Claimed to be one of the largest and most advanced "wellness" centres in Asia, it is scheduled to open in May and aims to attract affluent expatriates and tourists.

The project - TRIA Integrative Wellness - is housed in a four-storey building and combines medical technology with traditional healing therapies, as well as nutrition and fitness programmes.

It will boost Thai's medical tourism industry, where foreign patients are attracted for treatment and leisure activities and the hospital is increasingly focusing on complementary and alternative medicines (CAM).

Marketing director Nalin Vanasin said the centre would bring together more than 30 physicians, CAM practitioners, massage experts, sport-science trainers, counsellors and "life coaches" to cover all aspects of health.

The philosophy is that all-round health requires the harmony of three components: the elemental, structural and emotional. TRIA will offer around 200 services costing between Bt1,000 and Bt50,000, said Nalin, adding that the hospital aimed to generate revenue of Bt100 million in its first year.

The centre is due to focus on three major groups: Thais aged over 35, tourists from Europe and Asia and expatriates.

"We will cater not only for clients wanting a traditional luxury spa service or beauty treatment but also people who want hormone testing and therapies, including anti-ageing or genetic tests," said Nalin.

Hydrotherapy, body work, beauty treatments and healthy cuisine will be on offer alongside early detection and other integrated medical services.

The 13,000-sq metre centre will include 20 medical consultation rooms, 40 rooms for massage and other treatments, four hydrotherapy pools, a 20-metre outdoor pool, a gym with functional training equipment and four restaurants.

Suchat Sritama

The Nation