People seeking treatment around the world are increasingly turning to Türkiye. Turkey, which stands out with its reliability, high quality standards and hospitable service approach as well as finding healing, has become a center of attraction in the field of health tourism. The country's strong health infrastructure, qualified human resources specialized in the field and years of tourism experience make Türkiye a rising star in the global health tourism market.
Last year, more than 1,5 million people visited Türkiye for health tourism purposes, and the income from this field exceeded 3 billion dollars, revealing the potential of the sector. In order to further consolidate and sustain this success, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Ministry of Health signed an important cooperation. The “International Health Tourism Cooperation Protocol”, signed at the ceremony attended by Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy and Minister of Health Prof. Dr. Kemal Memişoğlu, aims to take the Turkish brand in health to a new level.
Coordination and Quality Will Increase with the Collaboration Protocol
This cooperation protocol, which was implemented with a signing ceremony held at the Ministry of Health, aims to significantly increase the coordination and quality standards to be provided in international health services and Türkiye's visibility in this area. It is anticipated that Türkiye's competitive advantage in the health tourism sector will be further strengthened by the two ministries joining forces.
Minister Ersoy: “Health Tourism Holds Great Potential for Our Country”
Speaking at the protocol signing ceremony, Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy stated that health tourism has been rapidly growing in recent years and has come to the forefront as an alternative tourism branch, emphasizing that this area holds great potential for Turkey. Stating that Türkiye is among the most preferred health tourism destinations in the world with its strong health infrastructure, experienced health professionals and high-standard facilities, Ersoy said that the income of over 3 billion dollars is a concrete indicator of this potential. Minister Ersoy stated that these figures reveal not only today's success but also a great potential for the future.
“Safe Tourism” Program Became a Worldwide Example
Minister Ersoy also recalled Türkiye’s successful health services during the global coronavirus pandemic, stating that the strength and quality of the country’s health sector played a major role in this process. He emphasized that the “Safe Tourism” program, which was implemented thanks to the close cooperation with the Ministry of Health during the pandemic, has become an exemplary practice not only in Türkiye but also around the world. This cooperation has shown that the two ministries can effectively coordinate even during times of crisis.
The goal is to prevent informality and increase quality standards.
Minister Ersoy, who explained the goals of the signed protocol, stated that their aim is not only to increase the number of tourists coming to Türkiye for health tourism, but also to register the institutions providing services in this field, to increase quality standards and to prevent informality in the sector. In this way, it is aimed to provide a more transparent and reliable structure for health tourism services.
Promotional Activities Will Increase with TGA and USHAŞ Collaboration
Minister Ersoy, who also touched upon the concrete steps to be taken within the scope of the protocol, announced that joint promotional activities will be carried out between the Turkish Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA) and International Health Services Inc. (USHAŞ), registration and information systems for health institutions will be established, and health facilities will be included in the certification and accreditation processes through TÜSKA. These steps will increase Türkiye's international competitive power in the field of health tourism and ensure service quality.
Cooperation Will Expand Even More in the Future
Minister Ersoy stated that they aim to further expand this cooperation in the coming period and expressed his belief that they will carry Türkiye much further in this field by ensuring strong coordination between all institutions and organizations contributing to health tourism. He emphasized that every step taken to strengthen the Turkish brand in health tourism increases not only tourism revenues but also the country's global influence.
Tourist Health and Satisfaction is Priority
Minister Ersoy, who stated that tourism is not just about sea, sand and sun, but a very broad concept, noted that Türkiye has placed great importance on product diversity with its intensive promotional activities in recent years. Ersoy, who added that health tourism is the most valuable area within this product diversity, emphasized that the protocol is also of great importance in terms of securing tourist health and increasing their comfort. Ersoy, who stated that this situation is an important criterion for tourists to prefer Türkiye again, stated that Türkiye will come to much better places in the field of health by including the private sector more in this concept.
Minister Memişoğlu: “Our Income Level Will Increase with the HealthTürkiye Brand”
Minister of Health Prof. Dr. Kemal Memişoğlu also stated in his speech at the ceremony that they have made Türkiye a brand in the field of health tourism and that they believe that they will carry out health tourism activities under the brand “HealthTürkiye” in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and that they will increase the income levels in this field. Minister Memişoğlu stated that with the signed cooperation protocol, they have strengthened the health services they provide within the scope of international health tourism and tourist health and the promotional services carried out for this purpose.
Following the speeches, the two ministers signed the “International Health Tourism Cooperation Protocol”, opening the doors to a new era in Türkiye’s health tourism sector. This cooperation is considered an important step towards fully revealing Türkiye’s potential in health tourism and making the country a global health destination.
