Tourism in Western Cape Boosted by Medical Travel

Western Cape as a Medical Travel Destination

Western Cape, a province of South Africa, is considered the “jewel” of South African tourism and medical travel destinations.  It attracted a travel market that grew at an astounding rate of 13.8% compared to the national tourism average of 1.2% in 2003.  The government of Western Cape acknowledges that tourists from the United Kingdom and Germany account for a large percentage of its tourism market. Foreigners from these countries enjoy medical travel to Western Cape to take advantage of low liposuction costs and other medical treatments. Spurred by the increasing availability of cosmetic surgery financing, foreigners engaged in medical travel and other types of tourism have increased the gross regional product (GRP) by a rate of 9.8%.

Cosmetic Surgery Financing Helps South African Tourism

Cosmetic surgery financing has allowed a large increase in medical travel since the early 1990’s.  Foreigners are able to take advantage of affordable liposuction costs among other treatments in South Africa which cosmetic surgery financing covers.  According to a recent poll, patients drawn to South Africa by attractive liposuction costs voted that 8 out of 10 of the best destinations were located in Western Cape.

Medical Travel in Western Cape is Enhanced by Professional Guides

Encouraged by the economic contribution of tourism and medical travel, Western Cape began a special training program to create high standards among local guides regarding customer care communications, and improved guide techniques. Lynne Brown, the Western Cape Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Tourism Patients, explains those selected for the tourism guides will have classroom training along with 3 months of working with professional guide.  Currently, 60% of the tourists in Western Cape are local, but improvements like professional guide training are expected to continue the increase in international tourism.

Source: “Western Cape Trains Tour Guides To Boost Visitor Numbers to the Province;” Cape Gateway, 11/08/2006