Indonesians to bankroll Cambodia’s new national airline

PHNOM PENH - Cambodia is to launch a new national airline, giving it a flag carrier for the first time since Royal Air Cambodge folded in 2001.

AFP reports that Cambodia's government will partner with two private Indonesian firms, who will provide all the investment and absorb any losses.

Deputy Prime Minister Sok An said at a signing ceremony, "It's a great day ... a day for which we have waited a very long time."

The government hopes to start flights with the as yet unnamed airline within six months to take advantage of the booming tourism sector. It will have a 51 percent stake in the venture, Sok An said.

The two firms, Rajawali Group and Ancora International, will get 70 percent of the carrier's eventual profits, the official said.

Earlier this year, the Rajawali Group - a conglomerate owned by Indonesian businessman Peter Sondakh, was reported to be considering purchasing shares in the national airline Garuda Indonesia.

"A reliable and dependable flag carrier that is also the pride of the country is the key to strong and sustainable economic growth," said Sondakh.

Cambodia saw 1.7 million visitors in 2006 with the country set to surpass that total this year, according to tourism officials.

New domestic air routes would open up Cambodia's more remote locations and encourage travellers to seek sights beyond the famed Angkor temples in northwest Cambodia, its most popular tourist draw, tourism officials said.

Royal Air Cambodge, folded in 2001 after running up huge losses.
Source: travelmole

Vietnam offers latest Cosmetic Surgery Technology

The medical tourism industry has really taken off in Vietnam thanks to the opening of additional specialized clinics and the latest technologies, it has been reported.

According to the Thanh Nien News, there are now 53 licensed cosmetic surgery clinics in Ho Chi Minh City alone, 45 of which are specialised clinics while the remainders are hospitals providing cosmetic surgery services.

Dr Tran Thi Anh Tu, a cosmetic surgeon in the country's largest city, revealed: "Vietnamese plastic surgeons at the moment are able to carry out most types of plastic surgery offered elsewhere in the world, like nose jobs, scar removal, breast implants, or liposuction."

According to Dr Tu, private clinics are keen to keep up with technical advances, such as pixel laser skin tightening which is available in the city.

Earlier this year, Vietnam celebrated the opening of its very first medical tourism resort, which operates in the southern seaside town of Vung Tau.

The resort, Medicoast, offers full travel packages that combine professional healthcare services and spa therapies with recreational and travel tours.

Philippines Hosts 2nd International Medical Travel Conference

The country’s top medical and wellness facilities and resort destinations take center stage as the Department of Tourism (DOT) announced that it is organizing the 2nd International Medical Conference (IMTC 2007). The event will be held on November 19-23 at the Hotel Intercontinental Manila in Makati City.

The global event, jointly organized by the PDOT with Avail Corporation, aims to raise the profile of the Philippines as a primary destination for medical tourists. It is a key venue for major players in the medical travel industry to discuss and address core issues and is expected to draw more than 250 senior decision makers of the industry. The IMTC is also the medical travel industry’s one-stop event platform to meet healthcare, travel, hospitality, government, medical ancillary services and buyers of medical.

According to Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano, “I am calling on local stakeholders in the medical tourism industry, such as hospitals, wellness resorts, and healthcare financing services, tour operators and transportation companies to participate in this event and take advantage of the opportunity to meet and network with their counterparts around the world.”

The four-day event aims to develop medical value travel and to be the catalyst for industry alliances among medical establishments, health benefits companies, insurance travel partners, government agencies and other related enterprises. IMTC 2007 is expected to draw in more than 250 trade participants from over 23 countries.

“Being part of IMTC 2007 opens boundless opportunities for the participants. It is the global platform for everyone involved in medical tourism to address important issues and to strengthen their trade ties,” explained Elizabeth Nelle, director of the DOT Office of Product Research and Development.

According to Director Elizabeth Nelle, conference organizer at the DOT’s office of Product Research and Development, the conference is a first step in the Philippines’ bid to be part of the $40 billion medical travel industry with over 780 million patients seeking faster, less expensive and world class medical care outside their principal country of residence.

IMTC 2007’s keynote address will be delivered by Jonathan Edelheit, president of the Medical Tourism Association, USA. He is set to speak on the next wave of medical travel. Edelheit is also the vice president of the Optimed Health/ United Group Programs, an American organization that specializes in creating and administering tailor-fit company health benefit programs.

Workshops will be programmed to assist participants understand key topics in medical tourism, such as designing the scope of medical travel services, internal and external resources to ensure service delivery, developing holistic packages and providing integrated services that cover transportation, interpretation, logistics, hospitality care and post care options.

Site visits and guided demonstrations will also be scheduled to provide first-hand experience of some of the best practices existing in the country. DOT will be arranging tours to The Medical City, St. Lukes’s Medical Center, World City Medical Center and Asian Hospital and Medical Center.

The DOT will further arrange venues for medical contact exchanges, cross-country panels, business clinics, as well as sponsorships and exhibitions agreements. Forum sessions will cover case studies and best practices in India, Singapore and Thailand, as well as industry prospects in the Gulf Area and updates on the Philippine scenario.

Organizers will provide delegates with post conference trips to some of the country’s top destinations.

A special highlight of the said event is the International Medical Travel Excellence Awards, which will recognize the outstanding medical travel providers.

Durano revealed that the DOT is pushing to make the country one of the top destinations for medical tourism.

“We have some of the best hospitals and stand alone specialty clinics in Southeast Asia. The facilities and services are of top-notch quality and patients and customers can be sure to get the best value for their hard-earned money. Moreover, we have some of the best beaches and spa resorts. Our country is the place where medical travelers and their companions can be cared for with the warm, nurturing and friendly nature of the Filipino,” Durano added.

For more information, visit the event’s website at:
http://www.availcorp.com/
http://www.medicaltravelconference.com/
http://www.tourism.gov.ph/

India to invest $6.5bn in Medical Tourism

The Indian government has announced that it plans to invest $6.5 billion (£3.14 billion) to encourage medical tourism in India.

Tourism minister Ambika Soni said that "affordable hospitals and budget hotels for patients' relatives" would be built with the money, the Economic Times reports.

She explained that three international firms have arranged to meet with officials to discuss setting up these facilities in Delhi and NCR.

"They will meet government by the end of this year and they will also set up budget accommodation facilities for patients," Ms Soni said.

She added that India has been working to facilitate the process of international investment in the country. Hospital management and doctors' profiles will also become more accessible, she claimed.

Meanwhile, Leena Nandan, joint secretary to the government of India and ministry of tourism, said that a task force had been set up to help ensure high standards at hospitals and wellness clinics.

Taiwan to Promote Medical Tourism

Private hospitals in Taiwan are to promote the country for medical tourism and hope to generate US$215.52 million within three years.

According to the Taipei Times, The announcement was made as the Taiwan Non-governmental Hospitals and Clinics Association, Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research and 20 hospitals announced the inauguration of a project management center.

The center will promote ectogenesis, liver transplants, hip joint replacement, cardiology and cardiovascular surgery and craniofacial surgery.

The project members got together after the Executive Yuan approved a program to promote medical services.

Wu Ming-yen, chief executive officer of an international medical services project, said 30,000 job opportunities would be created.

The Taiwan department of Health has also backed the project.

Mekong Countries Deepen Tourism Relations

H.E Dr. Thong Khon & H.E Hoang Tuan Anh, Tourism Ministers of Cambodia and Vietnam

Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam will enhance tourism cooperation as the result of a meeting of their tourism ministers in Ho Chi Minh City October 5. The ministers pledged to share information and experience in tourism planning, product development and investment; host tourism investment forums; increase support for tourism-related cultural and sports events in each other's countries; encourage art performance and heritage tourism; enhance cooperation in tourism training; encourage direct air links between major cultural heritage sites; and bolster private-public partnership on tourism investment initiatives.

Speaking at the meeting, Dr Thong Khon, Cambodia's minister of tourism said: "The most significant issue that we should not forget is travel facilitation and promotion of tourism investment of our three countries. So far, we have done remarkably well in terms of intraregional tourism cooperation, but we should encourage more travel movement." The three destinations have a "Three Countries -- One Destination" philosophy that has been in place since 2002. Mr Hoang Tuan Anh, Vietnam's minister of culture, sports and tourism, said the aim was to "build Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam into a single tourism destination with diverse, unique and sustainable tourism products that would be highly competitive in the region".