Dubai is set to host the World Health Tourism Congress. The congress is likely to be attended by more than 350 participants from 80 countries. Previous events have been held in Germany, Cyprus, Philippines, Spain and South Africa. In this light, Dubai is aiming to attract 500,000 medical tourists a year by 2020.

The event is being held under the patronage of Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM). The three-day event is scheduled to be held from 18-20 October 2014 at the Mohammed bin Rashid Academic Medical Centre in Dubai Health Care City (DHCC).

The event will offer a global platform to healthcare and health insurance providers, tourism promotion bodies, medical and health care regulators and tour operators. This platform will serve to discuss a wide range of issues and trends about the health tourism industry.

It is said that the global health tourism market size is US$38.5 billion to US$55 bn, based on approximately 11 million cross-border patients worldwide spending an average of US$3,500 to US$5,000 per visit, including all medical costs, transport and inpatient stay.