Julius Muia says a recent situational analysis across Kenya shows nearly 5,000 foreigners visit Kenya annually for medical treatment and other health-related reasons.
Kenya could grow its new tourism brand by promoting investments in good medical facilities and introduction of specialised care and other medical services.
Building specialised hospitals in Kenya will raise earnings through health tourism, which has been successful in India.
Vision 2030 Delivery Secretariat director-general Julius Muia said a recent situational analysis across Kenya shows nearly 5,000 foreigners visit Kenya annually for medical treatment and other health-related reasons.
Kenya could grow its new tourism brand by promoting investments in good medical facilities and introduction of specialised care and other medical services, he said.
He made the comments ahead of a three-day international conference on medical tourism that kicks off on May 22.
Dr Muia said issues of oncology, nephrology, cardiology and heart procedures, and elective surgical procedures that see 10,000 Kenyans go abroad annually will be discussed.
“There is a need to look into areas of development within the health and tourism sectors to capture the opportunities in this growing industry.”
Kenya has been burning the midnight oil to revive tourism industry that has been battered by reports of terrorist attacks, forcing visitors to divert to destinations.
Already there are signs of rebound seen in improved earnings to Sh99.7 billion last year from Sh84.6 billion a year earlier. International visitors hit 1.339 million, growing by 13.5 per cent.
The conference set to be held at Nairobi’s Hotel Radisson Blu will bring together senior national and county government officials as well as private sector players and non-government players in the health sector.
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