Macau, a place famous for its dazzling casinos, is trying something new. Just last Monday, October 7, the city opened the world’s first hospital located inside a casino resort. This bold move aims to turn Macau into a top spot for health tourism, offering luxurious medical care right alongside entertainment.
This special hospital isn’t your typical clinic. It provides high-end services like full health check-ups, advanced scanning, and cosmetic surgery. You can find it at Studio City, a Hollywood-themed entertainment complex that also includes a casino. Melco Resorts and Entertainment, a company based in Hong Kong, runs this resort.
A New Vision for Macau
Lawrence Ho, who leads Melco Resorts, explained the goal of this project. He said it will boost medical tourism in Macau and create new jobs. The idea is to mix healthcare with leisure, all in one convenient place. This venture brings together Melco Resorts and iRad Hospital, a private healthcare group from Hong Kong known for its MRI scanning skills.
Officials hope this unique concept will draw visitors from across the region and around the world. They believe it will make people stay longer and spend more money, both at the resort and throughout the city. Dennis Tam, honorary chairman of iRad, pointed out that Macau gets nearly 40 million visitors each year. He sees a huge chance for the city to become a leader in medical tourism.
Moving Beyond Gambling
For a long time, Macau has been known as the world’s biggest casino center. It even surpassed Las Vegas almost two decades ago in gambling revenue. Visitors from mainland China, Hong Kong, and other parts of Asia flock to its gaming tables. However, relying so heavily on gambling has its drawbacks. Casino-related taxes still make up most of Macau’s government income.
Now, Macau is actively looking to spread its economic bets. Ho mentioned that the hospital project fits right into Macau’s plan to diversify its economy. City leaders are working to build up other sectors, such as healthcare, technology, and event hosting. This way, the city can become less dependent on just its casinos.
The Global Health Travel Trend
This shift in Macau reflects a global trend. The medical tourism industry is worth tens of billions of dollars worldwide. Experts expect it to grow a lot in the next ten years. Asia, in particular, has become a major hub for people seeking medical care abroad.
Think about South Korea, where wealthy patients often go for cosmetic surgery. Singapore is famous for its private hospitals and advanced treatments. India offers medical care at lower prices compared to Western countries. Turkey is also popular for affordable services, including organ transplants and dental work. Macau hopes its new casino-hospital will help it join these successful players in the health tourism market.
Source: BBC