional activities
- Foreign media and trade familiarization tours
- Philippine participation in international
expos/fairs
- Production of collaterals
Link-up with overseas medical
institutions, Philippine Medical
Institutions, tour wholesalers, insurance
companies, etc.
Continued campaign for accreditation
and monitoring of DOT-accredited spa
establishments and hospitals
On-Going Activities
Preparation for Philippines’ hosting of the
Wellness Summit 2007 and 2008
Preparation for the Spa Industry Seminar on
September 2006, Shangri-La, Cebu
Preparation for the 1st World Health Tourism
Congress in Europe in April 2006
Preparation of medical tourism brochures
and collaterals
The Philippines – Islands of
Wellness …More than the
Usual Hot Tub !