Turkey has emerged as one of the destinations for medical tourism as the country tries to boost tourism revenue.
History fanatics, adrenaline junkies, sunbathers and foodies are all in for a treat when heading for a holiday in Turkey, but the nation is also drawing tourists that are seeking to avail Turkey’s competitive edge in medical tourism.
Today, Turkey is the world’s sixth top destination in terms of tourist numbers.
Out of the roughly 35 million tourists, who visited Turkey last year, around 188,095 came for surgical procedures, from hair transplants and liposuction to cancer and orthopedic treatment, according to the World Tourism Organization (WTO).
The number of medical tourists who visited Turkey in the first six months of 2014 totaled 162,445 with revenues reaching $328 million.
“Currently, more than 1,000 patients travel to Turkey every year to take advantage of the medical services we offer,” said Fatih Ozturk, the project manager of VisitandCare.com, a patient and doctor matching service which helps visitors from the Middle East and Europe.
Meanwhile, those from less-developed nations are attracted by Western-trained medics and new facilities sprouting up as Turkey’s private health care industry flourishes.
Additionally, the fact that Turkey is a central tourist attraction is also enticing.
Turkey’s Health Ministry said the country has great advantages in terms of health tourism with a very convenient geographical location.
“The country has made significant improvements and began to compete with countries such as India, Malaysia, Thailand and Hungary, which are strong in the sector,” the report reads.
Foreign institutions including Malaysian sovereign fund Khazanah Nasional, Qatar’s First Investment Bank, Argus Capital Partners and the World Bank’s International Finance Corp. have put money into the Turkish health care sector.
The country is building medical facilities with public-private partnerships where the state will rent city hospitals built and run by the private sector for 25 years.
This year also, tourism is booming and that too not only in medical sector.
In fact, a seven percent rise in the number of visitors to Turkey has been recorded, which is welcomed by Tourism Minister Omer Celik Turkey saw a seven percent rise in the number of tourists visiting the country in the first eight months of 2014, the Turkish tourism minister reported.
Omer Celik said recently that nearly 25.7 million tourists came to Turkey between January and August compared to 23.7 million over the same period last year.
This is a very good record because the World Tourism Organization predicts world tourism’s growth at four to five percent this year but Turkey’s growth is exceeding seven percent.
Germans topped the list of foreign visitors to Turkey, followed by Russians and Britons.
On the other hand, Turkey offers a wealth of different kinds of destinations to travelers.
From the dome and minaret filled skyline of Istanbul to the Roman ruins along the western and southern coasts, from the beaches of Antalya and the Mediterranean seaside resorts to the misty mountains of Eastern Black Sea.
With so many amazing destinations a top 10 is bound to leave some great tourist attractions in Turkey out.
So consider this list of destinations as just the start of a great holiday in Turkey.
The list includes Aspendos Theatre, which boasts one of the best preserved ancient theaters of antiquity.
The theater of Aspendos was build in 155 AD during the rule of the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius and could seat between 15,000 and 20,000 spectators.
Next is Patara Beach, which is one of the longest stretches of sandy beach found anywhere in the Mediterranean.
Then there is Pamukkale, meaning “cotton castle” in Turkish, which is an unreal landscape in western Turkey, famous for its white terraces.
The terraces are made of travertine, a sedimentary rock deposited by water with a very high mineral content from the hot springs.
Turkey is also called a land of castles and mosques.
Located in the city of Bodrum in southwest Turkey, Bodrum Castle was built by the Crusaders in the 15th century as the Castle of St. Peter.
It is one of the world’s best preserved monuments dating back to medieval times.
The castle now operates as a museum, with the focus on the Museum of Underwater Archaeology.
It overlooks the internal marina of Bodrum filled with millions of dollars worth of sailing crafts.
On the other side is Nemrut, which is a 2,134 meter (7,001 ft) high mountain in southeastern Turkey, near the city of Adiyaman.
The summit of Mount Nemrut provides a great view of the surrounding mountains.
The main attraction is to watch the sunrise from the eastern terrace, which give the bodyless heads a beautiful orange hue and adds to the sense of mystery of the place.
A visitor to Turkey can also enjoy its pastoral charm by visiting Oludeniz, which is a small village located on the south west coast on the Aegean Sea.
It has a secluded sandy bay at the mouth of Ölüdeniz, on a blue lagoon.
This beach is famous for its shades of turquoise and remains one of the most photographed beaches on the Mediterranean.
The long list of attractions in Turkey includes the famous Blue Mosque.
With its six minarets and sweeping architecture the Sultan Ahmed or Blue Mosque in Istanbul impresses from the outside.
While still used as a mosque, the Blue Mosque has also become one of the most popular tourist attractions in Istanbul.
It was built between 1609 and 1616 and like many other mosques contains the tomb of the founder.
Also, the ruins of Ephesus are a popular tourist attraction on the west coast.
Some of the structures can still be seen however including the Great Theater and the Library of Celsus.
The library was built around 125 AD to store 12,000 scrolls and to serve as a monumental tomb for Celsus, the governor of Asia.
Then there is another tourist wonder — Cappadocia, which is famous for its weird and wonderful natural rock formations and unique historical heritage.
On the top of the must-see list is Hagia Sophia.
Located in Istanbul, the Hagia Sophia was originally a basilica constructed for the Eastern Roman Emperor Justinian I in the sixth century.
A masterwork of Roman engineering, the massive dome (31 meters or 102 feet in diameter) covers what was for over 1,000 years the largest enclosed space in the world.
Turkey: A key player in medical tourism
Turkey: A key player in medical tourism
MoU signed to establish Saudi-Brazilian Coordination Council in Rio de Janeiro
- Kingdom’s foreign minister visited Brazil to attend the G20 Summit that ended on Tuesday
- Prince Faisal and Vieira reviewed relations between their countries and ways to develop them
RIYADH: A memorandum of understanding to establish the Saudi-Brazilian Coordination Council was signed by the foreign ministers of both countries in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday, Saudi Press Agency reported.
The agreement was signed during a meeting between Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan.
It is a “continuation of what was agreed upon between the leaderships of the two countries during the visit of the President of Brazil Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to the Kingdom on November 30, 2023,” SPA said.
The Kingdom’s foreign minister visited Brazil to attend the G20 Summit that ended on Tuesday.
Prince Faisal and Vieira reviewed relations between their countries and ways to develop them. They also discussed regional and international developments and efforts made in this regard.
Saudi entrepreneurs present expertise at Misk forum in Riyadh
- Passion alone won’t build a business, says Prepline CEO Essa Behbehani
RIYADH: “If you don’t channel your passion for executing a business, then you simply have a hobby,” Essa Behbehani said at the Misk Global Forum on Tuesday.
The CEO of Prepline, a food and beverage investment and development company, made the statement during the panel discussion “Dream, Do, Dare: The Entrepreneur’s Cookbook,” which discussed core business skills, provided guidance on overcoming common startup challenges, and offered essential advice on scaling enterprises through funding.
“Passion is one of the main elements you need to build a business on, but it is not the main element,” Behbehani said.
He outlined the four key roles in business success, saying: “You are either an investor, manager, developer, or craftsman. Each one needs the other element to succeed.”
HIGHLIGHTS
• The eighth Misk Global Forum, designed to encourage dialogue and exchange of ideas, is showcasing Misk Foundation’s dedication to engaging young minds.
• On Tuesday, Essa Behbehani and Abdullah Al-Saleem discussed core business skills, provided guidance on overcoming common startup challenges, and offered essential advice on scaling enterprises through funding.
Reflecting on the evolution of business fundamentals over two decades, Behbehani noted a significant shift, and added: “Back then, (around) 2003 to 2004, the most important elements in a business were the product, resistance, and community approval.”
Behbehani noted that at that time, entrepreneurs like himself lacked marketing knowledge and did not have modern tools like social media to promote their businesses.
However, today’s business landscape demands different priorities, and he said: “These skill sets that you have need to be transferred into three main elements: You need to have a mindset, speed, and quality of product.
“Mindset nowadays is everything — without a mindset, you can never grow a business.”
He cautioned current entrepreneurs about the limitations of focusing solely on product excellence, asking: “What are you going to do with an amazing product without the right mindset and the right speed to execute it?”
During the same session, Abdullah Al-Saleem, the CEO and co-founder of Mushtari, a platform for business acquisition, shared valuable insights on when and how entrepreneurs should seek guidance for their ventures.
“Every time is the right time to seek help,” Al-Saleem said, highlighting the importance of continuous learning and consultation in business development.
He advocated for a two-pronged approach to seeking advice, distinguishing between general business consultants and industry-specific experts.
He added: “There are two people you have to seek help from: People that know generally about the industry, and people that know specifically about the industry.”
Using the restaurant business as an example, Al-Saleem described how he would consult general business experts for fundamentals like “hiring, culture, (and) cash flow,” while seeking industry-specific guidance for specialized operations.
However, gathering advice, he said, was just the first step. He noted that it was crucial to ensure team involvement in implementing recommendations.
He said: “When I take all these ideas or all these bits of advice, I brainstorm it with the team.”
This collaborative approach ensured that potential solutions were thoroughly evaluated before implementation, he said.
Al-Saleem further emphasized the importance of practical application through trial and error, and he always involved his team in the process.
He added: “They are the engine of the business and without the team, there is no business.”
Saudi Arabia, China, Iran meet to advance Beijing Agreement
- Efforts focus on regional stability, economic collaboration
RIYADH: The second meeting of the Saudi-Chinese-Iranian Joint Tripartite Committee to follow up on the Beijing Agreement was held in Riyadh on Tuesday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed bin Abdulkarim Elkhereiji chaired the meeting, with Vice Foreign Minister of China Deng Li and Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Majid Takht Ravanchi present.
The Saudi and Iranian representatives reaffirmed their commitment to fully implementing the Beijing Agreement and strengthening neighborly relations through adherence to the UN Charter, the Charter of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and international law, emphasizing respect for sovereignty, independence, and security.
Saudi Arabia and Iran also welcomed China’s ongoing positive role and emphasized the importance of its support in following up on the Beijing Agreement’s implementation. China reiterated its readiness to encourage further steps by both nations to enhance their relationship in various fields.
The three countries praised the progress in Saudi-Iranian relations, highlighting the significance of direct communication at all levels and the opportunities for mutual cooperation amid regional tensions that threatened global and regional security.
They noted the progress in consular services, enabling over 87,000 Iranian pilgrims to perform Hajj and more than 52,000 to perform Umrah securely in 2024.
They also welcomed the first meeting of the Saudi-Iranian Joint Media Committee and the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Prince Saud Al-Faisal Institute for Diplomatic Studies and Iran’s Institute for Political and International Studies.
Saudi Arabia and Iran expressed their readiness to sign a double taxation avoidance agreement and, along with China, looked forward to expanding economic and political cooperation.
The three nations called for an immediate end to Israeli aggression in Palestine and Lebanon, and condemned violations of Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
They stressed the need for uninterrupted humanitarian aid to Palestine and Lebanon and warned that continued violence posed serious threats to regional and global security, including maritime safety.
They also reaffirmed their support for a comprehensive political solution in Yemen, in line with internationally recognized principles under UN auspices.
Saudi Arabia foreign minister urges a balanced energy transition at G20 Summit session
- Prince Faisal outlined three pillars for effective energy transition during a discussion at the G20 Summit
RIO DE JANEIRO: Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister highlighted the importance of a balanced, inclusive approach to energy transition while ensuring global energy security and sustainable development at a Group of 20 session on Tuesday, Saudi Press Agency reported.
Prince Faisal was leading the Kingdom’s delegation during a session titled “Sustainable Development and Energy Transition,” SPA added.
Energy security represented a global challenge and an obstacle to development and poverty eradication, the minister said, calling for energy plans that considered each country’s circumstances and development needs.
Prince Faisal outlined three pillars for effective energy transition: Ensuring energy security, maintaining access to affordable energy, and achieving environmental sustainability.
He said that the transition required significant investment and time to maintain market stability while ensuring fairness and inclusivity.
Prince Faisal also highlighted the role of technological innovation in managing emissions and environmental impacts.
He said that Saudi Arabia’s investments in innovative technologies had resulted in one of the world’s lowest emissions intensity rates in oil and gas operations, adding that the Kingdom was also advancing its renewable energy goals, aiming for 50 percent of electricity generation from renewables by 2030.
Prince Faisal added that the Kingdom was also expanding its clean hydrogen production and implementing the circular carbon economy framework to repurpose emissions into valuable products.
During his address, the prince also outlined Saudi Arabia’s commitment to global sustainability through its flagship initiatives, the Saudi Green and Middle East Green programs, which are tailored to the country’s development needs.
He called for enhanced international cooperation to ensure energy transitions were equitable, inclusive and supportive of global development goals.
Prince Faisal expressed Saudi Arabia’s appreciation for Brazil’s leadership of the G20 in 2024 and extended well wishes to South Africa as it assumes the presidency in 2025, SPA reported.
Multi-billion global AI spending transforming business efficiency, SDAIA official tells Riyadh conference
- Esam bin Abdullah Al-Wagait highlighted these figures during his keynote address at the 9th National Quality Conference
RIYADH: Global spending on artificial intelligence to improve operational efficiency exceeded $120 billion in 2023, with over 72 percent of organizations integrating AI into at least one area of their business, according to data cited by the director of the National Information Center at the Saudi Data and AI Authority.
Esam bin Abdullah Al-Wagait highlighted these figures during his keynote address at the 9th National Quality Conference, held on Tuesday at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Riyadh, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Al-Wagait emphasized the growing role of AI in enhancing leadership capabilities, referencing a study from the 2024 Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo, which found that 97 percent of CEOs believe AI has improved their performance, reduced administrative burdens, and strengthened their ability to lead effectively, SPA added.
Al-Wagait told the conference that AI’s integration across various industries reflected its transformative potential and cited the number of industrial robots deployed in manufacturing operations exceeding 4 million globally in 2023, as reported by the International Federation of Robotics, further underlining AI’s role in operational excellence.
“AI is now a trusted partner for organizational leaders, offering accurate analytics and predictions that enable impactful decision-making,” he said. This trend, he explained, aligned with the concept of AI-augmented leadership, which is reshaping organizational strategies worldwide.
The conference session, themed “Role of Advanced Technologies in Ensuring the Quality of Services and Products,” brought together industry leaders and experts to discuss the role of AI and advanced technologies in improving quality assurance and operational outcomes.
