The UCF College of Medicine aims to be this century’s premier medical school. Local tourism officials hope the college and its medical city at Lake Nona will also attract people from around the world. “Medical tourism” is not only on the rise but a goal for Central Florida.
Central Florida hospitals have begun encouraging patients from abroad to come to Orlando for medical treatment. To increase the area’s reputation as a medical destination, Florida cities are also looking to increase their share of the lucrative medical meetings market. Orlando, the nation’s top-ranked medical meeting hub for the past decade, played host to more than 215 medical meetings with 170,000 attendees in 2008.