Clustering medical tourism in Algarve: setting the first steps for the the health authority

Abstract

Medical Tourism is the new healthcare manager’s sweetheart. A package of fertility treatments, cosmetic surgery, bariatric surgery and many other medical procedures, wrapped with low prices, beautiful landscapes, sunny beaches and high quality healthcare is making Medical Tourism a billion euro industry. This work project aims to endow the Health Authority of Algarve with a set of first steps to build the foundations of a Medical Tourism cluster which will harness the tourism, and medical potential of the region and use them as a driver for social and economic development. The development of such a cluster will allow to enhance the strengths of each stakeholder and to position the region of Algarve and Portugal as a competitive international player in this new venture of Medical Tourism.