In 2016, the Cluster participated in the prestigious IMTJ Medical Travel Summit in Madrid, where it won the Health and Medical Tourism Cluster of the Year award. It was there that the idea was born that Croatia, specifically Opatija, would bid to host this great event the next year. In the fierce competition, Opatija was indeed chosen as the next destination and thus ranked alongside the previous hosts, the major tourist destinations, Dubai, London, Madrid and Athens.
From April 24th till 27th, 270 participants from 34 countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, USA, Germany, Great Britain, Lebanon, Canada, Spain, United Arab Emirates, Poland, Greece, Japan, France, Turkey, Lithuania, Austria, Romania, India, Russia, Mexico and South Korea gathered in 4 Opatijska cvijeta Hotel.
Of the total number of visitors to the Summit, as many as 48% were directors and management staff of hospitals and clinics, followed by 10% facilitators in health tourism, 9% representatives of the scientific sector, 7% consultants, 7% public servants, 7% employees in related activities, 4% of employees of tourist boards and associations, 4% of representatives of insurance companies, 3% of employees in the media and communications and 1% of other participants.
In addition to the lectures, a cultural and entertainment programme was organized. Thus, on April 25th, a formal dinner was organized in the Governor’s Palace under the auspices of the City of Rijeka, and a day later, sponsored by the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, an award ceremony was held at the Royal Hotel, where several Croatian institutions were awarded. The Rident Dental Clinic won the award for the international dental clinic of the year, the Bagatin Polyclinic for the international cosmetic surgery clinic of the year, and the Sveta Katarina Special Hospital for the international specialist centre of the year.
On the last day of the Summit, April 27th, a tour of the health care institutions, all members of the Cluster, was organized. About 20 interested participants visited Thalassotherapia Opatija, Thalassotherapia Crikvenica, Special Hospital dr. Nemec, Specialty Hospital Medico, Polyclinic Terme Selce, Clinical Hospital Centre Rijeka and dental clinics Rident, Smile, Dr. Jelušić, Kalmar and Orto-Nova.
