An Azerbaijani delegation has participated in HESTOUREX-2018 international fair for healthcare, sports and alternative tourism in Antalya, Turkey.

Azerbaijan’s participation in the event is supported by the Baku network office of the Turkish Healthcare Travel Council (THTC) "Gilan Turizm", which is represented by doctors of the leading medical centers of Azerbaijan - Central Customs Hospital, Diagnostic Center, Central Hospital of Oil Workers and others, representatives of travel agencies, as well as journalists.

Addressing the solemn opening ceremony at the Antalya Expo Center, founder and chairman of the Turkish Healthcare Travel Emin Cakmak emphasized the importance of the international event. He said that the HESTOUREX Congress & Exhibition is Turkey’s first and the only multi-disciplinary platform established with the aim of introducing Turkey’s potential in health, sport and alternative tourism, attracting international patients traveling around the world, sharing experiences and ideas in the field of healthcare, studying the most up-to-date medical equipment and alternative treatments, and conducting mutual exchange of experts.

HESTOUREX-2018 Congress and Exhibition, which is held under the auspices of the Presidency of the Republic of Turkey, brings together representatives from health, sports and alternative tourism industries from 165 different countries.

"It is for the second time the exhibition is organized. Last year, we ensured the participation of Azerbaijan’s leading medical institutions in the exhibition. During the exhibition, they held meetings with representatives of medical clinics, hotel representatives, and with individuals engaged in alternative tourism complex, laying a framework for future collaboration. We have already witnessed the positive outcomes of the previous meetings. Today, all the areas of medicine in Azerbaijan are successfully developing. However, there is always a need for mutual cooperation and exchange of experience,” said Farid Majidov, director of THTC’s Baku Network office, representative of Gilan Tourism.

During the Global Healthcare Travel Council`s meeting organized as part of the exhibition “HESTOUREX” Congress and Exhibition (Health, Sports and Alternative Tourism) Ruslan Guliyev, President of the Association for Support to Health and Thermal Tourism in Azerbaijan, was elected as president of the GHTC. Azerbaijan took over the presidency of the Global Healthcare Travel Council from the United Arab Emirates.

“Election of Azerbaijan to the World Health Tourism Organization testifies to the country`s constantly growing influence in the world. According to the outcomes of the meeting, the International Health Tourism Forum will be held in Azerbaijan in 2019, which will contribute to the expansion of tourism in the country,” Guliyev said.

GHTC is the forum of National Councils in the Healthcare Travel industry. It works to raise awareness of Healthcare Travel as one of the world’s largest industries, supporting 100 million jobs and generating 12 per cent of world GDP. Azerbaijan joined the GHTC in 2014. 60 countries, including Russia, Great Britain, Germany, Turkey and India, are members of the organization.