Comments on: Medical tourism continues to grow in Costa Rica

By: El Sabanero Beach Hotel & Casino

El Sabanero Beach Hotel & Casino — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 13:33:36 +0000

Things to do in Costa Rica!

By: Jimmy Kirk

Jimmy Kirk — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 23:33:38 +0000

This is good news for the industry, however if the government of Costa Rica continues to tax everything in the same manner it has been going, there will be no more people coming here as they will go to other countries that actually wish to attract tourism. I still enjoy being here, but the tax situation is starting to resemble the USA structure and this does worry me.

By: Linda Fritz

Linda Fritz — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 23:33:38 +0000

oh no! thats not good Jimmy!

By: Timothy Williams

Timothy Williams — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 22:33:48 +0000

There certainly is year-on-year growth though I wouldn’t put a ton of faith in PROMED’s numbers since they seem to change their methodology from year to year. That said, I think it is safe to say that med tourism in CR is seeing significant growth year-on-year.

By: Dennis Garber

Dennis Garber — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 21:03:37 +0000

Timothy, where do these statistics come from? How reliable are they?

By: Timothy Williams

Timothy Williams — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 18:48:40 +0000

The methodology of the study be PROMED by its nature would include multiple types of businesses counting the same patient – its necessary, in fact, in order to tabulate the total ‘revenue’ generated by the industry. The dentist, the hotel, etc., I would assume. If 42% is dental and the average revenue per medical tourist is $7k, obviously the same patient is being counted by multiple businesses; though I think the point of the study is more to see what the economic impact of medical tourism is as a whole; which that methodology accomplishes, though if not thought out well could appear misleading.

By: Timothy Williams

Timothy Williams — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 18:48:40 +0000

To add to that though, I don’t think 78 new dental patients per day to be an odd number; there are hundreds of dental clinics in the country.

By: Timothy Morales

Timothy Morales — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 18:18:44 +0000

Our business http://www.costaricanmedicalcare.com is growing every year, but these numbers are way out of line. This says that 132 arrive everyday for treatment. Of course no one works on weekends so that number is 185 people based on a 5 day week. That is 78 new dental patients a day? Each dental patient needs at least one-two hours with 3 to 5 days, so where is the time for all the new people. There is to much over counting. Hotel, clinic, restaurants they all count the same patient.