Medical tourism has enormous potential in the Republic of Moldova. It is a constantly developing market, and the authorities aim to promote this field, state secretary of the Ministry of Culture Andrei Chistol stated in a public debate hosted by IPN. According to him, the Government, together with representatives of the Medical Tourism Association, aims to expand the promotion of medical tourism and to offer additional services in order to have international recognition and an increased flow of tourists.

The official noted that medical tourism is one of the most developed sectors of the domestic tourism. Thousands of foreigners come to the Republic of Moldova annually for dental services, in vitro fertilization services or plastic surgery. The Republic of Moldova is already known in the region for high-quality medical services at reasonable prices.

“In the tourism development project, we have included medical tourism among the areas that have great potential to develop and attract a larger flow of tourists. In this area, we see a very good trend at national level. We have high potential. There is a market that is developing. We have competitive medical services. We have doctors and clinics that offer services internationally. The international standards are one thing that applies to all the forms of tourism that we have in the Republic of Moldova. We have an agreement signed with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council and our desire is to adapt to standards that guarantee a flow of tourists and greater recognition. If we do not invest in standards and international recognition, foreign tourists will be reluctant to come to the Republic of Moldova,” stated Andrei Chistol.

He noted that the authorities’ goal is to promote the Moldovan tourism at international level. In this regard, economic agents are supported to participate in international exhibitions to promote their tourist offers and destinations.

“We have to work with all the economic agents that provide services in the field of medical tourism and prepare packages, offers for foreign tourists. Through the activities of the National Tourism Office this year and last year, we have ensured the participation in an impressive number of international exhibitions where the Medical Tourism Association was present and presented its tourist offer. We went to Berlin, Vienna, Bucharest, Milan, Madrid. On the promotion and marketing sides, we will continue to invest. But the most important thing is that in the Republic of Moldova, we prepare the offers for future exhibitions and promotional campaigns,” said Andrei Chistol said.

The state secretary of the Ministry of Culture noted that along with medical tourism, the state also aims to develop spa tourism and is considering the possibility of investing in sanatoriums in Moldova to provide tourists with treatment and recreation services.

“Even if we are competitive in a particular sector, as a regional approach, in order to attract a greater flow of tourists, it is important to have a common view and particular services to become complementary. Romania is known for its spa services. We are competitive in particular private dentistry and reproductive services. But we also need to invest more in spa services. Here we need large investments to bring the sanatoriums, the destinations we have, to international standards so that they are well known and offer unique treatment,” explained Andrei Chistol.

The public debate entitled “Moldovan-Romanian partnership in tourism sector, joint development strategies” was the seventh edition of the project “Double integration through cooperation and information. Continuity”, which is funded by the Department for Relations with the Republic of Moldova. The content of this debate does not represent the official position of the Department for Relations with the Republic of Moldova.