Guest Lecture: “Medical Tourism”

For students of the “Tourism” and “Hospitality” programs, a guest lecture on “Medical Tourism” was delivered by Darina Demyan, Managing Director of “Center for the Development of Astana” LLP. The speaker gave an overview of the medical tourism ecosystem—the roles of healthcare providers, insurers, tour operators, and urban development institutions. Discussion covered destination competitiveness factors, quality standards, and the international patient journey from clinic selection to post-treatment support. Special attention was paid to the potential of Astana and Kazakhstan: building trust, price transparency, and coordination across hospitality services. Students explored career trajectories in destination management and related services, and saw examples of successful partnerships among universities, clinics, and industry bodies. Participants received recommended resources and a destination assessment checklist. Next steps: collect feedback, integrate practical cases into assignments, and consider a workshop on designing services for medical tourism.