InterCare Asia 2024 has begun, held in conjunction with the Medical & Wellness Travel Fair 2024, showcasing innovative health solutions for people of all ages.
“InterCare Asia 2024” and “Medical & Wellness Travel Fair 2024” are trade shows and innovations for health and wellness for all ages, especially the elderly. They feature a wide range of products including healthcare innovations, health and beauty centers, spas, nutritional supplements, healthy food and beverages, and free health check-ups. The events will be held from August 1-3, 2024 at Hall 5, Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC).
Today (August 1, 2024), at Hall 5 of the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC), NCC Management and Development Co., Ltd., in partnership with government and private sector organizations, launched “InterCare Asia 2024” and “Medical & Wellness Travel Fair 2024,” running from August 1-3, 2024. The event aims to promote and develop Thailand's healthcare business for sustainable growth, while providing opportunities for Thai entrepreneurs to exchange knowledge and connect with domestic and international markets.
Mr. Sakchai Pataraprechakun, Executive Director of NCC Management and Development Co., Ltd., stated that NCC recognizes the growth opportunities in the healthcare business. The second annual “InterCare Asia” and “Medical & Wellness Travel Fair” will be crucial platforms for advancing the healthcare industry, connecting healthcare professionals both domestically and internationally, and serving as a central hub for showcasing new healthcare products, services, and technologies, fostering knowledge and experience exchange among experts.
Mr. Sakchai further stated that Thailand's healthcare business is continuously growing, especially the healthcare business for the elderly and health-conscious groups, which is valued at approximately 2.99 million baht, averaging 7.5% per year. He emphasized that a good quality of life, fewer illnesses, and financial freedom are things everyone should have, particularly Thai elderly people who can be categorized into three groups: socially active, homebound, and bedridden. He expressed a desire to see more socially active individuals and fewer bedridden individuals.
“The trends of people not getting married or married but not having children are leading to lower birth rates, while the elderly population is increasing—a phenomenon seen globally. This is concerning in terms of life planning, as most people over 60 often don't plan or prepare for old age. The situation is even worse for those over 70. Therefore, InterCare Asia 2024, a health and wellness trade show and innovation exhibition, will help everyone plan their lives and retirement without relying on their children and grandchildren. It will also help those over 50 to plan their lives, finances, and life insurance for a better quality of life,” said Mr. Sakchai.
InterCare Asia 2024 will feature a variety of interesting activities, such as exhibitions of healthcare products and services from leading exhibitors, seminars and workshops from healthcare experts, health consultations from specialist doctors, health check-up and treatment packages from leading hospitals, demonstrations of new healthcare technologies and devices, and attractive travel packages for senior citizens, among others.
Furthermore, in collaboration with the Thai Medical and Wellness Tourism Association, we organized the Medical & Wellness Travel Fair 2024 to promote medical and wellness tourism. This collaboration between two high-potential industries aims to create business opportunities and foster the growth of medical and wellness tourism in Thailand, while expanding towards becoming a hub for healthcare business and innovation in ASEAN.
Dr. Prapa Wongpaet, President of the Thai Medical and Wellness Tourism Association, stated that the Medical & Wellness Travel Fair 2024, supported by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), aims to promote and develop Thailand's medical and wellness tourism by showcasing high-quality products and services from industry professionals. It also serves as a networking hub for businesses, tourists, and healthcare experts, providing opportunities for SMEs to enter the medical and wellness tourism market and expand their reach both domestically and internationally.
Dr. Prapa further stated that Thailand's Wellness & Medical tourism will be driven by six pillars: 1. Thai Wellness & Thai Massage; 2. Medical tourism for all (accessible to everyone); 3. Herbal Products Wellness (focusing on herbal products and traditional Thai medicine); 4. Health Exhibition Center; 5. Senior Living Destination (promoting social interaction among seniors); and 6. Medical & Wellness relay (knowledge transfer). She added that InterCare Asia 2024 and the Medical & Wellness Travel Fair 2024 will feature numerous innovative products and activities aimed at improving holistic health and well-being.
Mr. Prachya Permthongkam, Director of Business Opportunity Development at the Institute for the Development of Small and Medium Enterprises (ISMED), stated that the senior healthcare business is one of the megatrends that needs to be studied, as Thai society is becoming an aging society. Therefore, various activities and initiatives must be prepared to support this aging population. The government has been pushing for urgent collaboration between public and private sector agencies to assist SMEs. For example, the Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion (OSMEP) has supported funding through the BDS (Business Development System) project, also known as "SME Success, Money Back," which provides 50-80% financial support through training, coaching, consulting, and the development of courses in collaboration with various agencies to enhance the capabilities of entrepreneurs and keep pace with global trends.
