Incheon City Attracts 24,800 Foreign Patients Last Year... Record High

40% Increase Compared to 2018...185% Rapid Growth in Clinic-Level
Operation of Overseas Medical Tourism Hubs and Development of Products Utilizing Regional Specialized Medical Technologies
Effective Foreign Patient Follow-Up Care Safety System and Concierge Services

Opening Ceremony of the Incheon Medical Tourism Information Center in Irkutsk, Russia
Photo by Incheon Tourism Organization

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] Incheon City attracted more than 24,800 foreign patients last year, achieving the highest record ever.

According to Incheon Tourism Organization on the 11th, the Korea Health Industry Development Institute announced that the number of foreign patients visiting South Korea in 2019 increased by 31.3% to 497,464 compared to 378,967 in 2018.

Among them, the number of foreign patients attracted by Incheon City was 24,864, about 40% more than 17,760 in 2018.

By nationality, patients from Southeast Asia increased in the order of China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Russia, and the United States, and by medical institution, patients at tertiary and hospital levels increased by about 25%, while clinics showed a rapid growth of 185%.

This is seen as the result of efforts to revitalize the attraction of foreign patients by operating medical tourism bases overseas, developing high value-added products using regionally specialized medical technologies, and discovering and supporting leading local attraction institutions.

In particular, it was analyzed that differentiated medical services from other cities and provinces were effective.

Representative examples include the 'Foreign Post-Management Peace-of-Mind System (POM)' that provides one-on-one follow-up care for 90 days after treatment at medical institutions registered for attracting foreign patients in Incheon, the 'concierge service' that offers airport transportation and interpretation, and the operation of 1-day tours linked with healing after treatment.

This year, Incheon City participated in the Ministry of Health and Welfare's public project 'Regional Specialized Medical Technology and Infrastructure Enhancement Project' and secured 140 million KRW in national funds, and recently secured 400 million KRW in national funds in the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's 'Medical Tourism Cluster Project,' ranking first among local governments.

An official from Incheon City stated, "To turn the COVID-19 crisis into an opportunity for Incheon tourism to take a step forward, we will continue joint marketing with related organizations and do our best to foster and support the medical tourism industry so that Incheon can establish itself as a global healthcare city."