Sunshine Matters

Estimated to be a $60 billion global industry, medical tourism has been steadily increasing in the United States and around the world.  With Florida’s attractive weather and well-known health facilities, the Sunshine State is uniquely positioned to garner a larger portion of those traveling to seek medical products, services and training.  Today, VISIT FLORIDA announces the establishment of a new $2.5 million grant program to assist Florida businesses in promoting themselves as a medical tourism destination of choice.

The program, funded by the Florida legislature, consists of two grants: one for medical tourism destination promotion and a second for medical meetings and training promotion.  The grants aim to help grow awareness of existing medical tourism products and services in the state, as well as strengthen Florida as a preferred destination to host medical conferences, meetings and training programs.  The application period, which opens today, will close on Dec. 8.

As a successful public-private partnership, VISIT FLORIDA is well-positioned to help leverage the state’s investment with the private sector to increase medical tourism in the Sunshine State.  The establishment of these grants is a tremendous first step in our strategic planning process to spotlight Florida’s world-class doctors and facilities.

During the 2014 legislative session, VISIT FLORIDA was allocated a total of $5 million in funds by the Florida legislature to promote medical tourism for the Sunshine State.  With input from members of the Medical Tourism Task Force, the balance of the funds will go to marketing, research, website development and partnerships with entities such as the Florida Department of Health, the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, the Florida Chamber Foundation and Florida’s Academic Cancer Center Alliance. 

The task force, which was formed in September, consists of physicians, destination marketing organization representatives, medical tourism professors and professionals and healthcare facility representatives who helped develop the grant guidelines and criteria. 

Each grant awarded under VISIT FLORIDA’s medical tourism promotion program will be matched by private dollars.  Applicants must be a destination marketing organization, health care provider, medical facility, physician or, in the case of the meetings and training program grant, a collaboration that includes one or more of these entities.

To learn more about VISIT FLORIDA’s new medical tourism promotion grants, to view an informational presentation recording or to submit an application, go to visitflorida.org/grants.