ISTANBUL
Tourism earnings are seeing an upsurge due to the expansion in health care sector contributions
Turkey's health tourism sector is blooming with staggering figures, delivering more than $643 million in revenue in Q1 of 2025, making up almost 7% of the nation's total tourism revenue.
In 2024, an astonishing 1.5 million individuals traveled to Turkey for health care services, dumping more than $3 billion into the country's economy, Accounting for a modest 5% share of the country's tourism revenue. The year before, health tourism generated considerably less, with a 5.4% share in the total.
The first three months of 2025 saw around 345,000 patients visit Turkey, as per statistics from International Health Services Inc. (USHAŞ).
Currently, global health tourism churns out roughly $100 billion annually, and it's predicted to balloon to $127 billion by 2028.
Turkey aspires to seize the golden opportunity, aiming to rake in an astounding $20 billion from the health tourism sector by 2028.
Looking back to 2015, only 429,000 people made their way to Turkey for health care purposes, generating revenues of $746 million from health tourism. 2022 marked the first time the number of health tourists surpassed the 1 million mark, with revenues touching $2.2 billion.
To streamline the process for healthcare service providers and intermediaries, an environment has been established for them to carry out their activities more expeditiously and efficiently, said Behlül Ünver, General Manager of USHAŞ. "Turkey is reaping the rewards of its recent efforts in the health tourism industry," he added.
Recalling the launch of the "Health Turkey" platform, Ünver explained how it's designed to coordinate the health tourism sector, keeping track of which health institutions provide which services. Ünver emphasized that healthcare service providers must register with the platform to remain a part of the thriving health tourism scene.
Turkish Airlines also offers discounts for travelers visiting Turkey through the platform.
Currently, approximately 5,500 accredited healthcare facilities and around 1,275 intermediary institutions are involved in health tourism in Turkey, according to Ünver. In the coming six months, it's expected that all these establishments will become members of the platform to continue operating in the health tourism sector.
Healthcare-wise, Turkey boasts robust facilities with top-notch infrastructure and a highly skilled medical workforce, as evidenced during the COVID-19 pandemic. While the exact number of healthcare facilities dedicated to medical tourism was not specified in the recent data, the industry's skyrocketing growth and government support indicate participation from numerous hospitals and specialized clinics catering to foreigners, with a particular focus on procedures such as cosmetic surgery, dental care, and fertility treatments.
In the thriving health tourism sector of Turkey, individuals with various medical conditions are benefiting from the advanced facilities and skilled medical workforce, seeking treatments such as cosmetic surgery, dental care, and fertility treatments, contributing significantly to the country's health and wellness industry. As the government continues to invest in and streamline this sector, it's projected that the revenue generated from health tourism will surge to $127 billion globally by 2028, with Turkey aspiring to capture a substantial chunk of this market, targeting an astounding $20 billion.
