Hosting a travel boosting international event such as the Euro 2012 football competition is a big opportunity for any country. Poland managed to make the best of the occasion and, based on positive reviews from football-loving tourists, is planning on using the newly acquired recognition to boost a quite profitable tourism segment – health and medical services.
A consortium made up of PAIiIZ, EuCP and AMEDS is currently developing a project to promote Polish medical facilities to foreigner, giving them another reason to travel to the country. Although the treated injuries during Euro 2012were minor, the guests that have been looked after in Polish facilities had a pleasant experience, as pleasant as it can possibly be when we’re talking twisted joints or respiratory infections.
The consortium plans to promote Polish medical facilities and services through a full scale campaign that will include an international ad campaign, attending to specialty fairs, organizing trade missions and tours for journalists and medical tourism representatives.
Currently, most tourists that travel to Poland for medical services come from Germany, Scandinavia, Russia, Great Britain and the US. The most sought out services are dental, plastic surgery, neurosurgery, cardiovascular treatments and orthopedic services. Wellness resorts, spas and health centers are also quite popular among foreigners.
Polish medical services are attractive to foreigners because of their prices – sometimes 80% lower than in Western Europe and the USA, and because the country provides easy access to world class medical experts along with high quality services.
If the new promotion campaign is successful, it will turn Poland into one of the most popular health and medical services destinations in the world.
