Tourism Bureau says health tourism poised to take off
By Hsu Min-jung
STAFF REPORTER
Monday, 20 March 2006
When you think of health tourism, countries such as South Korea probably come to mind. But, thanks to its beautiful landscape and advanced medical technology, an increasing number of foreigners are discovering that Taiwan also has plenty of potential as a health tourism destination. According to the Tourism Bureau, at least 40 overseas-based Chinese recently visited Taiwan on health-oriented holidays, which served as a breakthrough in Taiwan's health tourism industry.
The Tourism Bureau said that most health tourists were people of Chinese descent from Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, Singapore or the US. According to the bureau, Taiwan holds five main attractions for ethnic Chinese health tourists. First, they are already familiar with Taiwan. Second, they don't face any language barriers. Third, Taiwan's medical costs are relatively cheaper than in the US. Fourth, they have confidence in Taiwan's medical standards. Fifth, they can take the opportunity to visit their relatives in Taiwan.
Health tourism is a relatively recent phenomenon in Taiwan. In the past, few tourists came to Taiwan for healthcare purposes. Realizing its potential, the Tourism Bureau began promoting the health tourism market last year -- a move which has been rewarded with good results.
One innovative Taiwanese travel agency is currently promoting two health tourism programs to attract overseas Chinese from Los Angeles -- one is a cosmetic treatment and beauty package, and the other is a preventive health and medical checkup package. Both packages last for four days and three nights, with the former costing US$899 and the latter US$1,199, including accommodation and roundtrip, direct flight tickets from Los Angeles to Kaohsiung or Taoyuan.
As part of the packages, the Kaohsiung Municipal United Hospital offers health tourists medical services and various cosmetic treatments, while the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital's Linkou Branch in Taoyuan provides comprehensive medical checkups worth US$463.
In future, travel agencies hope to widen the health tourism market by attracting a wide array of people rather than only ethnic Chinese. Also, the government is considering whether to make invasive healthcare treatments available to overseas tourists in order to further promote Taiwan's health-tourism industry.
The Cabinet's Tourism Development and Promotion Committee will formulate a health tourism promotion plan by meeting with relevant government officials and local tourists operators by the end of this month in the hope of attracting more tourists to Taiwan and creating more employment opportunities.
Source :
www.taipeitimes.com
Medical tourism' inspires NTU Hospital
CNA, TAIPEI
Saturday, 07 January 2006
The National Taiwan University Hospital has begun a new international service aimed at foreign patients, hospital officials said yesterday.
The service will mainly focus on foreign businessmen in Taiwan in the initial stages. In the future, the hospital will launch an international publicity campaign highlighting Taiwan's high-quality medical care and its relatively inexpensive medical costs in an attempt to attract foreign patients in the Asia-Pacific region, the officials said.
They said that the hospital has assigned a group of senior physicians from various disciplines to provide outpatient services in English and that health care workers will also help make the necessary arrangements if hospitalization is required.
However, the international service is not covered by National Health Insurance and each patient will be charged a registration fee of NT$500 (US$15.5) and an examination fee of NT$1,500 per visit, they said.
For appointments or inquiries, foreign patients interested in the service can call the hospital on (02) 2312-3456, ext. 5992.
Hospital officials said the idea to start the service was inspired by the successful model of "medical tourism" promoted by Singapore.
According to Singaporean media reports, major medical institutions in the city state last year received a total of 400,000 foreign patients, mainly from Indonesia, China and India.
Source :
www.taipeitimes.com
Taiwan and Philippines to benefit from FTA, TIER president says
By William C. Pao
1 October 2005
Taiwan and the Philippines can benefit from a free trade agreement that is currently being negotiated by both countries, as it would help boost two-way trade and encourage more investments from the Taiwanese, said David Hong, president of Taiwan Institute of Economic Research (TIER), yesterday.
Hong made the remarks at a panel discussion about prospects of the Philippine economy organized by the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) in Taipei.
The TIER president cited Taiwan’s signing of an FTA with Panama as an example, saying bilateral trade between the island and the Central American nation has increased by as much as 112 percent since the agreement was signed. He said an increase in trade is also expected between Taiwan and Guatemala, another Central American nation with which the Republic of China has signed an FTA.
As Taiwan and the Philippines are both members of the World Trade Organization (WTO), no diplomatic ties are needed for both countries to sign a free trade agreement, he said, adding the establishment of free trade — exchange of products without barriers such as tariffs and quotas — between Taiwan and the Philippines would only lead to a win-win situation for both.
"It would make both markets more accessible to each other, increase investment flow and create stronger incentives for Taiwan companies to do business in the Philippines," he said.
The Philippines is Taiwan’s second closest neighbor after mainland China. But what’s more important, in Hong’s words, is that both countries have developed comparative advantages over the other and could complement each other in goods and services. For example, the Philippines has developed a comparative advantage in the production of electronics — given its lower production and labor cost — and could see exports of IT and electronic parts and components surge if barriers were removed in trade with Taiwan, the world’s third largest IT maker.
"Taiwan is an appropriate candidate to be partner with the Philippines in a free trade agreement," he said.
Hong’s remarks met positive response from panelists at yesterday’s discussion. Bernardo M. Villegas, senior vice president of the Philippine University of Asia and the Pacific and main speaker at yesterday’s event, cited various Philippine industries that are ideal for Taiwan-Philippines join ventures. These include the food, telecom, electronics, logistics, health, metals, infrastructure and entertainment industries.
Specifically, Villegas mentioned the entertainment and health industries as those with bigger business potential for the Taiwanese. Born with an interest in singing, acting and other performing arts, Filipinos are among the best entertainers in Asia, if not in the world. In fact, Villegas said Disneyland Hong Kong had recruited 500 Filipinos to entertain the great number of tourists at the theme park. A joint venture between Taiwan movie production companies and Filipino talents would be a force to be reckoned with, he said.
Meanwhile, the Philippines is seeking to develop a medical tourism industry, like that of Thailand, in which tourists from the country’s wealthier North Asian neighbors such as Taiwan and Japan may check in to a local hospital and get an executive check-up at a cost about a tenth of what they have to pay in their home countries, Villegas said. With a more advanced medical industry, Taiwan can help the Philippines in this regard, he said.
Speaking on the future of the Philippine economy, Villegas said economic growth would continue to be in the 4.6 to 5.5 percent range from now till 2010, despite political turbulence and instability that sometimes roils the nation. He said the Filipinos are some of the most resilient people in the world when it comes to crises, as demonstrated by the fact that the country’s economic growth had beaten expectations even in the wake of the Asian Financial Crisis of the late 1990s and the ravages of the severe acute respiratory syndrome.
Still, there are internal and external factors that may hamper the country’s growth, he said. These factors include changes in the U.S. and Chinese economies — which the Philippines’ export sector relies heavily upon — the high energy cost, political gridlock and the specter of terrorism.
The panel discussion, moderated by Julius Caesar Parrenas, senior advisor to the chairman of Chinatrust Financial Holding Co., was sponsored by MECO to help Taiwan people better understand the Philippines’ economy. Panelists included Darson Chiu, TIER assistant research fellow; Clement Yang, chairman of Chinese-Philippine Business Council; and Wu Hsin-hsing, representative of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Manila.
source: China Post
Pamper Yourself Body, Heart and Mind at the 2006 Taipei Hot Spring Festival
Sunday, 08 October 2006
This fall get ready for the
"Blooms and Springs: 2006 Taipei Hot Spring Festival," which features a series of activities and special offers for a fun and fit hot spring season, starting October 26. The
"Blooms and Springs" festival turns the spotlight on two of Taipei's greatest natural attractions: the therapeutic hot springs of the Datun volcanic range and the flower blossom season. This year the city government has teamed up with various communities and private organizations to plan a number of new activities, promising to make this Taipei's biggest and best Hot Spring Festival ever.
A full half-year of events will be held for this year's
"Blooms and Springs" festival, starting with the Beitou hot spring season in late October. Next up is the Taipei Flower Show in November, followed by the Shilin Official Residence Chrysanthemum Exhibition in December, and the Yangmingshan Flower Season in February to March. The festival comes to a close with the Zhuzihu Calla Lily Season, from March to April.
The
"Springs" portion of the festival will highlight two major events under the theme
"A Feast for Body, Heart and Mind." The cultural and natural charms of Taipei's hot spring sites take center stage at the
"Bewitching Journey" event, during which visitors are challenged to fill in stamp books by taking part in a series of cultural, fitness and hot spring oriented activities in the scenic Beitou, Guandu and Danshui areas. Participants that complete all of the activities can win gifts and will be entered for a grand prize drawing.
As part of a health drive spearheaded by the Taipei City Government, there will also be a number of fitness related activities this year, including free health checkups and special offers on health treatment and hot spring packages.
This fall, enjoy a fun and healthy hot spring season during the
"Blooms and Springs" festival. This is one event you won't want to miss!
National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH) offers International Medical Service targeting foreign patients
Thursday, September 28th 2006 National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH) offers International Medical Service targeting foreign patients. The service is especially dedicated to meeting the needs and expectations of international patients and offering efficient medical services of the highest quality, enabling foreigners to get the best medical attention during their stay in Taiwan. There is no queuing throughout the whole process and the language barrier is non-existent. However, the international service is not covered by Taiwan National Health Insurance.
Website :
www.ntuh.mc.ntu.edu.tw
