Wellness industry players hope to gain from SEMP

CEBU, Philippines - Stakeholders of Cebu’s health and wellness industry are hoping to take advantage of the multi-million earning sector, which includes the medical tourism market, after it completes a market guidance blueprint that will be supported by the Center for Promotion of Imports from Development Countries (CBI)-Netherlands.

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI-Cebu Provincial Office) provincial director Nelia F. Navarro said the health and wellness players through the Cebu Health and Wellness Council (CHWC) put their hopes on the upcoming completion of the Sector-Export-Marketing-Plan (SEMP), that will pave the way for dramatic growth of health and wellness sector in Cebu in the next few years.

The SEMP, which will be developed by foreign and local experts in export industry, with the support of CBI-Netherlands, German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), will provide an intensive marketing plan for the identified priority sectors like seaweed, health and wellness, fashion accessories, furniture, and gifts-toys-housewares.

Navarro said it is important for Cebu players to have updated information on market intelligence, in order to benchmark with competitor countries in health and wellness, such as Thailand, India, Malaysia, and Singapore.

“We will be expecting experts from Netherlands to coach with our players here especially hospitals. Our major concern now is the market access,” said Navarro.

 As far as facilities are concern, Navarro said Cebu is already close to competitors like Thailand, India, Singapore and Malaysia, but the problem is how to access the huge health and wellness market in the world, especially the medical tourists.

Once Cebu gains market access, growth in the health and wellness sector is expected to soar, and Cebu will be able to have another economic revenue backbone through health and wellness.

For the meantime, Navarro said the industry is trying to attract the “Balikbayans” to avail of the world-class standard health and wellness services in Cebu, specifically the most popular vanity and dental services.

Navarro said while it will take some time to engrave Cebu’s emerging position as health and wellness destination in Asia, the players can easily start with attracting millions of Filipinos working and residing abroad.

Earlier, the Spa and Wellness Association of Cebu (SWAC) announced that it is closely working with CHWC along with other organizations in the health and wellness sector, to provide a sound package for the Medical Tourism market. — Ehda M. Dagooc