| Thailand has been the destination of choice for | | | | the United Arab Emirates, accounting for 60 per |
| many visitors from the Middle East. The friendly | | | | cent of the total. They often travel with the |
| people, five-star resorts and accommodations, | | | | extended family, enjoying the shopping, dining and |
| and the natural beauty of Thailand's landscape | | | | cultural pleasures of Thailand. With their high |
| have been top attractions for decades. | | | | purchasing power, residents of Arab Gulf |
| These days, another growing reason Arab | | | | countries find the prices of goods and services in |
| tourists are flocking to Thailand is the world-quality | | | | Thailand reasonable, including that of high quality |
| medical facilities and services available in the | | | | medical services. Bangkok boasts of International |
| country. Patients are choosing to combine a | | | | standard hospitals that cater to over half a million |
| medical check-up or treatment, with an exotic | | | | foreign patients annually, Majority of doctors in |
| holiday in the Land of Smiles all at a fraction of | | | | these Bangkok hospitals are not only world-class |
| what it would cost in the US or Europe. | | | | and internationally trained, but are also able to |
| Those who choose to come to Thailand for their | | | | speak other languages, such as Arabic, in addition |
| medical care enjoy several benefits. Travel from | | | | to Thai and English. |
| the Middle East to the capital city of Bangkok is | | | | International hospitals in Thailand are eager to |
| convenient with several air carriers operating | | | | accommodate patients from the Arab Gulf region |
| direct flights from key cities in the Gulf, including | | | | and in recognition of their needs, have put in place |
| 66 from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha and Bahrain. | | | | special facilities and services for Muslim patients |
| Among the major carriers flying the route are | | | | and visitors, often hard to find outside the Middle |
| Thai Airways International, Emirates, Qatar | | | | East. It is now common to find directions and |
| Airways, Etihad Airways, Gulf Air and Cathay | | | | information on public signage in Arabic, as well as |
| Pacific. With direct flights ranging from seven to | | | | Thai and English. Halal food and prayer rooms are |
| nine hours only, travel is not as tiring for most | | | | available for patients and also for visitors. The |
| young children or senior members of the family. | | | | hospitals are one-stop centres as well with visa |
| Entry to the Kingdom is also less onerous, | | | | extension desks, and multilingual officers who will |
| compared to most Western destinations. Middle | | | | help patients and their families find |
| Eastern guests are also sensitive to the changing | | | | accommodation or book transportation. |
| attitudes towards them in the US and Europe | | | | With all these developments, it is no wonder |
| which contrast with the warm hospitality of the | | | | Thailand has evolved into a mecca for medical |
| Thai people. | | | | tourism. |
| The majority of Middle Eastern guests are from | | | | |