Inside Asia's medical tourism takeover

From cutting-edge cosmetic procedures in Seoul and Bangkok to innovative longevity clinics in Singapore and traditional medicine retreats in Vietnam, Asia’s affluent tourists are increasingly treating health as the ultimate luxury experience. The Global Wellness Institute reports that wellness tourism in Asia jumped 28.4% from 2022 to 2023, reaching $41 billion in the region, and that growth is only accelerating in 2025. Behind this surge is a fundamental shift in how high-net-worth individuals approach travel and healthcare. “The longevity industry is undergoing rapid growth, fueled by advancements in science and technology,” says Peter Draminsky, Regional Vice President and General Manager of Four Seasons Singapore. “As global life expectancy rises, people are seeking ways to age healthily and remain active longer, driving demand for innovative approaches to healthy longevity.” While rising demand for top-tier medical care and recovery services has made destinations like South Korea and Thailand booming hubs, emerging players in Singapore, Vietnam, and China are racing to position themselves in a global market valued at $63 trillion. K-beauty’s medical mecca For many years, cosmetic surgery and aesthetic treatments have been a cornerstone of Asia’s tourist industry. South Korea welcomed 1.17 million foreign patients in 2024, nearly double the previous year and a record high. Chinese visitors comprised 22.3% of these patients, second only to Japanese. A significant factor in Korea’s success is the soft power of “Hallyu” — the Korean Wave, referring to the global spread of Korean entertainment and popular culture. This cultural phenomenon encompasses K-pop music, K-dramas, Korean cinema, beauty standards, fashion, and cuisine. More than 60% of Chinese medical tourists cite Korean pop culture influence – from K-pop to K-drama beauty ideals – as a factor in choosing South Korea. The most popular treatment specialties are dermatology, plastic surgery, and general care services. Clinics in Seoul’s Gangnam district often resemble five-star hotels, with upscale lobbies and bilingual staff. Many provide bespoke concierge services: everything from airport pickups and private recovery rooms to on-call interpreters and shopping excursions built into surgery-aftercare packages. Thailand: Front-runner for Southeast Asia Beyond cosmetic enhancements, “longevity clinics” and preventive wellness programs are increasingly motivating high-end travel. Thailand has seen a surge of wellness tourists. “Cost, speed, and quality are the three major factors fueling medical tourism growth," says Dervla Louli, founder of Compare Retreats, a luxury travel platform that curates and reviews health and wellness retreats across Asia and beyond. “Procedures are more affordable in Thailand than in the U.S., for example, and there is also zero wait time for most procedures.” The integration of tourism and treatment is often seamless. Resorts like Amanpuri Phuket and Kamalaya Koh Samui have medical staff on-site, enabling guests to transform recovery into a vacation. “The recovery vibe of the country matters a lot too, which is once again why Thailand is such a popular option, as the hospitality and guest experience is excellent,” Louli adds. Holistic wellness retreats have proliferated in resorts from Phuket to Chiang Mai, capitalizing on Thailand’s spa culture and natural beauty. These include detox programs in beachfront sanctuaries, yoga and meditation retreats in lush jungles, herbal massage therapy, and thermal spas. Emerging leaders: Singapore, Vietnam, and China Singapore’s longevity revolution Singapore’s medical tourism revenue had reached $150 million to $200 million annually by 2024 — a fraction of Thailand’s $850 million medical market — reflecting its focus on complex treatments over volume. “The majority [of patients are] between 45 and 60,” says Ei Phyo Han, Chief Operating Officer Asia-Pacific of Chi Longevity. "Many people in this age group are at a turning point — they start seeing age-related decline in their parents and are motivated to take control of their own health trajectory.” The Four Seasons Hotel Singapore has opened a dedicated “Chi” longevity clinic in-house, where guests undergo comprehensive diagnostics — from genetic profiling to early cardiac screening — and receive personalized anti-aging plans. Such offerings blur the line between luxury hospitality and healthcare, allowing travelers to combine a vacation with serious preventive medicine. “They want to stay at the top of their game for the next 30 years, and they’re looking for precise, science-backed strategies to do so,” Han says. Vietnam’s traditional medicine renaissance Vietnam is a relative newcomer on the medical tourism map, but is quickly establishing itself in the natural and traditional medicine segment. Drawing on resources like thousands of indigenous herbal species and centuries of knowledge, experiences like herbal baths, poultice therapies, and consultations with community healers are being packaged for tourists. The Vietnam National Authority of Tourism projects the wellness sector could bring in $3 billion by the end of this year, up 12% versus 2024. “Emerging destinations are offering comprehensive packages that combine medical services with tourism experiences — health retreats and integrating cultural and natural attractions with medical tourism to provide a holistic experience for clients and their families,” says Draminsky. International hospitals come to China As millions of Chinese venture abroad for medical and wellness tourism, China itself is responding in two ways: by improving domestic healthcare and by positioning regional cities as medical destinations. In 2024, China announced it would allow wholly foreign-owned hospitals in select cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and the resort island of Hainan. Already, institutions like Mayo Clinic have ventures in China; the new policy is expanding medical and surgical offerings, potentially convincing wealthy Chinese patients to travel to Shanghai or Shenzhen rather than flying to Seoul or Singapore. The future of medical tourism in Asia The traditional boundaries between vacation and medical trip have blurred. For the affluent patient-tourist, the ideal journey is a holistic one that includes medical care, post-recovery amenities, and local sightseeing. Health and wellness are now firmly entrenched as pillars of luxury for outbound tourism. Looking ahead, several key trends are emerging. Destinations that blend medical efficacy with high-end hospitality will capture the most lucrative segments of the market. Meanwhile, increased collaboration between healthcare providers and luxury travel brands will create new offerings such as medical check-ups bundled with spa retreats Also, technology-enhanced treatments combining traditional Eastern practices with Western medical advances will continue to evolve, and post-operative villas with private chefs and personalized recovery programs will become standard offerings. “We’re seeing strong interest from international clients from Southeast Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Europe, and India,” says Han, pointing to the global client base seeking Asia’s unique combination of cutting-edge and traditional approaches to health. As this sector continues to evolve, one thing remains clear: Asia has positioned itself at the forefront of a new paradigm where healthcare is not merely a necessity but a luxury experience worth traveling for.

Inside Asia's medical tourism takeover

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Published April 17, 2025

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Inside Asia's medical tourism takeover