Copy in clipboard...
Iran sets €6b health tourism target
Iran is seeking €6 billion in revenue from health tourism under its Seventh Development Plan, a senior official said on Saturday, stressing that medical visitors spend about four times more than leisure travelers.
Anoushirvan Mohseni Bandpey, deputy minister for tourism and head of the Health Tourism Council, said during the International Private/Public Hospitals Congress and Exhibition aka IPH2025 in Tehran that the sector could boost foreign exchange earnings, generate jobs and “strengthen international trade ties,” IRNA reported.
The exhibition brought together hospital executives, healthcare specialists and tour operators from Europe, Africa and the Middle East, aiming to showcase Iran’s capacity and build new partnerships.
He called medical tourism one of Iran’s fastest-growing markets.
Iran has about 300 licensed hospitals and treatment centers authorized to serve international patients, along with nearly 700 agencies offering health tourism packages.
Officials say upgrading service quality and ensuring transparency are central to winning trust abroad as Iran seeks to connect more closely with the “global system of health and tourism.”
Bandpey said demand is driven by Iran’s advanced medical techniques in fields such as organ transplants, orthopedics and fertility treatment, combined with lower costs, shorter waiting times and cultural proximity to key markets including Iraq, Oman, Afghanistan and Turkmenistan.
He outlined four policy priorities: building a national brand for health tourism, strengthening oversight through new regulations and digital platforms, training and empowering professionals, and fostering cooperation between ministries and private operators.
He said responsibilities had been divided, with the Health Ministry overseeing hospitals, the Foreign Ministry handling visas, and the Tourism Ministry managing accommodation, transport and wellness packages.
The Tehran event, billed as the region’s largest medical and health tourism gathering, was backed by the Tehran Health Tourism Association, the Health Tourism Development Center of Islamic Countries and other international groups.