IZSATU – Turkey
IZSATU – Izmir Sağlik Turizmi Dernerği
Established in 2012, The Izmir Health Tourism Association (IZSATU) contributes to investigating the potential and opportunities of developing health tourism infrastructure in Turkey, particularly in the Izmir region. The association also promotes thermal and wellness tourism, with a focus on special audiences, such as elderly people and people living with disabilities.
Representatives of Dianova International and Izsatu during a visit of the organization in Turkey – Photo: Dianova
The Izsatu association aims to make Izmir a magnet for health tourism. Its mission is to: contribute to research in health tourism; cooperate with institutions and organizations related to health tourism; and contribute to tourism in general by improving health tourism.
The association is currently working with decisions makers in Turkey to develop addiction rehabilitation centres and facilities specialized in the care of people with autism spectrum disorders.
Activities 2018
- Collaboration with the Izmir Chamber of Commerce
- Attended the event “Hestourex”- Health, Sports and Tourism EXPO
- Attended the 8th International Healthcare Tourism Congress 2018
- Participation in the World Council on Health Tourism
- Attended the International Tourism Fair Travel Turkey where, together with Dianova International, Izsatu delivered a workshop on addiction treatment
Impact on the Sustainable Development Goals
17.17 Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships
8.9 By 2030, devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products
Related Activities
Izsatu works at different levels and with different stakeholders to promote health tourism. For example, it collaborates with the relevant Turkish ministries, universities and other NGOs; it organizes conferences, congresses, seminars and promotional visits; it coordinates the dissemination of good practices implemented in other countries, etc. Through these activities, the organization contributes transversally to SDG 17 (Partnerships for the goals) and its target 17. Moreover, the implementation of responsible health tourism is directly linked to SDG 8 (Decent work and economic growth) target 9.
Affiliations
- Affiliate member of Dianova International
- Registered within the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA)
- Founding Member of The Federation of Health Tourism Associations of Turkey (TURSAF)