Cluster to promote Greek capital as health tourism destination

Inbound tourism to Athens could hit 7 million in 2018. A new promotion will focus on highlighting dental services, ophthalmology, assisted reproduction, cosmetic surgery and invasive dermatology as well as diagnostic services.

The Athens municipality has joined forces with the Athena Health Tourism cluster to promote the Greek capital as a health tourism destination.

The cluster will use digital marketing as well as the promotion of health and wellness tourist packages. The Athens Development and Tourism Promotion Company, through its official campaign “This is Athens”, and the City of Athens Convention and Visitors Bureau, will focus on dental services, ophthalmology, assisted reproduction, cosmetic surgery and invasive dermatology as well as diagnostic services.

Athens had a record-breaking 5 million visitors in 2017, due to deals with airlines and global promotion as a city destination.

Greece’s tourism minister, Elena Kountoura, is expecting another record year in 2018 with forecasts of an additional 2 million visitors. In the first quarter of 2018, international arrivals rose by 20%. The ministry is promoting new destinations and reaching out to new markets for tourism all year round, which is at the core of its national tourism strategy.

Medical tourism is a golden opportunity for Greece, but it will need strategy, state support, marketing and innovation to establish itself as an effective medical tourism destination.

Find out about the medical tourism industry in Greece at the 2018 IMTJ Summit, May 21-24, Athens.