As the world globalises and information is more and more widespread, some destinations see an influx in tourist numbers because they offer something different, medical service. While statistics are not readily available, medical tourism is on the rise. Some travel abroad to receive treatment that is not legally available in their home country, others travel because treatment in their home country is far beyond the limits of affordable. While just another example of free market economy, it can also be potentially dangerous, as Stuart Laidlaw explains in this article.

Dangerous or not, medical tourism has grown into a niche, with websites like medicaltourism.com offering more and more tour-like packages.

A quick look at Wikipedia reveals an increasing number of destinations. Countries like Israel and Poland attract medical tourists looking for a bargain without foregoing on quality, while countries like Thailand are popular for their high degree of specialisation.

Whether or not you agree with the ethical side of medical tourism, it is creating new markets and new opportunities for countries that have not traditionally been known as destinations to proliferate themselves.