Luxury 'Medical Tourism' Trending Among Wealthy Chinese

According to the International Medical Travel Journal, ultra-wealthy individuals in China are chartering private jets to foreign countries, combining health appointments with essential sightseeing.

Hong Kong based private jet company L’voyage has seen growing demand from the country’s wealthiest individuals looking to book flights to Europe and the USA for health and wellness purposes.

According to Global Growth Markets approximately 4,300 people sought specialist treatments outside their home country in 2015, ranging from IVF to stem-cell technologies, to the tune of $450k million. But they weren’t only there to see reputable doctors, these medical tourists spent a combined $100k million on leisure and entertainment during their stay.

“We are seeing a growing number of inquiries about flying by private jet to France, Germany, Switzerland, the United States and the United Kingdom from our ultra-rich Chinese customers for the purpose of medical tourism,” L’voyage founder Diana Chou told International Medical Travel Journal. “Not only are there advanced specialist hospitals in these countries, but also cultural landmarks and experiences that are popular with our clientele.”

Chou also explains that the patient brings their entire family along for the trip, and L’voyage is equipped for all their wellness requirements. “We cater our inflight menus to strict dietary instructions upon request and help pre-book return flights on the desired private jets for follow-up doctor appointments,” she explained.

The majority of L’voyage’s high net worth clients currently reside in the affluent cities of Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou, but as demand grows — which Global Growth Markets predicts it will by as much as 30% over the next couple of years — the company anticipates serving clients departing from the country’s interior too.

About the author

Esme Benjamin

Wellness Editor

Born and raised in Bristol, England, Esme has been geeking out over syntax her entire life. She studied English Lit by the Brighton seaside before moving to London to pursue her writing career in 2009, going on to work for Grazia Daily, The Telegraph and SheerLuxe. In 2013 she swapped The Big Smoke for The Big Apple, where she trained as a yoga teacher and contributed to Refinery29, Self, Fitness Magazine and Greatist. When she's not glued to her laptop or iPhone you'll find her drinking Kale Margaritas at an East Village happy hour, planning her next adventure, or hand-standing (with more vigor than skill) at the yoga studio.