FEATURE GERMAN NATIONAL TOURIST BOARD
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nyone looking for a holiday that allows a combination of first-class medical treatment with an entertaining and relaxing time for the patient
and the family, needs to have Germany on the map. Many factors contribute to making this country positioned in the heart of Europe, one of the top destinations for health tourism from the GCC and many other regions worldwide. Among these factors, there are world-renowned clinics and specialists, enchanting nature all around and plentiful shopping opportunities for relatives and friends arriving with the patient. With highly trained doctors and medical
staff, an excellent medical infrastructure and a great offer in diagnostics, Germany’s healthcare system has achieved an unrivalled reputation abroad. For this reason, tens of thousands of international patients flock to Germany every year to receive hospital treatment and ambulatory care. Many also come to benefit from the plentiful spa- and fitness programmes in specialised centres across the country. Germany has one of the leading and
most innovative medical systems in the world; when taking the strengths of the German healthcare system into the broader frame of international medical tourism, it is undeniable that modern lifestyle and demographic changes resulted in a growing interest in health, prevention, and wellbeing- to the extent that this has become a key motive for travel. Moreover, as compared to other countries worldwide, Germany’s excellent and innovative medical services, for instance in preventive medicine and rehabilitation, are being offered at very competitive prices. For all these reasons, health tourism
has established itself as one of the leading segments of the travel industry in Germany. In particular, it has become increasingly popular among Arab Gulf travellers, who praise the quality and variety of the health, wellness and spa treatments provided in Germany. A highly developed and interlinked network of research, industry and clinical treatment further boasts the international standing of Germany, which by now fully affirmed as top health destination from the Arabian Gulf. There are over 2,000 hospitals in
Germany. They include 37 university medical centres offering the highest level of care, around 700 public-sector and church-owned hospitals and 500 hospitals belonging to private networks. Besides
about the German national tourist board (Gntb)
The German National Tourist Board (GNTB), based in Frankfurt-Germany, works on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Economy and Technology and is the national organisation responsible for promoting Germany as travel destination around the world through a broad range of marketing services. It has 29 permanent foreign offices. The GNTB pursues two main objectives: to enhance the positive image of German towns, cities & regions and to promote travel to and within Germany. From its office in Dubai, the German
National Tourist Office (GNTO), the local affiliate of GNTB for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, promotes through various activities the travel destination Germany within the region. In 2010 around 970,000 overnight stays were generated by GCC nationals in Germany, and the Gulf Countries are among the Top 20 source markets of the country. For 2020, the GNTB forecasts 2.3 millions overnight stays of GCC nationals in Germany.
caring for German residents, some 10% of all hospitals also have a specifically international focus and have established additional services for patients from abroad. According to the German Federal Statistical Office, in 2009 around 71,000 international patients from 173 countries underwent inpatient treatments in German hospitals, with the Arabian Gulf region stably ranking among the top source markets for this tourist trend. The UAE, in particular, placed itself at the forefront, with almost 69% of the registered international patients coming from this country, according to data provided by hospitals and clinics. Since the number of Arab visitors seeking
medical care or wellness treatments in Germany has remarkably risen over the years, many hospitals have developed specific services for their patients. These tailored services include Arabic language support for patients and accommodation arrangements for their accompanying relatives. Moreover, hospitals’ personnel are perfectly instructed to take religious and cultural requirements into great consideration. Many Gulf visitors coming to Germany
to enjoy health, spa and wellness treatments particularly appreciate high standards of service and the availability of special family packages. The offered packages not only provide patients from the Arabian Gulf with high-class services in medical facilities equipped for an international clientele, but they also ensure to accompanying friends and family members a vast selection of entertainment outside the hospitals and clinics. On the one hand, German metropolises allow them to choose from a broad range of cultural events and shopping opportunities; on the other hand, visitors can also decide to enjoy the beauty of the countryside. Yet, the rising number of services, shaped
on the needs and preferences of GCC and Arab tourists do not exclusively comprise the medical structures. Hotels and apartments that can accommodate the whole family and provide more independence than a hotel are available in the main wellness and spa destinations across Germany. Many hotels employ Arabic-speaking staff and cater for special dietary requirements of Arab guests with restaurants serving halal meals. In response to the demands of their
international guests, hotels have even developed top-notch medical service packages, in partnership with clinics and specific teams of physicians within the cities or conveniently located at a short driving distance from the main urban centres. International health tourists are even offered the possibility to arrive early in the morning and leave in the evening, thanks to the many specialised medical facilities with top-notch treatments, specifically placed in the surroundings of the main German cities’ airports. On top of all the highlights listed so
far, Germany’s healthy climate and healing waters contribute to making the country the perfect destination for a great health and wellness vacation. The clean air of mountainous areas or the maritime climate of the North and Baltic Sea, for instance, can help patients to recover quickly or support the cure of chronic illnesses. ■
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more info: For further information on the travel destination Germany and the German National Tourist Board, please visit: www.
germany.travel . It is also possible to order the medical brochure ‘Medical tourism – You’ll be well looked after in Germany’ in English or Arabic by contacting the following email address:
gnto.team@dlh.de
ARAB HEALTH SERVICES DIRECTORY 2012 29
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