KUWAIT: Thailand welcomed 79,255 Kuwaiti tourists in 2023, up from 44,334 tourists in 2022, Thai officials said at an event held Thursday.
The event, "Thailand Medical, Healthcare and Wellness Networking 2024”, was held by the Thai Embassy in Kuwait on the sidelines of the 13th Kuwait Medica Conference and Exhibition on June 6-7, 2024.
Ambassador of Thailand to Kuwait Ekapol Poolpipat, in his opening remarks, reaffirmed Thailand’s commitment to being a world-class destination for medical and wellness tourism. He highlighted the country’s state-of-the-art hospitals and wellness centers, renowned Thai hospitality, highly experienced medical professionals, cutting-edge technology, affordable costs, shorter waiting times, accessible facilities, and beautiful tourist attractions.
The event served as a platform for representatives from five Thai hospitals - Bangkok Hospital, Bangkok Hospital Phuket, BPK9 International Hospital, Sukhumvit Hospital, and Piyavate Hospital - to showcase their expertise and excellence in medical, health, and wellness services.
Sutipa Thirapatsakul, Deputy Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Dubai Office, said the Thai government’s policies and promotional measures support medical and wellness tourism in Thailand.
Last year, Thailand welcomed 20 million tourists. Currently, 62 Thai clinics and hospitals are accredited by the Joint Commission International (JCI), a global healthcare accreditation organization. The Royal Thai Government is committed to promoting medical tourism as a "New Engine of Growth,” positioning Thailand as an International Medical Hub.
New association for women’s health
KUWAIT: At Kuwait Medica exhibition, Kuwait Times spoke to Dr Mona Youssef Abdullah, a consultant in internal medicine and oncology specializing in breast cancer, who is also a member of a new association, the Kuwaiti Association for Women’s Health. The non-for-profit organization is particularly concerned with women’s health issues such as cancers, diabetes in pregnant women, psychological conditions affecting pregnant women, and domestic violence against women.
"We fulfill our role by providing specialists to speak on these issues and act as a bridge to institutions and initiatives that focus on these matters. Our participation in this Kuwait Medica exhibition is our first achievement, which we are proud of, as this exhibition includes both local and international institutions and hospitals that showcase their services,” she said.