October 9, 2019 - The 3rd edition of the Adriatic Health, Sport & Tourism Forum will be held at the Westin in Zagreb once more from October 20-22.
The potential of Croatia's medical tourism industry will once more be in the spotlight later this month, as the 3rd Adriatic Health, Sport & Tourism Forum will take place at the 5-star Hotel Westin in Zagreb from October 20-22.
Many international experts agree that Croatia has the potential to be in the top 10 countries in the world within ten years, and this year's forum has a quality lineup of Croatian and international speakers - and investors - who will be taking part in the 3-day event. Unlike many other health tourism conferences, the forum has a key focus on infrastructure and projects to support the growth of the wellness and health tourism expansion plans. None more so than the 500-million-euro planned resort on Pasman from American investor Jeff Blackard, who will be one of the keynote speakers. Event organiser Miljenko Bura MD had this to say by way of introduction of AHT:
"There are large-scale health tourism projects in the region that envisage great investments in the general and tourist infrastructure, products and services, and medical and tourist professionals in Croatia, Montenegro and other countries in the region, and their implementation requires huge funds which those countries do not have. Therefore we have launched the initiative seeking from the EC non-repayable funds to co-fund the investments, said Miljenko Bura of the Medical Group.
"Bura said that the potential for health tourism in Croatia and the rest of the Adriatic region was extremely large. It is authentic and has an unpolluted environment and sea which only few regions in the world can boast, he added."
The Forum gathers key people and projects in tourism and healthcare industry within Adriatic Region. The Forum is the right place for all visionaries and enthusiasts interested in how the health tourism in the Adriatic Region can reach the next level and become the full-time destination with quality contents from medical, wellness, touristic, rural and gastronomic segments.
The full programme is now available and can be viewed below - it promises to be an intense and productive 2.5 days, and TCN will be covering the event as a media sponsor.
PRELIMINARY FINAL PROGRAM FOR THE 3rd ADRIATIC HEALTH, SPORT AND TOURISM INVESTMENT FORUM 2019.
(3rd AHT INVESTMENT FORUM)
Preliminary final program covers thematic blocks that will be discussed in detail during the 3rd AHT Investment forum (October [20] 21 and 22, 2019.):
DAY ZERO Sunday, October 20, 2019
14:00-19:00 Workshops
- DEVELOPING INTERNATIONAL PATIENT INFORMATION DESK OFFICES AND SUPPORT SERVICES
Emin Cakmak, founder and honorary chairman, Global Healthcare Travel Council, Turkey
Dr Prem Jagyasi, founder, Dr Prem and Associates, founder, Dr Prem Web Magazine Network, India/UAE
- DIGITAL MEDIA MARKETING IN GLOBAL HEALTHCARE AND MEDICAL TOURISM
Dr Prem Jagyasi, founder, Dr Prem and Associates; founder, Dr Prem Web Magazine Network, India/UAE
- MEDICAL WELLNESS AND PREVENTIVE HEALTH CARE PROGRAMS ("LIFESTYLE MEDICINE") AS AN INNOVATION INTHE HOTEL'SOFFER
Dr Lutz Lungwitz, president, German Association of Medical Wellness, Germany
Dr Tomislav Majić, founder, Cardiac Rehabilitation Centre at Smarjeske Spa, Slovenia
Dr Mladen Golubić, medical director, Center for lifestyle medicine, Cleveland Clinic, USA
19:00-21:00 Welcoming reception
DAY ONE Monday, October 21, 2019
08:00-09:00 Registration
09:00-09:30 Opening ceremony
09:30-10:00 Sponsor presentation
10:00-11:40 Panel: DEVELOPMENT OF A YEAR-ROUND HEALTH, SPORT AND TOURISM DESTINATION – CHALLENGES!!!
- Adriatic region as a year-round riviera – a common project of the European Union?!
- Health, sports and tourism infrastructure – a prerequisite for locals and visitors
Introductory lecture: A successful development of global healthcare and
tourism destinations – the Turkey experience Emin Cakmak, founder and chairman, Global Healthcare Travel Council, Turkey
Panelists: Gari Cappelli, Minister of Tourism, Croatia
Dr Vlasta Brozičević, Terme Selce, Croatia
Dr Jasmina Knežević, Belmedic, Serbia
Joe Bašić,
Magdalena Rutkowska, president, Medical Travel Partner, Poljska
Dr Miljenko Bura, initiator, AHT Forum; founder, Medical Group; medical tourism consultant, Croatia
Moderator: Dr Prem Jagyasi, founder, Dr Prem and Associates; founder, Dr Prem Web Magazine Network, India/UAE
11:40-12:00 Project presentations
12:00-13:30 Panel: INVESTMENT POTENTIAL IN THE HEALTHCARE, SPORT AND TOURISM OF THE ADRIATIC REGION
Panelists:
Zdenko Lucić – State Secretary, Ministry of Economy, Entrepreneurship and Crafts, Croatia - Representatives of the Adriatic region countries
Jeff Blackard, CEO, Blackard Global, USA
John Gašparac, Executive director, PWC Croatia
Hrvoje Stojić, Economic Research Director, Addiko Bank, Croatia
Marko Pažanin, Executive Director & Partner, Croatia Sotheby´s International Realty
13:30-14:30 Lunch
14:30-16:00 Panel: HEALTH TOURISM IN EUROPE: PRESENT AND FUTURE
Panelists: EU representative
Croatian Ministry of Tourism representative
Luke Savage, Managing Director – International Acquisitions and Operations, Medical Properties Trust, USA
Emin Cakmak, founder and honorary chairman of Global Healthcare Travel Council, Turkey
Magdalena Rutkowska, president, Medical Travel Partner, Poland
Ivana Kolar, CEO and Founder, Julius Rose Business Consulting, Croatia, TBA
Dr Vladimir Mozetič, President, Kvarner Health Cluster, Croatia
Moderator: Lutz Lungwitz, President, German Association of Medical Wellness, Germany
16:00-16:45 Projects presentation
16:45-18:15 Panel: SENIOR ECONOMY: NEW TECHNOLOGY IN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY – ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Introductory lecture: Smart Medical City
Marko Vukobratović, PhD, Barrage, Osijek, Croatia
Panelists:
Dr John Raffetto, CEO, Ambassador Care and American Adriatic Health LTC, Washington D.C., USA
Marino Šabijan, CEO, LUXHEAL, Zagreb, Croatia MedicalChain, London, UK, TBA Ericsson, Zagreb, Croatia
18:15-19:00 B2B networking
DAY TWO: Tuesday, October 22, 2019
08:30- 10:00 Panel: INVESTING IN THE FUTURE OF MEDICINE AND HEALTH TOURISM
Introductory lecture:
Dr Prem Jagyasi, founder, Dr Prem and Associates; founder, Dr Prem Web Magazine Network, India/UAE
Panelists:
Dr Miljenko Bura, initiator, AHT Forum; founder, Medical Group; medical tourism consultant, Croatia
Dr Lutz Lungwitz, president of the German Association of Medical Wellness, Germany
Rick Shands, TAHPI, London – Dubai – Sydney
Dr Steven Pavletić, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, USA
Dr Dražen Jurković, CEO, UPUZ, Croatia
Dr Milorad Gošev, CEO, Roche Pharmaceuticals Croatia, TBA
Moderator:
Luke Savage, Managing Director – International Acquisitions and Operations, Medical Properties Trust, USA
10:00-10:45 Projects presentation
10:45- 11:00 Break
11:00- 12:30 Panel: EU FUNDING IN NEW FINANCIAL PERSPECTIVE 2021.-2027.
- Platform for the development of health tourism in the Adriatic region
Panelists: EU representative
Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds representative, Croatia
Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development representative, Croatia
Ministry of Health representative, Croatia
Dr Vjekoslav Mandić, Minister of Health, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Damir Novotny, CEO, T&MC Group, Croatia
Jakša Puljiz, PhD, Head of Department for European Integration, Institute for Development and International Relations, Croatia
Moderator: TBA 12:30-12:45 Projects presentation
12:45-13:45 Panel: FOOD AS A RESOURCE IN (HEALTH) TURISM
Ministry of Agriculture representative, Croatia
Dr Mladen Golubić, Medical Director, Centre for lifestyle medicine, Cleveland Clinic, USA
Dr Zvonimir Šostar, director of the Teaching institute “Andrija Štampar”, Croatia
Diana Gluhak-Spajić, HEALTHY MEAL
Zvonimir Novak, President, Croatian Competitiveness Cluster of Food Processing Sector, Croatia
13:45-14:45 Lunch
14:45-15:30 Project presentations
15:30-17:00 Panel: SPORTS AND HEALTHCARE INFRASTRUCTURE IN TOURISM BRANDING
Panelists:
Sanda Čorak, PhD, VP, Institute for Tourism, Zagreb, Croatia
Marin Čilić, Professional tennis player, Croatia, TBA
Marijan Kustić, Executive Director, Croatian Football Federation, Croatia
Damir Knjaz, PhD, University of Zagreb - Faculty of Kinesiology, Croatia
Igor Jukić, PhD, University of Zagreb - Faculty of Kinesiology, Croatia
Moderator:
Ranko Ćetković, General Secretary Assistant, Croatian Olympic Committee, Croatia
17:00-18:30 B2B networking
For more information about the conference and to reserve your spot, visit the official website.
To follow the latest from the Croatian medical tourism story, follow the dedicated TCN section.
To learn more about the forum organisers, including their other initiatives to develop medical tourism in the Adriatic, visit the Medical Group Ltd website.
