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Tasks and future trends in the development of health tourism

Considering the above, the task is to create a specific tourism product which is sustainable and competitive in the international tourism market on a medium- and long-term basis as well, and, at the same time it is environmentally friendly. One of the basic requirements is openness, the reception of players from international markets and the appreciation of their fiancial and professional needs.  The achievement of these goals can be aided by the following:

  • Complex development of already existing medical institutions and services
  • If a variety of services is provided within the same institution (e.g. medical treatments and fitness) they need to be separated, otherwise they would disturb each other. (Budai Z. é.n.) (Table 2).
  • Qualitative and quantitative infrastructural development of resorts. Basic and tourism infrastucture as well as suprastucture need to be developed. The general development of the settlements with tourism in the focus.
  • Planning and the promotion of the already explored but not yet utilized natural resources (e.g. medical cave, medicinal water). (Permits can be given only if utilization does not represent an environmental risk, not even on a long term basis. )
  • Development of human resources and the settlement of the income factor.
  • Further improvement in the area of the marketing of health tourism, with a special emphasis on medical services-based tourism 
  • The analysis and the appreciation of the needs of foreign and Hungarian guests. The consideration of their opinion and experiences.
  • The transfromation of the public supply system into a system of public services.
  • More attention should be paid to the creation and introduction of innovative tourism products and services.

For further deatils see:

http://www.kvvm.hu/szakmai/karmentes/kiadvanyok/fav/tvkm/tvkm08.htm

http://www.eski.hu/new3/politika/zip_doc_2009/egeszsegturizmus.pdf

http://rgdi.sze.hu/files/Ertekezesek,%20tezisek/Az%20egeszsegturisztikai%20fejlesztesek%20hatasai_Molnar%20Csilla.pdf

 

Table 2: Target groups of health tourism  Sources: Budai Z.é.n. itthon.hu

Age group/service: fitness, pleasure bath, wellness, medicinal bath

(1)Active youth, (2) entertainment-oriented youth,(3)  health conscious youth (4) midlle-aged family men  (5) middle- aged people who intend to preserve their health,  (6) health conscious elderly (7) post-operational patients  (8) elderly who want to recover 

It is a significant part of Hungary’s national strategy to make health care and its subsidiaries, health industry and health tourism a priority. (Kincses et al 2009). The long-term significance of the sector is underlined by the fact that the sustainable development of health tourism became part of the National Tourism Development Strategy and Spatial Development Concept of 2005 as well as part of the New Hungary Programme, the Széchenyi Plan and the New Széchenyi Plan of 2011. (Molnár Cs. 2011).

The implementation of the New Széchenyi Plan has 7 priority programmes, among which the programme ’Healing Hungary- Health Programme’ is of utmost importance. Within the framework of this programme there are 23 projects and the funds available are 31 billion forints. The main goal of the programme is to make Hunagry a leading power in Europe in the market of thermal and medicinal water-based health tourism. The projects are aimed at founding organizations for destination management and improving health tourism –related  health care and rehabilitation services. (Albel A. 2012).

The main trends in  the above described developmental plans include the rise of competitiveness, which can be realized by eventually creating health tourism regions through utilizing and coordinating international patient mobility, cross border cooperation, local resources, health care services, cultural and tourist attractions and commercial accomodation.     (Albel A. 2012).