Thailand is becoming very well known in Europe, and especially Germany, for both preventive and curative sides of the health and wellness phenomena.
According to official statistics, international patients coming to Thailand for treatment rose from only half a million in 2001 to 1.28 million in 2005. Europe, including the Scandinavian countries, plus Germany, Austria and the UK, is the third largest source of health and wellness visitors, after the Middle East and North America.
On the curative side, thousands of international patients come to receive medical treatment in Thailand due to several reasons:
- Quality: Specialist doctors, modern facilities and equipment and excellent service
- Price: Good treatment at a reasonable price.
- Access: In some countries, patients have to wait for treatment for many months. Not so in Thailand where treatment and access to professional help is available immediately.
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On the preventive side, Thailand is also becoming well known for its spas and meditation centres. This is becoming a growth business, as people all over the world are realising that prevention is better than cure. Many visitors across all age groups are coming to Thailand to relax and rejuvenate with a spa treatment or seek mental peace by learning how to meditate.
Thailand is well placed to capitalise on this trend, given its Buddhist heritage and long tradition of natural healing and local wisdom which have been handed down from generation to generation.
This applies as much to its exotic cuisine with its extensive use of medicinal herbs and spices as its traditional massage and therapies offered in a relaxing and tranquil atmosphere.
Visitors can find the best places to relax, rejuvenate and refresh their mind, body and spirit. The health resorts and spas offer superb herbal treatments and traditional massage, all of high and certifiable standards.
Growing stress factors are leading people to seek inner balance and harmony, for a more holistic approach based more on prevention and less on cure. Besides medical treatment, environment and attitude are also considered in the forming of a diagnosis.
Now, more Thais are beginning to reclaim their ancient wisdom, turning again to meditation and natural therapies along with modern medication. This is our version of ‘technology.’
Traditional healing involves herbal steam baths said to improve circulation, reduce muscle aches and stress, improve the respiratory system, and ease allergies as well as cure skin aliments.
Complementing those therapies, the number of spa facilitates available in Thailand has increased in recent years and their range of activities, too. Several leading hotels in Bangkok and throughout the country have spa facilities as well, offering herbal treatments and massage.
Most of Thai society rests on a foundation of Buddhist teachings. Meditation is therefore one of the most publicised and popular aspects of the religion. It is a means of promoting inner peace and happiness.
Visitors to Thailand can learn the fundamentals of this practice at centres in Bangkok and around the country. Introductory courses are offered in English and Thai at some of the centres.
Similarly, the basis of Thai massage lies in tapping into the natural energy of the human body and distributing it evenly throughout the body as to create an inner harmony. More popular than ever, this unique form of body manipulation is attracting tourists from far and wide for specially designed and very reasonably priced five- to ten-day courses.
The best-known centre for traditional healing and massage training is Wat Pho in Bangkok. Visitors can even learn how to become a skilful masseuse.
Contact information:
International Public Relation Division
Tel: +66 (0) 2250 5500 ext. 4545-48
Fax: +66 (0) 2253 7419
E-mail: prdiv3@tat.or.th
Web site: www.tatnews.org
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