Greece may be synonymous with tourism, but when one thinks of the industry that mainly sustains the country’s economy, doctors rarely come to mind. And yet, medical tourism has been on the rise in recent years – and particularly dental tourism which many think will soon prove to be a significant source of income for the country.

With that in mind, a group of specialised dentists formed the first organised cluster in 2015 to cater for increased demand.

The Dental Tourism Cluster emerged from an initiative of the City of Athens to increase tourism and spearhead the city’s economy, and it comprises 15 registered dental practitioners, operating in 54 clinics in 15 parts of the city, offering services to foreigners or diaspora Greeks.

What makes this service competitive is the fact that these practitioners have very high qualifications, the majority of them have been trained in US universities, and offer services at 25-35 per cent of the equivalent cost of treatment in other developed countries.

But apart from cost and certification, what makes Greek dentists appealing to visitors and members of the diaspora is something that can’t be measured: what patients describe as a “warm, friendly approach”, much different to what is the norm in other countries.