A Resilient Global Phenomenon Reflected in Consultations
International mobility continues to grow at a sustained rate of 4-5% annually and could reach 1.8 billion travelers by 2030, according to data from the World Tourism Organization. However, it is a phenomenon sensitive to specific crises such as pandemics, economic recessions, or armed conflicts.
As Dr. José Muñoz, Head of the International Health Service, indicates, it is a highly resilient market: “Even in the face of crises of varying magnitude, international tourism recovers and grows again.”
This global trend is directly reflected in the activity of the SAVI (International Traveler Assistance Service) at the Hospital Clínic, which attends to more than 22,000 travelers annually and acts as an advanced observatory of trends in international health.
Drop in Vaccine Demand and Shift in Destinations
At the end of February 2026, coinciding with the conflict in the Middle East, the SAVI (Spanish Association of Travel Advisories) registered a significant reduction in pre-travel consultations and vaccination requests. Until then, Asia accounted for approximately 40% of the trips handled by the service. With the geopolitical crisis, these trips decreased considerably in favor of destinations in Africa and Latin America, which experienced a slight increase.
“News about fear, war, blockades, oil prices... has an impact. When the intensity decreases, people seem to regain confidence,” adds Dr. Muñoz.
Gradual Recovery and Return to Usual Destinations
This trend continued throughout the spring months until, starting in May, a gradual recovery in international travel and traveler confidence was observed, coinciding with the decrease in media coverage of the conflict between Iran and the United States and the gradual resumption of operations by major Middle Eastern airlines. Isabel Vera, an Advanced Practice Nurse in International Health, sums it up like this: “When there has been a perception of improvement in the geopolitical situation, we have seen that people start traveling to Indonesia, Thailand... We are starting to recover the regular traveler of this time of year.”
Dr. Alex Almuedo, a specialist in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, highlights the role of the SAVI as a barometer of the global epidemiological situation: “We can very effectively monitor what is happening, the changes, and tourist movements, because it corresponds to the number of consultations we have and the number of people with illnesses we receive.”
The 360º Care Model: Before, During, and After the Trip
The Clínic's model is based on comprehensive support that goes beyond vaccination and travel advice, structuring care into three phases:
Pre-trip: Personalized and Evidence-Based Prevention
The pre-trip consultation includes individualized advice based on health status, type of trip, and specific risks of the destination. In addition to vaccines, preventive treatments—such as malaria prophylaxis—and protective measures such as repellents or dietary recommendations are prescribed.
During the trip: Famba and digital monitoring
All SAVI users have free access to the Famba app, a telemedicine platform that allows them to contact professionals at the Hospital Clínic during their trip. Through a chat function, travelers can resolve doubts or receive medical advice in real time.
Soon, the app will incorporate the "virtual shield" feature, which uses geolocation to detect health risks in the traveler's surroundings and send personalized preventive alerts.
Post-trip: rapid diagnosis and specialized treatment
Three out of ten travelers from tropical and subtropical countries experience some symptoms during their trip, and between 8% and 10% may present some health problem upon their return. In this regard, the Hospital Clínic has a specialized consultation unit for imported diseases that allows for rapid diagnosis and treatment. This also applies to high-risk situations, such as suspected emerging diseases with epidemic potential, as occurred with a recent case of possible hantavirus infection.
A Reference Center with Continuous Epidemiological Surveillance
The International Health Service at the Hospital Clínic is one of the leading reference centers in Spain for tropical diseases and is the only service in the country with a complete and integrated international health structure, closely linked to research through ISGlobal. With a multidisciplinary team of around thirty professionals, the center carries out constant epidemiological surveillance.
Each week, the team analyzes global alerts that may affect travelers—such as outbreaks of dengue fever, cholera, or other emerging threats—and adapts recommendations based on the destination and individual profile.
Dr. Muñoz reaffirms the role of information as a key prevention tool and explains how this surveillance system works: “We monitor three types of diseases: one, contact diseases, such as Ebola; two, the most frequent to date, which is respiratory illness, such as COVID-19, SARS... and finally, mosquito-borne diseases.”
New Trends and Challenges in Global Mobility
Professionals also highlight changes in the traveler profile, with an increase in people over 65 taking long or complex trips. “This is a more vulnerable group that requires very careful assessment, especially due to potential drug interactions,” explains Isabel Vera.
“Health advice for travelers is always important and not static, because the world is also changing and information is constantly evolving,” concludes Dr. Alex Almuedo.
With this comprehensive care model and its commitment to digital innovation, the SAVI at the Hospital Clínic is consolidating its position as a leader in international health and in the active protection of travelers in a connected world that presents challenges for public health.
