Costa Rica: medical tourism

The number of visitors who come to Costa Rica for medical treatment will reach 40,000 this year, an increase of a third in just three years.

Dental procedures account for nearly 40% of total visits. A combination of convenient travel, and prices, which are often half or less than those in the United States and Canada, have helped the sector grow, along with a significant number qualified, bilingual medical and dental practitioners.

The sector could expand faster, if doctors and dentists had more effective promotional tools, especially on the Web, to reach potential customers in North America.