Health tourism between Turkey and Portugal will further develop

President of Ankara Health Tourism Federation, Prof. Dr. Aysun Bay Karabulut, expressed that they will make initiatives to further develop health tourism between Turkey and Portugal. President of Ankara Health Tourism Federation, Prof. Dr. Aysun Bay Karabulut, and her delegation visited Joao Macedo, the Undersecretary of the Embassy of the Republic of Portugal in Ankara, at his office. Prof. Dr. Aysun Bay Karabulut provided information about Ankara Health Tourism Federation (ASATUF) during the visit, stating, ‘Our country has advanced and reached a brand value in the field of health tourism. As a country, we provide VIP services to patients coming from abroad for treatment, and after the treatment is completed, we ensure that they have a vacation in our country according to their natural beauties, cultural and culinary tastes, so that they return to their countries happily.’ Prof. Dr. Karabulut, emphasizing that the best service is provided to patients coming from Portugal to Turkey, stated, ‘While our patients and guests continue their treatment processes in our country, we also host them in the best way in terms of morale and motivation. When our patients return to their countries happily, they share the services we have provided, leading to a significant increase in the number of patients who come based on their recommendations. This also demonstrates the importance and value of our work.’ Karabulut expressed their desire to work towards the development of health tourism between Turkey and Portugal in the field of health tourism, stating, ‘For this purpose, we want to provide services to patients coming from the Republic of Portugal with the thermal hotels and hospitals we have agreements with in our country. We also want to promote the healing herbs in Portugal. With these goals, Ankara Health Tourism Federation aims to organize online and physical business forums and conferences in the field of health tourism in collaboration with the Embassy of the Republic of Portugal in Ankara, with the support and contributions of the Government of the Republic of Turkey, in 2024. We will visit Portugal with a large delegation consisting of Turkish companies in the health sector and make bilateral agreements. It is necessary to further strengthen the existing cooperation between the Republic of Turkey and the Republic of Portugal. We are ready to carry out any kind of work in the health sector. In this regard, we will be delighted to see you and your esteemed diplomats at the ASATUF Headquarters as soon as possible.’ Mr. Joao Macedo, Undersecretary of the Embassy of Portugal in Ankara, expressed their desire to further develop the strong relations between the two countries, stating, ‘In your important efforts related to health tourism, we, as the Embassy of the Republic of Portugal, will carefully listen to your requests and needs, and after obtaining the necessary information, we will evaluate them as the embassy and our country.’ Macedo also stated that they proudly follow Turkey’s impact and success in health tourism, ‘We also want to contribute by creating databases and keeping statistics for those who come for treatment from our country. Our bilateral relations and cooperation are very important. Your visit is very important to us in terms of developing our cooperation. It is crucial for the relations between the two countries to continue through the efforts and mutual visits between ASATUF and our Embassy to strengthen the relations between the two countries.’