Since the 2008 economic crisis Budapest has become Europe’s dental capital due to the still expanding budget flights and of course, the extremely high dental prices in the Western part of the continent. Most of the dental tourists visiting Budapest come from Britain, France and from the Scandinavian states. Besides the capital visitor numbers at the clinics in Győr, Mosonmagyaróvár or Sopron, in Western Hungary, have also increased, having remained popular primarily among Austrian and German patients.
Around 300 clinics and 3000 employees operate the Hungarian dental tourism sector, welcoming 60-70 thousand foreigner guests every year. They leave approximately 70-80 billion forints in Hungary, making nearly 90 per cent of the annual income of the Hungarian health tourism sector, which is based mostly on medical services. According to the data of the Central Statistical Office (KSH), last year 4,6 million guests spent 12,3 million nights in Hungary with 440 thousands nights linked directly to the dental tourism.
Most of the clinics offer complete packages for the patients, which includes airport transfer as well as accommodation costs. The market is still blooming as many of the guests are ready to spend even 5000-7000 euros on one single treatment. In most cases having a consultation and making x-rays do not require any payments, however, CT pictures start around 200 euros, while the costs of dental implants could exceed even 1000 euros, which still half of the Western European prices.
One more reason behind foreigners’ decision to prefer Hungary as their dental tourism destination is that Hungarian dentists enjoy very good reputation abroad. Most of them are highly qualified and after receiving their degree (taught in German and English as well as Hungarian) they top up their training in Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK or the US. As a result many speak absolutely fluent English.
Budapest’s main role in the European dental tourism is clearly shown by the ‘Dental World’ international dental exhibition, which will be organised in Hungary for the 15th time between 1-3 October 2015. The most prestigious dental trade of the Central European region, staged this year at a more extended venue with 13,000 m2 of the HUNGEXPO Budapest Fair Center, will focus on the latest research results in dental implantology and related technologies.
source: mno.hu, dentaltourismexpert.com and dentalworld.hu photo: dental-tourism-hungary.com
source: http://www.hungarytoday.hu / Hungary Today / Home / September 11th, 2015
