Air Purifiers in GCC: How GCC’s Transformation into a Medical Tourism Hub will lead to Increased Demand

Although air purifiers have been around since the 1950s, it was only in the late 1980s that they gained widespread popularity. People allergic to dust and pollen saw air purifiers as an appealing option to breathe clean, fresh air. Pet owners too benefitted from air purifiers as they could rest assured that pet dander would not pose significant health risks to their loves ones.

The target market for air purifiers has traditionally been people who are aged 55 and above. However, owing to the increase in respiratory ailments, courtesy the rising pollution levels, even people in the age group of 18-24 are buying air purifiers.

While the air purifiers market in developed regions is now well established, consumers in emerging nations are also showing interest in buying air purifiers. One of the key reasons for this transformation is the increase in awareness levels. Thanks to growing internet penetration and availability of affordable smartphones, consumers in emerging nations are consuming information like never before. Health related advice is now easily transmitted to consumers, providing an opportunity to healthcare providers to spread the word. This trend has worked to spread awareness about respiratory ailments, which in turn has introduced consumers to air purifiers.

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) can be thought of as an anomaly in the Asia Pacific region. While a majority of countries in the region can be categorised as developing, the GCC, which includes UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar, have per capita incomes that are on par with those of developed countries.

The economy of GCC countries is heavily dependent on oil exportation, and considering the non-renewable nature of the resource, the governments in GCC are focusing on building other avenues of revenue.

In addition to building world-class infrastructure to attract foreign investment, GCC countries are also striving to boost the medical tourism. Rising healthcare costs in developed world have forced patients to affordable alternatives, and Mexico, India, and Thailand have emerged as key destinations. GCC countries have realised the immense potential of this sector and are on course to develop medical cities. It is anticipated that in the near future, scores of hospitals and healthcare facilities will be set up in GCC.

Bulk of the demand for air purifiers is generated through healthcare centres, and it is owing to these factors that the demand for air purifiers is anticipated to witness a robust demand in GCC in the near future.

Along with GCC transformation into a global hub for medical tourism, another factor that is anticipated to fuel the growth of the air purifiers in GCC is rising incidence of respiratory ailments. The climate in Middle East poses potential risk of developing respiratory diseases, owing to higher concentration of dust. Doctors and therapists often advice patients to reduce exposure to dust and other allergens, and owing to these factors, the demand for air purifiers is anticipated to witness strong growth.

Although the demand for air purifies is anticipated to witness strong growth in all of GCC, the market in Saudi Arabia will be the most lucrative for air purifier companies. According to research conducted by Future Market Insights, the market value of Saudi Arabia GCC Air Purifier Market will be US$ 41.33 Bn by 2020.

Saudi Arabia is industrially more advanced than rest of GCC countries, and has a large expatriate population. The country is developing its medial tourism sector in a bid to woo foreign patients, and high demand for air purifiers is expected in the near future.

Overall, the GCC air purifiers market is in an upward trend, and in the next five years, air purifier companies will find a host of growth opportunities.

Browse full report, "Air Purifiers Market: GCC Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2014 - 2020" Market Research Report at, http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/details/gcc-air-purifiers-market