Cebu City – Delegates to the recently concluded 4th World Health Tourism Congress (WHTC) in Manila have expressed surprise at the different offerings of Cebu in the field of medical and wellness tourism which they describe as being at par with those of developed countries.

During their site tour of the different resorts, hotels, and hospitals in Cebu, the delegates from all over the world said the province is one of the best medical tourism destinations with its advanced medical facilities, friendly people, and world-class tourism-related amenities.

Angel Ramos Bognot, chair of the National Association of Independent Travel Agencies (Naitas), one of the lead organizers of the WHTC, said the delegates did not expect to see advanced medical facilities capable of performing major medical and surgical operations in Cebu.

“They didn’t know about the potential of Cebu in terms of medical tourism until they came here and found out for themselves,” said Bognot, adding that the delegates were happy to learn that medical tourism is not only concentrated in Metro Manila.

The delegates found Cebu more warm and hospitable and the different world-class resorts and hotels added to the plus factor for the province that has long been positioned as one of the best destinations in the world for medical and wellness tourism.

The WHTC turned out successful, said Bognot, as buyers and sellers began signing contracts to do business. Around 115 buyers and 50 corporations attended the three-day congress, mostly belonging to Fortune 500 companies.

Bognot estimated that hundreds of millions of dollars in sales and sales prospects were made during the congress at the Sofitel in Pasay City.