๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ซ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐๐๐ข๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฆ
The highly anticipated International Health and Wellness Tourism Congress (IHWTC) kicked off its two-day event at the Grand Hyatt Manila in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig on October 14 and 15, 2024 with the theme, โAruga: A Filipino-Inspired Gathering of Global Health and Wellnessโ. The event was hosted by the Department of Tourism and co-presented by the AGORA Group.
Following the summit’s inaugural event in Dusseldorf, Germany, the Philippines has been selected to host due to its emergence as a global leader on medical, health and wellness tourism in the Asia-Pacific Region.
The Congress launched with a ceremonial ribbon cutting by guests First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos and Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano and was followed by a cultural performance and opening message by Hadi Malaeb, Founder and CEO of the Agora Group.
Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Frasco gave the keynote speech, where she spoke about the Filipino Brand of Wellness, including traditional healing techniques, holistic treatments and the national quality of genuine care and compassion. โThis focus on inclusive healthcare not only benefits our people but also enhances our global reputation as a destination capable of providing top-tier medical services to international tourists seeking wellness and careโ, Sec. Frasco stated. She underscored that embracing these values โโpositions the Philippines as a leader in the health and wellness tourism sector.
The International Health and Wellness Tourism Congress (IHWTC) is an exclusive, closed door event that aims to highlight the Philippines’ position in global health tourism. It was attended by senior executives from key GCC government entities, global insurance companies, multinational companies, medical facilitators and professionals from healthcare fields, with the aim of encouraging international corporate investors to choose the Philippines as a primary destination for medical tourism.
IHWTC gathers around 100 of the world’s leading professionals in health, wellness and business, with delegates from around 40 countries, opening new leads to tourism investments.
Day 1 (Oct 14) culminated with DOT Director of Health Tourism Dr. Paulo Benito S. Tugbang’s address โThe Philippines as a Health Tourism Destination in the APAC Regionโ, and a panel discussion afterwards on the topic’s current initiatives. This was accompanied by sponsor presentations from St. Luke’s Medical Center and Makati Life and Medical Center.
Day 2 (Oct 15) continued the panel discussions of the country’s esteemed institutions in the fields of medicine and business, with Belo Medical Group, Eluvo Health, GAOC Group of Companies and Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) noting the opportunities for medical tourism investment in the country.
TIEZA Assistant Chief Operating Officer Atty. Karen Sarinas-Baydo cited the initiatives that agencies like TIEZA are doing, situated alongside DOT goals. โWe believe that in the next 5 years, the Philippines can be a global hub for medical and wellness tourism and the government recognizes the pivotal role of the private sector to achieve this goal. TIEZA is your partner in tourism investments. We commit to continuously enhance the business climate to further assist our investors,” ACOO Baydo stated.
Additionally, panel discussions centered on the current state of Philippine healthcare and promising areas for funding in the sector, inclusive of infrastructure, telemedicine and workforce development.
TIEZA serves as one of IHWTC’s booth exhibitors, offering attendees exclusive opportunities for B2B meetings and discussions to gain firsthand insights into the incentives program of the government.
To know more about the investment incentives package and the process of registration, you may call (+632) 8247 5900 loc. 747 or email us through tez.erd@tieza.gov.ph.
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