Philippines, a top wellness haven for Mideast travellers

Medical and wellness tourism, anchored on the provision and delivery of holistic approaches against chronic diseases, have improved in the Philippines, according to a Florida-based non-profit research organisation.

- Mariecar Jara-Puyod, Senior Reporter

According to the Philippines' Department of Tourism (DoT), in a consequent email interview, initiatives such as overseas presence of the tropical country as a prime medical and wellness tourism destination shall continue.

For the first time, it was in April 2024, when the DoT led a public-private delegation, consisting of hospital-dental-wellness facilities and health tourism facilitator for the "health sales mission" to the UAE (Abu Dhabi and Dubai) and Saudi Arabia (Riyadh). DoT-Office of Product and Market Development director Dr Paulo Benito Tugbang, physician/nurse/midwife, who used to be responsible for the Department of Health-Medical Travel and Wellness Tourism Programme as well as former Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases member, then said that the purpose was to encourage Middle East travel trade professionals consider the medical and wellness offerings of the Philippines, inasmuch as Filipino healthcare workers have been admired for their dedication and commitment.