Government Subsidies

In accordance with Decision No. 5448 on the Definition, Classification, and Support of Service Exports, State Incentives for Health and Sports Tourism have entered into force under the circular. Under the auspices of the Ministry of Trade and the supervision of the Service Exporters Association, the state provides regular support to the sector for the export of services. In addition to these incentives, further incentives have been added according to the latest legislation. Furthermore, beneficiaries operating in the health tourism sector, including thermal hotels, health hotels, accommodation facilities involved in sports tourism, and travel agencies engaged in sports tourism, have also begun to be considered within this scope.

Consequently, Health and Sports Tourism Incentives are implemented under the same decision, ensuring that Health and Sports Tourism facilities in our country that will export services benefit from state incentives to the maximum extent. As GRS Health Tourism Consultancy, we provide comprehensive services at all stages to organizations wishing to benefit from state incentives in Health and Sports Tourism.

    1. REGISTRATION PROTECTION SUPPORT: This covers applications for support related to the expenses of protecting your trademark and registration. These applications ensure the registration of your trademark and its use by you both domestically and internationally. It is also a type of support related to the registration process you undertake.
    2. MARKET ENTRY SUPPORT: Accreditation firms that register and monitor service quality on the international stage, aiming to surpass competing countries in international service trade;
      • Accreditation and supervision of Health Tourism services to be provided to international patients.
      • Certification and auditing expenses incurred by institutions listed in the document and certificate list supported by the Ministry of Trade are subject to registration.
    3. AGENCY COMMISSION SUPPORT: This includes applications to support commission expenses incurred by agencies in bringing health tourists, licensed athletes, and sports team delegations to our country. It is a type of support aimed at recovering commissions paid to licensed health tourism travel agencies operating domestically and abroad, as well as health and sports tourism travel agencies licensed in their own countries according to local criteria, for bringing patients and athlete delegations.
    4. COMPLICATION AND HEALTH INSURANCE SUPPORT: Today, tourists who travel to countries for tourism purposes purchase medical travel insurance, similar to travel insurance, which covers all processes, complications, and unforeseen situations that may occur during travel. This refers to the incentive program that allows them to recoup the amounts they have paid for travel and complication insurance policies.
    5. EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT: This refers to the evaluation of personnel employed by healthcare institutions and medical tourism intermediary organizations (those involved in bringing in or dealing with international patients). It discusses facilitating the employment of personnel such as Public Relations, Sales and Marketing, and International Patient Unit Managers, and incentivizing staff who contribute to the process of bringing in international patients.
    6. SUPPORT FOR FOREIGN LANGUAGE AND HEALTH TOURISM TRAINING: Due to the low number of Bachelor's and Associate's degree graduates in Health Tourism in our country, the aim is to provide the personnel trained by the sector with a new competency by supporting them in receiving additional foreign language training and obtaining training from institutions that are valid both domestically and internationally.
    7. PATIENT TRAVEL ASSISTANCE: The aim is to provide support to patients brought to Türkiye based on certain criteria.
    8. ADVERTISING, PROMOTION and MARKETING SUPPORT: This is one of the most frequently requested support programs, providing funding for all types of digital spending within a specific framework and set of rules. Services covered include website maintenance and updates; social media advertising; all types of paid advertising on digital platforms; subscriptions to medical portals; radio, television, magazine, outdoor, and billboard advertising; email services; SMS services; and advertising abroad targeting foreign audiences.
    9. SUPPORT FOR PARTICIPATION IN DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL EVENTS: In the Health Tourism and Sports Tourism sectors, this includes supporting many expenses related to participation costs for beneficiaries attending events approved by the Ministry, in accordance with international standards and aimed at developing international networks.
    10. INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION AND TRAINING SUPPORT: This refers to the support of expenses related to participation in any promotional and training program held within the country, involving the representatives of health tourism beneficiaries and collaborating organizations from abroad.
    11. PRODUCT PLACEMENT SUPPORT: This is a subsidy for product placement expenses. It requires prior approval from the general directorate. Product placements in films and digital games screened abroad are covered by this incentive.