The vice-president of the Hellenic-Turkish Chamber of Northern Greece Mr Stefanos Chadzimanolis, said Greek and Turkish officials met in Thessaloniki to exchange technical know-how in medical tourism.
Speaking to Greek news agency ANA, Chadzimanolis said that it is the first time the two countries are holding such a meeting, and each could help the other develop niche sectors in tourism.
According to Chadzimanolis the Turkish side is interested in collaborating with Greek medical centres and universities and to hold joint congresses.
"Greece is very strong in assisted reproductive techniques, while Turkey is strong in cardiology and plastic surgery - there are ways of collaborating and exchanging technical know-how," he noted.
Speaking on the collaboration, Turkish Consul in Thessaloniki Orhan Yialman Okan said that "in recent years we have focused on the health sector, in terms of both infrastructure and hospitals and in terms of medical staff. Every year, we get 400,000 visitors in Turkey who come for health and hospitalisation, and as a start we want to double the number."
