According to Bangkok Dusit Medical Services (BDMS), the largest hospital operator in Asia outside of China, medical tourism in Thailand is experiencing a renaissance and will continue to rise in the coming years.

BDMS chief executive officer Poramaporn Prasarttong-Osoth said that the rise of health consciousness is driving the development of the medical tourism business in the kingdom, which will work more closely with the tourist and service sectors.

To attract more international medical tourists and compete with South Korea, Singapore, and India, Thailand’s Cabinet has authorized a new one-year visa scheme for overseas patients beginning in 2023.

In the meantime, Pakorn Peetathawatchai, president of the Stock Exchange of Thailand, has noted that sectors focused on wellness, such as the hospitality and healthcare industries, are becoming promising places to put money.

About 12% of BDMS’s patients are not Thai, and its two biggest markets are Japan and the Middle East, according to the company’s website. As the epidemic slowly fades, the business anticipates this figure will continue to rise.