Over 60 delegates from tourism, health, medical and government sectors, at the first Health and Wellbeing Conference in Cairns heard international experts discuss the opportunities available in health and wellness tourism to Australia. At the end of the conference delegates issued the Cairns Declaration; a document outlining Australia’s planned entry into the growing medical tourism sector. Australia’s traditional tourism sector is suffering, so looks to health and wellness tourists who often stay for long periods, bring family members, and are a higher spend traveller.
According to conference organiser and fervent advocate of Australia as a new destination, Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) managing director Matt Hingerty “The Cairns Declaration is a landmark document for the Australian inbound tourism industry. For the first time we have a formal statement from tourism and health professionals agreeing to work together to build a viable new tourism sector for Australia. Countries such as Singapore and Dubai are already investing billions in building new hospitals and other facilities to cater for the forecasted boom in medical travel in the decades to come. It’s time Australia did the same.”
A collection of medical tourism entrepreneurs told the conference that Australian healthcare's strong reputation would attract South-East Asians and Americans. Wei Siang Yu of medical tourism agency Fly Free for Health, argues that Australia could become the largest second opinion destination for medical tourists, as doctor shopping, where people seek up to six medical opinions ahead of treatment from diseases like cancer and pediatric services, is a standard practice in South-East Asian countries.
Matthew Hingerty says medical tourism would provide a big boost to the tourism sector and would not impact on health services in Australia, "This is not about the public health system at all. There’s spare capacity in our private health system. There is also some promise down the track that if the industry does develop there will be further investment into our private system, so this is about building capacity and not taking away from it."
Not everyone has bought into the fervour of the conference. The Australian Medical Association (AMA) argues that a health tourism push could raise prices for Australians. AMA's Steve Hambleton says," Everyone is entitled to a second opinion, but multiple doctor shopping is not appropriate for the individual or the health system." Others have voiced concerns about agencies promoting Australia and New Zealand as English-speaking and more culturally close to America than Asian countries, with worries that this could be interpreted as racism; a touchy topic in the country after the recent comments from the United Nations special rapporteur on indigenous rights that there is entrenched racism in Australia.
The current value of inbound Australian health tourism is unknown, but believed to be much smaller than outbound Australian medical tourism, which is mainly cosmetic and dental, but surgery too. A colonoscopy, for example, might cost $1,600 in Australia, but only $440 in Thailand. According to the Australian-based medical tourism agency My Medical Choices, the most common destinations are India, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.
Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) managing director Matt Hingerty wants Australia to launch a major attack on the market to attract well-off travellers from the US and UK who are looking to combine a holiday with cosmetic and medical procedures, such as IVF and botox. Hingerty says Australia is a safe place to come for elective surgery and costs are competitive, "There's spare capacity in our private health system, especially over summer when Australians don't choose to have elective surgery because they want to be on the beach."
The Sustainable Tourism Co-operative Research Centre has commissioned a study into health and wellness tourism in Australia to identify potential opportunities. Health and wellness tourists often stay for long periods, bring family members, and are a higher spend traveller.
CAIRNS, the tourism hub of tropical north Queensland, is reinventing itself as the cosmetic surgery and IVF mecca of Australia - targeting US defence personnel in Guam.
A spokesman for Nip and Tuck Solutions said that it was organizing some 22 charters to Queensland between the 26th December 2009 until the end of March 2010 for interested Japanese Clients.
Jayne Bambit in conjunction with Nip and Tuck Solutions and Medical Tourism Australia already Market a package for Breast implants, eight (8) nights Hotelts, eight (8) nights Hotel accommodation and airfares from Los Angeles for a mere US$8500.00.
Interest and bookings for this package have been over whelming and Jayne Bambit said that they where anticipating a similar response from the Japanese Market as well.
Jayne Bambit has regular clinics in Mooloolaba, Hervey Bay and Country Victoria Victoria:( Ivanhoe, Berwick, Echuca, Shepparon, Mentone and Mooroolb.)
Jayne Bambit went onto say that choosing Breast Augmentation is very personal. Naturally you have goals and expectations. Whether your aim is to improve self-confidence, restore your figure or balance your proportions, there are several important aspects to consider. Apart from such factors as size & shape, it is also very important for you to understand and be fully informed about the potential risks & complications involved.
Most adult females who are in good general health and are not breast-feeding are suitable for Breast Augmentation, provided that their expectations are realistic.
During your first consultation, Jayne Bambit will take a thorough medical and surgical history and carry out a general medical assessment. She will then ask you what your main concerns are and what you wish to achieve.
Jayne Bambit went onto to say that air travel to Australia with “VAustralia” has never been cheaper than it is at the moment , air fares are as low USD$655.00 and with the weakening of the Australian $, we can place you at one of our clinics either in Mooloolaba or Melbourne for a very reasonable price. All of the peripheral and ancillary services like Hotel Accommodation and Tours make your medical Tourism journey a unique experience “Down Under”.
13.03.2009 11:30:10 A scenic 3 ½ hours drive north of Brisbane and only 45 minutes by air from Brisbane, Hervey Bay is an easily accessible holiday destination.
(live-PR.com) - Mooloolaba, Australia, March 13, 2009 -- Dr Jayne Bambit in conjunction with www.medicaltourism-directories.com has launched its twice monthly clinics in Hervey Bay. Dr Jayne Bambit who has just finished a busy week in country Victoria announced this week, that the clinics scheduled for Hervey Bay on the 15th and 16th April had already started to fill up.
Nip and Tuck Solutions
the principal in www.medicaltourism-directories.com said that Hervey bay and Mooloolaba where part of its overall plan to bring medical tourism to this region of Queendland and appreciated Dr Jayne Bambit’s professional approach and dedication to promoting Australia as a medical Tourism
destination. Dr Jayne Bambit is a Fellow of the Australasian College of Cosmetic Surgery and is certified by the College to perform Breast Augmentation and other surgical procedures. LAVISH COSMETIC SURGERY CLINIC is located in Mooloolaba.
Hervey Bay is worldwide famous and has often been called the jewel in Queensland’s crown. It is also referred to as the Whale Watch Capital of the World. A scenic 3 ½ hours drive north of Brisbane and only 45 minutes by air from Brisbane, Hervey Bay is an easily accessible holiday destination. It has a population of approximately 53,000 residents.
The city has a wonderful subtropical climate. Temperatures range from 14 to 23 degrees Centigrade in winter and 22 to 29 degrees Centigrade in summer. Rainfall is low and there are more fine days than other Queensland holiday centers. umpback Whales are regular visitors to the coastal waters off southern Queensland. Each year, during winter, humpback whales migrate from Antarctic waters; pass through South Island New Zealand, to the warm waters of the tropics for calving.
Many humpback whales arrive in Hervey Bay from late July and remain until November when they begin their return to the southern ocean. Whale watching in Hervey Bay has become an important attraction for tourists and naturalists. In recent years visitors to Hervey Bay, from mid-July to early November, have discovered the awe inspiring experience of watching the majestic humpback whale, and their encounters with the whales on the waters of Hervey Bay have been unforgettable. These majestic creatures have made Hervey Bay a regular stop on their annual migration to Antarctica after giving birth in the warm waters of north Queensland.
For further information please contact Lavish Cosmetic Surgery Clinic or Nip and Tuck Solutions by email at
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Contact:
Simon Agius
Nip and Tuck Solutions
Bowen Hills, Brisbane
61-404-429-366
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www.medicaltourism-directories.com
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