Health and wellness conference to boost PH international position

To promote the Philippines’ health and wellness industry and put the country on the health and wellness tourism map.

This is the underlying objective of the Health and Wellness Conference and Expo that will be held at the SMX Convention Center on April 26-28, 2019. With the theme, “Journey to a zestful life!”, this three-day event will gather international partners, industry manufacturers and top of the line product suppliers from the various sectors of the local health and wellness industry. The event provides the platform for stakeholders to discover the latest global developments, trends, opportunities for collaboration, and provide the setting to promote competitive brands, products and services that can compete internationally. More importantly, the conference will provide the venue to discuss how the Philippines can gain a fair share of the huge and rapidly growing wellness tourism market.

“Wellness tourism, or travel for the purpose of promoting one’s health and well-being through physical, psychological or spiritual activities, is a thriving global business,” Health and Wellness ConfEx 2019 Executive Director Cory Quirino said during the event’s media launch.

“Already a trillion-dollar global industry, it continues to grow nearly twice as fast at the world economy,” Quirino emphasized.

Although wellness travelers currently account for just a small percentage in the country’s total tourism revenues, Quirino pointed out that the Philippines has the potential to become a major health and wellness destination.

“We have all it takes to be a significant competitor in this lucrative global market,” she said. “We have internationally-accredited hospitals and award-winning wellness resorts and spas where highly trained and English-speaking healthcare and wellness professionals provide world-class services.”

The prices of the various health and wellness services offered locally are very competitive, she noted, adding that when compared to the rates in the West are much lower even when the cost of travel and accommodation is included.

“The Philippines’ tropical climate and picturesque sites also promote healing and relaxation,” she said. “And, on top of all these, there is the warm hospitality, compassion and nurturing nature of Filipinos. That, I think, is truly our greatest edge.” Quirino added.

Highlights of the three-day conference are talks from top executives of the Department of Tourism, Department of Health, and Tourism Promotions Board, underscoring the government’s plans and programs for the health and tourism industry.  Officials of some of the country’s leading health and wellness facilities, such as The Farm at San Benito, Healthway Medical Inc. and The Zen Institute, will also be at the event to share their business experiences and insights.

Meanwhile, the Event Exposition, which will run simultaneously with the conference, will showcase various health and wellness products and services that visitors can see first-hand and, even experience. These will range from exclusive availing of marked down prices of organic products and wellness travel packages.

The Health and Wellness Conference and Expo is a project of Health and Wellness World, an advocacy program that seeks to transform the Philippines into a health and wellness hub; a vibrant community where everyone’s physical, mental, emotional and even spiritual well-being is given priority. In short, it is a continuing advocacy whose end goal is to make the Philippines “A Tropical Haven for a Fuller Life” truly and completely.

This event is co-presented by ABS CBN and sponsored by Organique, Mestiza, The Zen Institute, The Farm at San Benito, Toledo Medical Companies, Conrad Manila Hotel, Oh So Healthy, Healthway Medical Inc. and Manulife.

The event is open to the public.  Companies wishing to participate in the Health and Wellness ConfEx can contact Health and Wellness Secretariat at (02) 247 10 4/ +63 915 646 7105 or email us at [email protected]