Trade with Greece
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This form of tourism should not be confused with
wellness or health tourism, which comprises the
provision of spa, slimming centre, healthy diet,
sports etc. services to healthy visitors.
Medical tourism is the combination of health and
T
he achievement of these ambitious tar-
gets, amidst a period of widespread eco-
nomic crisis, requires the intensification
of efforts to ensure the full utilization of Greece’s
tourism potential, through the continual enrich-
ment of the service offer, the improvement of its
quality and the extension of the tourist season.
The dynamic development of special forms of
tourism in Greece during the past few years is
the best proof that the country’s tourist enter-
prises have grasped the signs of the times,
responding to the changes in international
tourism demand and the emergence of a new
trend in the tourism market (visitors shy away
from mass tourism).
Each special form of tourism is addressed to a
specific type of tourists that share a common
motive, which is also the essential feature of their
journey from their place of permanent residence
to the place where they spend their vacation.
This feature gives its name to the corresponding
special form of tourism.
II.
In medical tourism, which is a specific form of
alternative tourism, the visitors’ motive is to
improve their health (diagnosis and/or treatment).
Medical
tourism in
Greece
The year 2013 is expected to be a
good one for Greek tourism:
advance-bookings are already up by
more than 20% year-on-year, while
estimates point to more than 17 mil-
lion arrivals (a new record) that will
generate revenues of approximately
€
11 billion.
By Ilias Iliopoulos
