St. Petersburg supports the image of medical tourism capital
“Tourism will develop!” - Julia Kuzenskaya, Deputy chair, Committee for Tourism Development of St.Petersburg spoke during the press-conference devoted to development of medical tourism of Petersburg International Health Forum, which took place at Expoforum 26 of October 2022. Experts from the BRICS and SCO countries were invited to participate in the event and discussed the potential of medical market and new development strategies after pandemia. Yulia Kuzenskaya argues that medical and health tourism are two priority areas for St.Petersburg: “Recovery programs after the coronavirus are very popular. To talk about its potential, we hold various events, including abroad, and also invite guests to visit us, conduct informational tours for them".
Saint-Petersburg is one of the youngest cities among the largest cities in Europe and according to World Travel Awards, it picks up prizes for Europe’s Leading City Break Destination 2021, Europe’s Leading Heritage Destination 2021 and Europe’s Leading Marketing Campaign 2021. St.Petersburg is the leader of educational tourism (for example, alongside with classical Petersburg, new routes appeared - “New tourist geography”) although it is the top priority for the retreat and wellness programs too. The beautiful sand beaches, pine air, therapeutic mud and mineral waters of Resort area of St.Petersburg were famous since XIX century.
According last data, declared by Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat), 57 thousand people are constantly employed in St.Petersburg tourism and hospitality sphere, thus every twelfth work place depends on tourism which allows St.Petersburg to be the heart of hospitality and professional medical service.
In January-September 2021, 80 thousand people who were interested in medical tourism, visited St.Petersburg which is approximately 1,25% of totally 6,4 mln. tourists. It can be seen as a growing point for the promotion of unique services and facilities of North-West of Russia in sphere of retreat and health care. It is extremely important during the confluence of crises, dominated by COVID-19 and underlines the value of health as one of the goals of sustainable development.
Irina Saleeva, Deputy chair, St.Petersburg Medical Tourism Agency told to Russian Travel Digest, that main areas of medical tourism now are the oncological programs as well as dentistry, reproductive programs, including IVF and unique program "Birth in St.Petersburg" (presenting collaboration between hotels, retreat clinics of the city and the hospitals). She marked the potential for Indian and Asian tourists to combine the leisure and high level medical services with the investigation of different sites of cultural capital of Russia.
Photos by Zaur Karamyzov, an honorary member of Russian Photo Union and Ambassador of The national union of hospitality industry. He is the founder and director of the Union of Photographers and Cinematographers “Novator”. Photo and video-festivals, organized and conducted by “Novator”, were awarded at the All-Russian competitions and exhibitions related to mice and event tourism.
