Thailand Medical Tourism Market

How big is the Thailand medical tourism market in 2026?

The market was valued at USD 8.6 billion in 2025 and is estimated to reach USD 9.5 billion in 2026. It is projected to grow at a CAGR of 10.1% from 2026 to 2036 and reach USD 24.8 billion by 2036.

The market is estimated to grow by 10.5% from 2025 to 2026, and hospital results for the second quarter of 2026 show that this growth is uneven across patient markets. Private hospitals are estimated to account for 70.0% of revenue in 2026, and Bumrungrad reported that international patients provided 66.4% of its revenue, up from 64.4% a year earlier, with revenue from Myanmar patients up 27.8% and from US patients up 19.2%. [5] Bangkok Dusit Medical Services (BDMS) recorded a 2% fall in international patient revenue, because revenue from Cambodian patients fell 67% and from Middle East patients fell 24% amid regional conflict. [6] Excluding those two markets, its international revenue rose 10%, led by Myanmar (up 42%) and the United States (up 23%). [6] Tourism as a whole was weaker, as foreign arrivals fell 3.08% to 20.94 million between January and August 2026. [7] As per FMI’s analysis, this suggests that medical travel follows a hospital’s patient mix more closely than total tourist numbers, so the 2036 forecast may depend on how quickly Middle East and Cambodian demand recovers while Myanmar and US demand keeps growing.

Market Size & Forecast

Table 1: Thailand Medical Tourism Market Size and Forecast (USD billion and CAGR percentage), 2025 to 2036

Market size and forecast	Value
2025 Value	USD 8.6 billion
Estimated market size in 2026	USD 9.5 billion
Projected market size by 2036	USD 24.8 billion
CAGR (2026-2036)	10.1%
Added revenue, 2026 to 2036	USD 15.3 billion

The USD 15.3 billion of added revenue between 2026 and 2036 sits against a policy backdrop in which the Tourism Authority of Thailand set out a value-led strategy in January 2026 that includes wellness and medical tourism. [1] Its 2027 direction continues to identify wellbeing tourism as a priority. [3]

Hospital and Tourism Indicators

Table 2: Hospital and Tourism Indicators for the Thailand Medical Tourism Market (USD, THB and percentages), 2026

Metric	Value
Market growth, 2025 to 2026	10.5%
Private hospital revenue, 2026	USD 6.65 billion
Bumrungrad international patient share of revenue, Q2 2026	66.4% [5]
BDMS international patient revenue, Q2 2026	Down 2% [6]
Foreign arrivals, January to August 2026	20,935,135, down 3.08% [7]

Key Market Trends & Insights

• By service provider: Private hospitals are expected to hold a 70.0% share in 2026, as international patients buy appointment coordination, translation and discharge planning alongside treatment. [5]
• By treatment type: Approximately 25.0% of the market in 2026 is estimated to sit in cosmetic surgery, alongside dental, cardiac, orthopaedic and fertility services, with consultation, procedure and follow-up setting the length of stay.
• Tourism strategy: Thailand’s 2026 tourism strategy includes wellness and medical travel within a broader value-led visitor agenda. [1]

Destination Highlights

• Top destination expansion: Bangkok is likely to grow at a 12.5% CAGR during the forecast period, supported by international hospitals such as Bumrungrad. [2]
• Broader destination progression: Behind Bangkok, Phuket is expected to expand at a 10.4% CAGR and Chiang Mai at 10.2%, ahead of Pattaya at 9.5%, Hua Hin at 8.8% and Krabi at 7.5%.

Analyst Perspective

“International patients are the commercial centre of Thai private hospitals, and the second-quarter 2026 results show how far growth depends on the source country. The decisive test is whether a hospital can hold its international patient mix steady when single markets weaken.”

- Ronak Shah, Principal Consultant, Future Market Insights.

How is the Thailand medical tourism market segmented?

The assessment covers cosmetic surgery, dental treatment, cardiac care, orthopaedics, infertility treatment and other services delivered through private hospitals, public hospitals and clinics. In 2026, private hospitals are estimated at 70.0% by service provider and cosmetic surgery at approximately 25.0% by treatment type. These treatments differ in the length of the visit, the support needed and the arrangements after discharge, so the travel offer has to follow the treatment. The dental tourism market examines a narrower treatment category across destinations.

How do private hospitals support the international patient journey?

Private hospitals are expected to hold 70.0% of revenue in 2026.

Table 3: Service Provider Share for the Thailand Medical Tourism Market (percentage share), 2026

Indicator	2026 share
Private-hospital revenue share	70.0%
Other providers combined	30.0%
Total	100.0%

Table 4: Service Provider Leadership and Market Growth for the Thailand Medical Tourism Market (segment and CAGR percentage), 2026 to 2036

Metric	Value
Market CAGR (2026 to 2036)	10.1%
Leading segment	Private hospitals (70.0% in 2026)

That share makes them central to the service mix. An international patient needs support beyond treatment, from appointment coordination and translation to discharge planning and information for clinicians at home. Bumrungrad, which has 580 licensed inpatient beds, drew 66.4% of its second-quarter 2026 revenue, about THB 4.17 billion, from international patients, so this support is a large part of its business. [2][5] Each coordination task also adds to the cost of serving a booking. FMI finds that a hospital’s commercial offer therefore depends on how clearly it defines this support and how consistently it delivers it throughout the patient’s stay.

• In August 2026, Bumrungrad reported that international patients provided 66.4% of its second-quarter revenue and that their revenue grew 7.1%. [5]

How does the treatment plan shape a cosmetic surgery journey?

Cosmetic surgery is estimated to account for approximately 25.0% by treatment type in 2026.

A cosmetic surgery trip includes consultation before travel, the procedure and follow-up after discharge, and the timing of these stages sets the accommodation, companion and return-travel arrangements. Recovery periods differ, as a dental visit and a major operation do not need the same stay, so the travel offer has to follow the treatment plan. The global medical tourism market examines cross-border care across destinations, while outbound medical tourism considers the trip from the traveller’s origin. For a cosmetic surgery provider, FMI finds that stating what the quoted service covers and which travel arrangements remain with the patient lets customers compare the complete commitment and gives the provider a basis for pricing the coordination it undertakes.

What are the drivers, restraints and opportunities in the Thailand medical tourism market?

In the Thailand medical tourism market, international patients from Myanmar and the United States support a 10.1% CAGR through 2036. At the same time, lower patient revenue from Cambodia and the Middle East and weaker tourist arrivals restrain faster expansion. [6][7]

• Driver: International patients from Myanmar and the United States are growing quickly, with Bumrungrad revenue from them up 27.8% and 19.2%, and BDMS revenue up 42% and 23%, in the second quarter of 2026. [5][6]
• Restraint: BDMS recorded a 67% fall in revenue from Cambodian patients and a 24% fall from Middle East patients amid regional conflict, and foreign arrivals fell 3.08% from January to August 2026. [6][7]
• Opportunity: Thailand’s value-led tourism strategy includes wellness and medical tourism, and BDMS has noted a recovery in Middle East patient volumes. [1][6]

How do destination outlooks compare?

Table 5: Destination Growth Outlook for the Thailand Medical Tourism Market (CAGR percentage), 2026 to 2036

Destination	CAGR (2026-2036)
Bangkok	12.5%
Phuket	10.4%
Chiang Mai	10.2%
Pattaya	9.5%
Hua Hin	8.8%
Krabi	7.5%

Bangkok has the strongest forecast growth among the profiled destinations, while Krabi has the lowest. Phuket, Chiang Mai, Pattaya and Hua Hin fall between those two outlooks.

How does hospital coordination shape Bangkok’s leading destination outlook?

Bangkok is likely to grow at a 12.5% CAGR during the forecast period.

Bumrungrad provides an example of a Bangkok hospital serving international patients, and its second-quarter 2026 results show growth coming from specific patient markets, with revenue from Myanmar up 27.8% and from the United States up 19.2%. [2][5] A hospital-based visit asks the patient to coordinate consultation, treatment and later appointments within one visit, and a companion’s accommodation dates must fit the same sequence. If an appointment changes, the rest of the stay changes with it. FMI finds that hospital and travel providers add value by making these dependencies clear before reservations are made and by pricing the coordination they carry.

Key takeaway: In Bangkok, international hospital demand and coordinated itineraries are likely to support a 12.5% CAGR through 2036.

How can wellness experiences fit within Phuket’s medical travel offer?

Phuket is expected to expand at a 10.4% CAGR during the forecast period.

Thailand’s tourism authority has promoted the island for wellness, and Canadian travellers voted it first in the wellness category of the 2026 Travellers’ Top Picks Award run by Air Canada Vacations. [4] Wellness experiences may form part of a wider trip, and the wellness tourism market also includes non-medical activities. For a traveller seeking medical care, the treatment schedule determines how much of that wider offer fits into the stay, so an optional activity has value only when its timing works with the care plan. Setting out the medical service and any added experiences separately lets the customer see the full price and lets the businesses involved allocate responsibility for changes.

Key takeaway: Wellness positioning supports Phuket’s 10.4% CAGR through 2036, with treatment schedules deciding how much of the wider offer fits into a stay.

How does appointment planning influence a medical trip to Chiang Mai?

A 10.2% CAGR during the forecast period is anticipated for Chiang Mai.

The order of appointments matters when accommodation and transport have to be reserved before every part of the treatment plan is settled. If an assessment must take place before a procedure can be scheduled, a fixed return date leaves little room to adjust the visit. FMI finds that separating confirmed appointments from provisional arrangements lets customers compare reservation conditions as well as the initial room or ticket price, and it shows which reservations need attention when the care provider’s information changes.

Key takeaway: Appointment sequencing shapes Chiang Mai bookings as the city grows at a 10.2% CAGR through 2036.

How do companion arrangements affect the medical travel opportunity in Pattaya?

Pattaya is forecast to rise at a 9.5% CAGR during the forecast period.

When a patient travels with a companion, the booking covers the needs of two people throughout the stay, as accommodation and journeys to appointments must fit the treatment schedule while the companion may need a different level of help. Explaining these choices at the booking stage makes the total service easier to assess. A provider can offer either a basic reservation or fuller coordination, with charges that reflect the work involved, and this allows it to serve several budgets without leaving the customer unsure of what is included.

Key takeaway: Companion arrangements set the service offered in Pattaya within a 9.5% CAGR through 2036.

How does follow-up support shape the medical travel offer in Hua Hin?

Hua Hin is likely to grow at an 8.8% CAGR during the forecast period.

The service relationship with a patient travelling for treatment continues beyond discharge and the trip home, because details of later appointments and records for clinicians at home form part of the arrangement. Providers serving Hua Hin can make their offer clearer by explaining how this handover is organised and whom the patient can contact about the service purchased, which also separates the hospital’s responsibilities from those of a travel intermediary. The time spent arranging records or assisting with a later reservation has a cost, and it belongs in the service plan.

Key takeaway: In Hua Hin, follow-up support is likely to define the service offered within an 8.8% CAGR through 2036.

How does treatment choice shape the commercial opportunity in Krabi?

Krabi is expected to advance at a 7.5% CAGR during the forecast period.

Treatment choice determines what a travel quotation needs to cover, as a dental visit and a more involved hospital procedure create different accommodation, appointment and recovery needs. A quotation that includes treatment and transport may still leave the patient to arrange a companion’s stay or extra nights. FMI finds that setting out these items gives the customer a fuller basis for judging the cost of the visit, and that the same breakdown shows which travel arrangements need revision if the timing of care changes. Providers can then build offers around a defined scope, with optional assistance for patients who want an intermediary to coordinate more of the stay.

Key takeaway: Treatment choice sets the scope of each Krabi offer within a 7.5% CAGR through 2036.

Who are the notable companies in the Thailand medical tourism market?

The assessment names Bumrungrad International Hospital, Bangkok Dusit Medical Services, Samitivej Hospital, Phyathai Hospitals and Yanhee Hospital. Their specialties and service arrangements differ, but the five names represent only three operators, because Samitivej and Phyathai are both brands within the BDMS network, which had 60 hospitals and 9,360 beds in August 2026. [8] Bumrungrad has 580 licensed inpatient beds. [2] The BDMS result for the second quarter of 2026 shows how a large network’s international revenue can depend on a few source countries, as a 2% fall followed declines in Cambodian and Middle East patient revenue. [6]

Key Developments in Thailand Medical Tourism

• The Tourism Authority of Thailand set out a value-led strategy in January 2026 that includes wellness and medical tourism. [1]
• Its 2027 direction continues to identify wellbeing tourism as a priority. [3]
• In the second quarter of 2026, international patients provided 66.4% of Bumrungrad’s revenue, up from 64.4% a year earlier. [5]
• BDMS reported a 2% fall in international patient revenue in the second quarter of 2026, after declines in Cambodian and Middle East patient revenue. [6]

Key Players in the Thailand Medical Tourism Market

• Bumrungrad International Hospital
• Bangkok Dusit Medical Services
• Samitivej Hospital
• Phyathai Hospitals
• Yanhee Hospital

Thailand Medical Tourism Market - Report Scope

Table 6: Report Scope

Coverage field	Report scope
Market	Medical and associated wellness services for travel to and within Thailand
Forecast period	2026 to 2036
Quantitative unit	USD billion
Treatment types	Cosmetic, dental, cardiac, orthopaedic, infertility and other treatment
Providers	Private hospitals, public hospitals and clinics
Destinations	Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, Hua Hin and Krabi

Thailand Medical Tourism Market - Research Methodology

The market assessment combines primary interviews with industry participants and secondary research drawn from company disclosures, trade data and industry publications. Market size is built from supply-side and demand-side estimates and validated top-down, and segment shares and competitive positioning are checked through data triangulation before publication.

Thailand Medical Tourism Market by Segments

By Treatment Type

• Cosmetic surgery
• Dental treatment
• Cardiac surgery
• Orthopaedics
• Infertility treatment
• Other treatment

By Service Provider

• Private hospitals
• Public hospitals
• Clinics

Thailand Medical Tourism Market by Destination

• Bangkok
• Phuket
• Chiang Mai
• Pattaya
• Hua Hin
• Krabi

Research Sources and Bibliography

• [1] Tourism Authority of Thailand. Thailand Tourism Next: Value Growth Plan. 12 January 2026.
• [2] Beyond Activ. Asia Awards: Bumrungrad International Hospital Profile. 2026.
• [3] Tourism Authority of Thailand. The Year of Transformation: 2027 Tourism Direction. 24 August 2026.
• [4] Tourism Authority of Thailand. Phuket Named Top Wellness Destination by Canadian Travellers. 29 September 2026.
• [5] Kaohoon International. BH Records THB1.9 Billion of Net Profit in 2Q26, Driven by International Patient Segment. 14 August 2026.
• [6] Kaohoon International. BDMS Sees Earnings Slip by 7% in 2Q26 Against Geopolitical Backdrop. 13 August 2026.
• [7] Nation Thailand. Foreign arrivals to Thailand decline 3% in first eight months (Ministry of Tourism and Sports data). 7 September 2026.
• [8] Bangkok Dusit Medical Services. BDMS Network (as of August 2026).
• [9] Bumrungrad International Hospital. Announcement of the Phuket medical and wellness hub. 11 December 2025.
• [10] Wikipedia. Yanhee Hospital.