Bangkok: Incheon Metropolitan City and the Incheon Tourism Organization, in collaboration with the Incheon Medical Team, have launched a major initiative to strengthen medical and wellness tourism ties between Thailand and South Korea. The event, titled ‘2025 Incheon Medical and Wellness Tourism in Thailand,’ was held to promote Incheon’s potential as a global medical tourism hub. Representatives from leading South Korean hospitals, health institutions, beauty clinics, and more than 20 Thai medical institutions and healthcare businesses attended the event to explore new opportunities in medical tourism.
According to Thai News Agency, the Incheon medical team underscored the city’s advanced medical expertise, state-of-the-art infrastructure, and comprehensive health promotion programs. Key participants included Gil Medical Center, Gachon University, In Hospital, Tami Plastic Surgery Clinic, and ToxNfil Songdo. The aim was to foster stronger ties with Thai counterparts, presenting Incheon as an attractive destination for holistic healthcare, combining modern medical facilities with treatment-focused health resources.
Shin Byung-seol, Director of the Incheon City Health and Welfare Bureau, emphasized Incheon’s evolution into a global healthcare city. The visit to Thailand was designed to connect Incheon’s cutting-edge medical technology with Thailand’s burgeoning medical tourism market. An agreement was reached to develop a personalized medical package for Thai patients, and Incheon plans to implement medical support programs for Thai citizens, enhancing long-term cooperation and trust.
Thai tourists can avail a wide range of medical and wellness services in Incheon, which offers expertise in plastic surgery, skincare, in-depth health check-ups, and dental treatments. Wellness services include traditional Korean medicine spas, nature therapies, yoga, meditation, detox clinics, and more. Incheon has crafted packages that integrate medical, wellness, and tourism, appealing to international tourists seeking short spa or beauty experiences.
Jung So-yeon from the Incheon Tourism Organization highlighted the international recognition of Korea’s K-Beauty industry. Incheon offers premium resort hotels, luxurious spas, and high-quality beauty clinics near the airport, attracting tourists from Thailand, Japan, and China. The Incheon Medical Tourism Support Center provides multilingual consultations and comprehensive information for international travelers.
Park Mi-ran, head of the Incheon City team, pointed out that medical tourism is a high-value industry that boosts international tourism revenue and stimulates the local economy. In 2024, Incheon attracted over 21,000 international patients. The ongoing Medical-Wellness Convergence Cluster project from 2023 to 2025 aims to increase revenue from medical tourism and related industries. Incheon’s vision is to become a ‘Medical-Wellness Convergence City’ and a leading medical tourism hub in Northeast Asia.
The “2025 Incheon Medical and Wellness Tourism in Thailand” event marks a significant step in expanding Incheon’s market in Southeast Asia. Thailand has been identified as a key strategic market, establishing a beneficial cooperation model between the medical and tourism sectors of both countries.
“We expect this event to connect the medical and tourism industries of both countries, creating business opportunities and increasing the number of Thai tourists visiting Incheon for medical services. This collaboration is crucial for the sustainable growth of the medical tourism industry in both regions,” concluded Shin Byung-seol.