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Published on January 28, 2008

"We're negotiating with Bangkok Hospital," managing director Chatree Tangthienkul said last week.

It will be the first time it has tapped either medical or inbound tourism.

It will approach Scandinavia as its initial market, with the goal of 300 customers in the first year.

Thailand has been one of the most popular vacation destinations for Scandinavians for years. Now the Kingdom is making a name for cheaper medical treatment than in Europe or elsewhere in the West.

The first group should arrive in April.

Chatree started World Planet International seven years ago to focus on outbound trips to sports events like the Euro Sport Games. It has also led expeditions to unspoiled vistas in Kenya and South Africa and unique locations including a vampire castle in Romania. It also offers aerospace journeys.

Yet business has not been good.

"Last year we had only 400 customers out of a target of 1,000, due to the economic slowdown and internal threats. So we are turning to inbound medical tourism," he said.

The company will still arrange adventures, but probably not as many.

Despite having run sports trips for years, it will have none to the Beijing Olympics this year, because of limited seats and costs already three to four times higher than normal.

Suchat Stitama

The Nation