The Multibillion-Dollar Medical Tourism Hub In The Heart Of Texas

To an American, medical tourism might sound like a trip to Mexico for a BBL or Costa Rica for a rhinoplasty. But America has its own corner of the medical tourism market which, in 2021, was valued at $4 billion and is expected to increase substantially over the next few years. Between 2022 and 2030, America’s medical tourism sector is projected to increase nearly 33%.

And the money doesn’t just come in from treatments alone. Foreign patients need to consider additional costs that include airfare, housing, food, outpatient care, exchange rates, and more, all which funnel into the operating city’s economy. One of America’s most popular cities for medical tourists? Houston, Texas. Houston is an international healthcare destination for patients looking to undergo a variety of procedures ranging from cosmetic to life-saving cancer care.

Houston is an international healthcare destination for patients looking to undergo a variety of procedures ranging from cosmetic to life-saving cancer care and is home to one of the largest medical districts in the world, We went to Texas to understand how medical tourism impacts a city's economy with help from in-state experts who know the system inside and out, including Dr. Vequest, founder of the Center for Medical Tourism Research.