Medical tourism isn’t a new concept, but many countries are eagerly developing their health tourism strategies to compete in this lucrative industry, which was estimated to be worth over $50 billion in 2014. Here are some of the top destinations currently making significant investments in medical tourism.

London’s Harley Street has been renowned as a medical hub since the 19th century. Now primarily owned by The Howard de Walden estate, it houses over 1,500 medical specialists, including doctors and plastic surgeons from well-known practices like Juvea Aesthetics. It also features numerous private clinics and hospitals, including one of the UK’s most famous and expensive sports clinics.

In December 2015, it was revealed that Howard de Walden planned to invest over £200 million to enhance medical tourism at Harley Street and attract more clients globally. New buildings and units are in the pipeline, and the estate aims to host the UK’s first proton beam cancer unit by 2017.

Proton beam therapy, an emerging technology for treating certain types of cancer, is gaining significant attention. With such investments, Harley Street aims to remain at the forefront of medical technology in the UK and Europe for many years to come.

Medical tourism has seen rapid growth in recent years and is expected to draw 5 million medical tourists in 2016. India attracts visitors for its affordable yet high-quality healthcare, particularly those from countries like the UK and the US, where expensive surgical procedures might not be covered by national health insurance. The travel and accommodation costs in India are also very reasonable, making it an attractive destination for medical tourists. To maintain this trend, the Indian government will need to invest significantly in medical infrastructure in the coming years.

In 2010, over 89% of medical tourists visited Bangkok, and this trend continues. Medical tourism is Thailand’s third most important economic sector, and prospects for growth are excellent. The number of foreign investors in Thailand’s healthcare sector is increasing, and the government is prioritizing the development of this niche market. As a result, more than 28 million medical tourists are expected to visit Thailand in 2016, highlighting its competitiveness in the medical tourism industry.