How to Start a Health Tourism Business: A Step-by-Step Guide

Health tourism is a rapidly growing sector worldwide, including in Turkey, where it has become an important alternative form of tourism.

Health tourism refers to individuals traveling to another country to receive preventive, curative, rehabilitative, or wellness services. With increasing global demand, this sector offers significant opportunities for entrepreneurs interested in starting a health tourism business.

According to data from USHAŞ (International Health Services Inc.), Turkey treated 662,087 health tourists in 2019, generating $1.065 billion in revenue.

However, the global pandemic in 2020 led to a decline in health tourists to 388,150 and reduced revenue to $548.8 million. By 2021, the industry rebounded with 642,444 visitors, generating $1.048 billion. In just the first quarter of 2022, 284,577 health tourists visited Turkey, contributing $332.2 million to the economy.

Given these statistics, it’s evident that health tourism is a key part of Turkey’s tourism landscape. If you're interested in starting a health tourism business, follow this detailed roadmap to get started.

Steps to Start a Health Tourism Business

Launching a health tourism company involves several critical steps. From company registration to obtaining the necessary licenses and certifications, here’s how to start a health tourism business:

1) Register Your Business

The first step in how to start a health tourism business is registering your company. Your company’s articles of association and its name must include the terms "health" and "tourism." This is a legal requirement to ensure the business is recognized as part of the health tourism sector.

• The only mandatory condition from the Trade Registry is to include these terms. No additional requirements specific to health tourism are enforced at this stage.

2) Apply to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism

Once your company is registered, the next step in starting a health tourism business is obtaining the title of an "A Group" travel agency. This type of travel agency is authorized to provide a full range of tourism services, including those related to health.

• To apply, you’ll need to gather the necessary documents, which can be found here, and submit them to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Once approved, you have 30 days to apply for a business license through TÜRSAB (The Association of Turkish Travel Agencies).

3) Become a Member of TÜRSAB

Securing your "A Group" travel agency license is essential to getting started in health tourism. TÜRSAB divides travel agencies into three categories—A, B, and C—of which "A Group" is the most comprehensive, covering all travel-related services both domestically and internationally.

• After receiving approval from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, you must apply to TÜRSAB for an operating license. Detailed instructions and required documents are available on their website here.

• Once TÜRSAB approves your application, it forwards the documents to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, which inspects your business before issuing an official operating license. Note that in 2025, the membership fee for "A Group" agencies is 101,761.32 TL, with an additional deposit of 17,000 TL.

4) Obtain a Health Tourism Authorization Certificate

The final step in how to start a health tourism business is obtaining the Health Tourism Authorization Certificate. This certificate is required under the regulations published in the Official Gazette on July 13, 2017. Without this authorization, a company cannot legally operate in the international health tourism sector.

• The application process for the certificate is handled by the Ministry of Health. You will need the "A Group" travel agency license from TÜRSAB, contracts with at least three certified health facilities, and proof of compliance with other requirements, such as:

  • Employing a minimum of four foreign language-speaking staff members.

  • Operating a 24/7 call center in at least two languages.

  • Maintaining a multilingual website with detailed information about your services and partner hospitals.

Once these steps are completed, your business will be fully authorized to operate in the health tourism industry.

Conclusion

Starting a health tourism business involves a series of legal and operational steps, including company registration, securing appropriate licenses, and obtaining the necessary certifications.

By following this roadmap, you can successfully launch a business in one of the fastest-growing sectors in the global tourism market. With the right preparation and adherence to the legal requirements, you can tap into the immense potential that health tourism offers.

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