Medical Tourism a Boost for Tunisia

Hotel in Hammamet. Image credit: Wikimedia Commons user R. Engelhardt

An unconventional brand of tourism is becoming ever more popular in Tunisia. People come from near and far to take advantage of the country’s well-developed and affordable medical services. This medical tourism is something the government should embrace and promote abroad.

On Friday and Saturday, the Tunisian Medical Tourism Forum will bring together medical and tourism professionals in Hammamet.

The number of tourists visiting the country for medical purposes is increasing every year. The majority are coming from Libya because of the better leve of care available in Tunisa. In 2013, more than one million Libyan citizens visited Tunisia, with many suffering from conditions that could not be properly addressed in their own country, according to the committee organizing this weekend’s event.

Before their 2011 revolution, many Libyans would visit private Tunisian hospitals for even a regular check-up, with their government footing the bill. Even now, they will have their medical care paid for as long as they can provide evidence from a Libyan doctor that they are really sick, the committee said.

European patients also visit Tunisia for medical reasons. They find the prices here extremely attractive and can combine their treatment with rest and relaxation in hotels, especially during the winter when prices are low. Many hotels cater to such clients, providing spas and medical centers in their facilities.

Plastic surgery and dental procedures also attract many patients from Europe and Asia, with the number increasing year by year. The professionals meeting in Hammamet will likely encourage them to choose Tunisia to spend a nice vacation and profit from medical centers in the major coastal regions including Tunis, Bizerte, Tabarka, Sousse, Sfax, Gabes, and Jerba.

Tunisia is also famous for its hot water springs found all over the country, mainly in Tunis, Hammam-Lif, Korbous, Jebel Oust, Ezzeriba, Zaghouan, Hammam Ejjedidi, Nafta, and Hamma Gabes. The temperature of these hot water springs can reach 65 degrees celsius and are believed to be a good remedy for rheumatism and other diseases. Unfortunately, these hot water springs are not considered by the Ministry of Tourism to be attractive touristic destinations, and therefore no advertisements for them exist.

Tunisia’s Medical Tourism Forum will offer visitors a good opportunity to learn about these appealing aspects. Visitors will probably also discover other incentives to visit Tunisia, a country that can provide wealth career fare and entertainment at a low cost, something the government should embrace and advertise.

Medical Tourism a Boost for Tunisia