Potential for medical tourism explored

DAMMAM: The Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTNH) has urged more investment in medical tourism because of the potential for significant returns.
Hamad Al-Sheikh, the SCTNH’s vice president of marketing and programs, said investors could make good money because the Kingdom has an advanced medical infrastructure.
Sami Al-Abdulkarim, chairman of the medical committee at the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the private sector could stand to gain a great deal because of the Kingdom’s low medical costs and easy access to services.
Al-Abdulkarim said cooperation between the private and public sectors could see some private hospitals raise bed occupancy from 70 to 90 percent.
Abdul Rahman bin Abdullah Al-Wabel, Asharqia Chamber’s secretary-general, agreed that there was huge potential to develop the medical tourism industry, similar to what was happening in other countries.
Bashar Al-Othman, coordinator of support services at a travel and tourism agency, said that this sector could only become successful through public-private partnerships.