Title: Hospitality and destination marketing's role in medical tourism: a call for research

Authors: Dan Cormany

Addresses: Harrah Hotel College, University of Nevada, 4505 South Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas, NV 89154, USA

Abstract: Like business travel, where the primary focus is on business and travel is the simply the conduit by which it is performed, medical tourism is a growing trend in which individuals journey to foreign countries primarily to secure specific medical procedures or health benefits. The medical tourist is a newly defined segment of the travel industry, and while still small in numbers, is growing rapidly. This paper seeks to identify research questions related to the hospitality elements that contribute to the medical tourism experience. The answers to these may aid hoteliers, tourism operations, and visitor bureaus better understand, service and market to the medical traveller. To facilitate the research, six broad categories of medical tourists are identified and four components by which each category may be evaluated are suggested. For each of the components that contribute to the medical travelers| experience, potential research areas are proposed to study this growing phenomenon from a hospitality and tourism perspective.

Keywords: foreign travel; destination marketing; health tourists; hospitality industry; medical procedures; health benefits; journeys; travel industry; hoteliers; hotels; tourism operations; tour operators; travel firms; visitor bureaus; medical travellers; intrusive medical procedures; cosmetic surgery; life-threatening conditions; non-life-threatening conditions; diagnostic procedures; lifestyle; spa treatments; alternative therapies; healthcare facilities; medical talent; restaurants; accommodation; tourism infrastructures; governmental policies; legislation; laws; behavioural research; healthcare research; medical tourism.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBHR.2010.037079

International Journal of Behavioural and Healthcare Research, 2010 Vol.2 No.1, pp.38 - 58

Published online: 23 Nov 2010 *

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