Costa Rica targets UAE medical travellers

Costa Rica is aiming to attract Qataris seeking medical treatment, with a wider goal to attract nationals from the GCC region and Europe.

Whether this is reality or optimism is debatable. According to Costa Rica’s own figures for sources of medical tourists, 83% are from the USA and 7% from Canada, with the remaining 10% from neighbouring countries such as Nicaragua and Panama, many of whom are Americans.

Costa Rica is promoting cosmetic surgery, dental treatment, and eye surgery among other medical services, on the basis that the cost in Costa Rica is much lower compared to the rates in North American and European countries.

Costa Rica is also looking to Qatar for collaboration between the two countries in healthcare, plus targeting Qatari investors for inward investment.