China Airlines teams up with hospitals in central, southern and northern Taiwan to launch health checkup and medical tourism packages for mainland visitors in April

By Li Xinyi, reporting

In February, Lion Travel just launched a medical aesthetics and health checkup tour package in collaboration with Silks Place. Today, China Airlines announced that starting in April, it will partner with Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, Chang Bing Show Chwan Memorial Hospital, and E-Da Hospital to offer the first-ever in Taiwan premium health checkup and medical aesthetics travel product tailored for mainland visitors. The launch cities include Beijing, Shanghai, Xiamen, and other cities that were opened for independent travel to Taiwan last year. The 3-night, 4-day premium health checkup tour starts at RMB 7,190 (tax excluded, approximately NT$34,240).

Since the Department of Health announced in January this year that it would approve mainland visitors to come to Taiwan for health checkups and medical aesthetics, industry players have been rushing to capture the market. Hong Ziren, General Manager of Shin Kong Health Management, said that Shin Kong has been operating health checkup packages for mainland visitors since 2009 and has served over a thousand mainland clients, including Zong Qinghou, China’s richest man. In October last year, Shin Kong hosted 15 mainland visitors for health checkups, who spent a total of NT$1 million. Meanwhile, Show Chwan Hospital has been receiving mainland medical tourists since 2008, and in February this year alone, it has already hosted 300 mainland visitors. Zhao Meizhen, Director of Show Chwan International Medical Center, believes that after this partnership with China Airlines, the number of visitors received this year is bound to increase. Aside from Taiwan’s well-regarded medical environment and service, pricing is also a key consideration. She mentioned that Show Chwan’s positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) checkup package, which includes full-body PET scans, tumor markers, stool tests, ultrasounds, and gynecological examinations, is priced at NT$33,000. She has heard mainland visitors mention that in China, a full-body PET scan alone can cost as much as RMB 10,000.

Shin Kong offers services based on the concept of the Taipei Shin Kong Health Park. In addition to health checkups, the itinerary also includes stays in VIP suites at the Shin Kong Shilin Education Center, where guests can opt for rock-bed bathing and oxygen capsule sessions. The central Chang Bing Show Chwan Hospital package includes health checkups and medical aesthetics services, and incorporates a wellness and stress relief center that brings together psychiatrists, nutritionists, and aromatherapists. E-Da Hospital integrates group resources including the E-Da Crowne Plaza Hotel, E-Da Theme Park, and E-Da World Shopping Mall to offer an itinerary that combines entertainment and wellness.

For the health checkup independent travel package launched by China Airlines, taking Shanghai–Taipei as an example, the round-trip flight with a 14-day validity period is paired with a contracted star-rated hotel, and the 3-night, 4-day package starts at RMB 7,190 (tax excluded). Depending on the flight destination and the choice of health checkup packages from different hospitals, discounts of up to 15% off the market price are available. For detailed prices and dates, please visit the China Airlines website (dp.china-airlines.com/inbound/CHI/html/index.html).

● Read more: Shanghai to Taipei independent travel prices drop on August 1 to attract visitors

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