Taiwan is attracting record numbers of Chinese medical tourists and has taken steps to increase numbers further. Taiwan’s National Immigration Agency (NIA) has eased the regulations for Chinese visitors going to Taiwan for medical treatment in order to boost the economy. Chinese nationals who are over 20 years old and have either savings of at least NT$200,000, or an annual income over NT$500,000 can visit Taiwan for health inspections or medical treatment, including cosmetic surgery.
Taiwan is attracting record numbers of Chinese medical tourists and has taken steps to increase numbers further.
Taiwan’s National Immigration Agency (NIA) has eased the regulations for Chinese visitors going to Taiwan for medical treatment in order to boost the economy. Chinese nationals who are over 20 years old and have either savings of at least NT$200,000, or an annual income over NT$500,000 can visit Taiwan for health inspections or medical treatment, including cosmetic surgery. These health tourists can bring family members with them.
Taiwan claims to have attracted 100,000 medical tourists in 2012, exceeding the goal set at 60,000 and surging 156% from 39,000 in 2011, according to Walter Yeh of Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), “The quality of Taiwan’s medical care is very good, but needs to be promoted to international tourists. The Department of Health approves some 40 hospitals and clinics on the island to treat Chinese tourists, while the Taiwan Joint Commission on Hospital Accreditation, a non-profit and non-governmental hospital accreditation agency, certifies 19 cosmetic surgery clinics for quality of treatment.”
TAITRA says that revenue generated by medical tourism is estimated at NT$70 billion (US$2.33 billion), of which at least 40% is from Mainland Chinese. The value is expected to rise by 20% in 2013.
Walter Yeh of TAITRA adds, “Taiwan’s medical tourism can surpass that of South Korea in five years. The key target markets are Mainland Chinese tourists, and overseas Chinese in North America and Southeast Asia looking for quality, cheaper medical care in Taiwan.” TAITRA is now promoting Taiwan’s medical tourism in metropolitan Beijing and Shanghai.
The relaxation of the visa rules is crucial. Hsieh Li-kung of the National Immigration Agency (NIA) explains, “The regulations for Chinese coming to Taiwan for medical services have been eased to increase economic growth. With this revised regulation, Taiwanese health inspection and medical cosmetology industries will be able to compete internationally. This can also attract more Chinese tourists to visit Taiwan. Allowing Chinese to come to Taiwan to enjoy great medical cosmetology services also demonstrates Taiwan’s ability and development in the industry.”
According to the NIA, medical organizations can request that travel agencies apply to the NIA for business registration so they can use the new rules for tour groups of Chinese going to Taiwan for medical services.
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