Amman: The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and the Private Hospitals Association (PHA) convened on Wednesday to discuss strategies for strengthening Jordan’s position as a premier medical tourism hub and tackling sector-specific challenges.
According to Jordan News Agency, the meeting included participation from key figures such as Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Imad Hijazin, PHA President Fawzi Hammouri, Secretary Mohammad Thneibat, and Executive Director Nasr Majali. During the discussions, Hijazin emphasized the PHA’s role in advancing the medical tourism sector and highlighted the necessity of forming robust public-private partnerships to achieve common goals. He also mentioned the ministry’s plans to collaborate with the Ministry of Health to streamline efforts and reactivate the “Salamatak” digital healthcare platform, which is expected to stimulate medical tourism and enhance Jordan’s competitive edge both regionally and internationally in medical and wellness tourism.
Hammouri expressed the association’s full commitment to working with the Ministry of Tourism and the Jordan Tourism Board to elevate Jordan’s status as a leading medical tourism destination. He pointed out Jordan’s capability, infrastructure, and expertise that make it an attractive choice for patients from the Arab world and beyond. He stressed the importance of a thorough review of the sector to address both internal and external challenges and called for a targeted marketing program in collaboration with stakeholders.
Additionally, Hammouri emphasized focusing on traditional markets while devising strategies to enter new ones, taking advantage of the 2023 United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) declaration that acknowledges Jordan as a medical tourism destination. He also highlighted the significant role of medical tourism in driving the national economy, generating foreign currency, and providing employment opportunities for Jordanians.