Title: Formulating optimal strategies for engaging in health tourism sector in Isfahan province

Authors: Shermineh Ghalamkari; Ali Kazemi; Ali Shaemi Barzoki; Hadi Teimouri

Addresses: Department of Business Management, Faculty of Administrative and Economics, University of Isfahan, Iran ' Department of Management, Faculty of Administrative and Economics, University of Isfahan, Iran ' Department of Management, Faculty of Administrative and Economics, University of Isfahan, Iran ' Department of Management, Faculty of Administrative and Economics, University of Isfahan, Iran

Abstract: This study aims to formulate optimal human resource strategies for engaging in health tourism in Isfahan. The expert population of study consists of the professors of Isfahan University and Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, managers of cultural heritage organisation, and administers of Isfahan hoteliers and tourism agencies. Strategic plans were formulated using SWOT matrix and space matrix. The indices of medical tourism locating were first extracted for four parts of SWOT matrix, i.e., strengths, weaknesses, threats and opportunities using Delphi technique. Then, SWOT matrix was developed based on which industry attractiveness, financial power, environment stability and competitive advantage were configured in space matrix. Then, the competitive situation was determined using fuzzy Delphi technique. Finally, human resource (HR) strategies were prioritised aligned with competitive strategies using QSPM.

Keywords: alignment; competitive strategy; health tourism; human resource management strategy.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPM.2020.107497

International Journal of Procurement Management, 2020 Vol.13 No.3, pp.332 - 346

Received: 17 Dec 2018
Accepted: 17 Apr 2019
Published online: 29 May 2020 *

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