Amman, June 11 (Petra) Deputizing for His Majesty King Abdullah II, Minister of Health Feras Hawari on Wednesday inaugurated the 8th Medical Tourism World Summit, Conference, and Expo, organized by Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Global and Pioneers Road organization.

In his opening remarks, Hawari highlighted King Abdullah’s strategic vision of establishing Jordan as a leading regional and international destination for medical care, backed by modern infrastructure, qualified professionals, and diverse healing sites. He said the King’s commitment is evident through continuous directives to develop the health sector and expand international cooperation.

One such milestone, Hawari noted, was His Majesty’s 2022 state visit to Algeria, which marked a turning point in bilateral health cooperation and facilitated greater access for Algerian patients to Jordanian healthcare services.

Hawari emphasized the government’s reform agenda to create a more attractive environment for medical tourism, citing relaxed visa restrictions, resumed direct flights with Libya, and enhanced collaboration between health and tourism sectors. He also pointed to Jordan’s selection by the UN World Tourism Organization in 2022 as the region’s first center for health and wellness tourism a recognition that brings both prestige and responsibility.

The Ministry of Health, in coordination with partners, has drafted the National Medical Tourism Strategy (2025–2027), structured around four pillars: governance, marketing and promotion, investment incentives, and service quality enhancement. The strategy is expected to be reviewed by the Cabinet soon.

Jordan is also preparing, in cooperation with the Arab League, to host a meeting of the Arab Technical Committee on Medical Tourism to formulate a unified Arab strategy in the sector.

Efforts to improve transparency and patient experience include more than 100 pre-priced treatment packages and the upcoming launch of the "Salamtak" digital platform a unified interface for medical tourism services. Jordan is also finalizing a new system to formally regulate wellness tourism.

Hawari noted that the number of medical tourists nearly doubled from 111,000 in 2020 to over 225,000 in 2024 and is expected to reach 290,000 this year, surpassing pre-COVID levels.

Also speaking at the event, Minister of Tourism Lina Annab said the pandemic reshaped the global tourism landscape, spotlighting the deep ties between travel, health, and nature. She said the medical wellness tourism market could reach $1.4 trillion by 2027, and Jordan is well-positioned to capitalize due to its unique natural assets like the Dead Sea, Ma’in hot springs, and Wadi Rum.

The Ministry of Tourism, she added, has launched a national strategy to promote wellness tourism, combining nature, local food, and community-driven experiences to build a resilient, world-class destination.

Talal Abu-Ghazaleh emphasized the sector’s future potential and its key contribution to Jordan’s GDP. He praised Jordan’s advanced hospitals, medical professionals, and pharmaceutical industry, which rivals international standards.

Conference founder and CEO of Pioneers Road organization Ayman Arikat said the event brings together stakeholders for cooperation agreements, with key participation from decision-makers, Arab and global insurers, diplomats, and healthcare officials.

Sakher Ajlouni, Chairman of the Jordanian Group, presented a vision for developing the Dead Sea into a regional wellness hub, highlighting its exceptional oxygen levels (18% above the global average), mineral-rich environment, and promising investment prospects.

On the sidelines of the conference, Hawari inaugurated a specialized exhibition featuring hospitals, pharmaceutical firms, insurance companies, laboratories, banks, and media from Jordan and abroad.

The conference also hosted sessions on health sector investment, recent advancements, and Jordan’s growing regional and global competitiveness in healthcare services.

//Petra// AF

11/06/2025 21:59:40