Exploring the Factors that Affect the Choice of Destination for Medical Tourism
ABSTRACT
Medical Tourism has become one of the latest trends in the tourism industry which has been and has the potential to continue growing exponentially every year. More travelers than ever before are now travelling abroad to get high quality medical treatments for less cost. The purpose of my study is to explore the interest in US travelers in medical tourism. Results from the survey indicated that “competent doctors”, “high quality medical treatment facility”, and “prompt medical treatment when needed” where the top three factors before deciding whether or not to take a trip abroad. The results will be useful to businesses that are either directly or indirectly involved with this industry, such as insurance companies, credit card companies, travel agencies, hotels, food and beverage companies, medical facilities and services, and spas.
Medical Tourism has become one of the latest trends in the tourism industry which has been and has the potential to continue growing exponentially every year. More travelers than ever before are now travelling abroad to get high quality medical treatments for less cost. The purpose of my study is to explore the interest in US travelers in medical tourism. Results from the survey indicated that “competent doctors”, “high quality medical treatment facility”, and “prompt medical treatment when needed” where the top three factors before deciding whether or not to take a trip abroad. The results will be useful to businesses that are either directly or indirectly involved with this industry, such as insurance companies, credit card companies, travel agencies, hotels, food and beverage companies, medical facilities and services, and spas.
KEYWORDS
Medical, Health, Tourism, Medical Tourism, Destination Choice, Tourism Industry, Health Tourism
Medical, Health, Tourism, Medical Tourism, Destination Choice, Tourism Industry, Health Tourism
Cite this paper
nullH. Gill and N. Singh, "Exploring the Factors that Affect the Choice of Destination for Medical Tourism," Journal of Service Science and Management, Vol. 4 No. 3, 2011, pp. 315-324. doi: 10.4236/jssm.2011.43037.
nullH. Gill and N. Singh, "Exploring the Factors that Affect the Choice of Destination for Medical Tourism," Journal of Service Science and Management, Vol. 4 No. 3, 2011, pp. 315-324. doi: 10.4236/jssm.2011.43037.
References
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[1] J. Connell, “Medical Tourism: Sea, Sun, Sand and … Surgery,” Tourism Management, Vol. 27, No. 6, 2006, pp. 1093-1100. doi:10.1016/j.tourman.2005.11.005 [2] A. Milstein and M. Smith, “America’s New Refugees- Seeking Affordable Surgery Offshore,” New England Journal of Medicine, Vol. 355, No. 6, 2006, pp. 1637-1640. doi:10.1056/NEJMp068190 [3] N. MacReady, “Developing Countries Court Medical Tourists,” The Lancet, Vol. 369, No. 9576, 2007, pp. 1849-1850. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(07)60833-2 [4] M. Mitka, “Surgical Tourism: Some US Patients Travel Abroad for Less Costly Surgery,” Journal of the American Medical Association, Vol. 302, No. 14, 2009, pp. 1508-1581. doi:10.1001/jama.2009.1454 [5] D. M. Herrick, “Medical Tourism: Global Competition in Health Care,” National Center for Policy Analysis, 1 November 2007. http://www.ncpa.org/pub/st304 [6] H. Mueller and E. L. Kaufmann, “Wellness Tourism: Market Analysis of a Special Health Tourism Segment and Implications for the Hotel Industry,” Journal of Vacation Marketing, Vol. 7, No. 1, 2001, pp. 15-17. doi:10.1177/135676670100700101 [7] M. Z. Bookman and K. R. Bookman, “Medical Tourism in Developing Countries,” Palgrave Macmillan, New York, 2007. doi:10.1057/9780230605657 [8] K. Ross, “Health Tourism: An Overview,” Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International Marketing Review, 2001. [9] M. Garcia-Altes, “The Development of Health Tourism Services,” Annals of Tourism Research, Vol. 32, No. 1, 2005, pp. 262-266. doi:10.1016/j.annals.2004.05.007 [10] S. Reddy, V. York and L. Brannon, “Travel for Treatment: Students’ Perspective on Medical Tourism,” International Journal of Tourism Research, Vol. 12, No. 5, 2010, p. 510. [11] J. B. Xu, “Perceptions of Tourism Products,” Tourism Management, Vol. 31, No. 5, 2010, pp. 6.7-610. doi:10.1016/j.tourman.2009.06.011 [12] Davidson, “Make Money on Medical Tourism,” Forbes.com, 7 December 2007. http://www.forbes.com/2007/12/07/medical-tourism-emerging-pf-ii_ad_1207money_inl.html [13] P. Oyewole, “Prospects for Developing Country Exports of Services to the Year 2010: Projections and Public Policy Implications,” Journal of Macromarketing, Vol. 21, No. 1, 2001, pp. 32-46. [14] N. Hanna, “Informatics and the Developing World,” Finance and Development, Vol. 28, No. 4, 1991, pp. 45-51. doi:10.1177/0276146701211004 [15] D. Hancock, The Complete Medical Tourist,” John Blake Publishing, London, 2006. [16] K. Pickert, “Medical Tourism,” Times, 25 November 2008. http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1861919,00.html [17] J. Bauer, “Medical Tourism Wave of the Future in a World of Hurt?” Healthcare Financial Management, Vol. 63, No. 8, 2009, pp. 36-38, 40, 42. [18] M. D. Horowitz and J. A. Rosensweig, “Medical Tourism-Health Care in the Global Economy,” The Physician Executive, Vol. 33, No. 6, 2007, pp. 28-30. [19] Asian Pacific Post, “Sun, Sand and Surgery,” 5 May 2005. [20] S. Reier, “Medical Tourism: Borders Hopping for Cheaper and Faster Care Gains Converts,” International Herald Tribune, 24 April 2004. [21] O. Analytica, “‘Medical tourism’ industry grows rapidly,” 26 October 2006, Forbes.com. http://www.forbes.com/2006/10/25/health-medical-tourism-biz-cx_1026oxford.html [22] C. G. Lee, “Health Care and Tourism: Evidence from Singapore,” Tourism Management, Vol. 31, No. 4, 2010, pp. 486-488. doi:10.1016/j.tourman.2009.05.002 [23] Weaver, “‘Passports to Pleasure’: Credit Cards and Contemporary Travel,” International Journal of Tourism Research, Vol. 7, No. 3, 2005, pp. 151-159. [24] E. Marnburg, “‘I Hope It Won’t Happen to Me!’ Hospitality and Tourism Students’ Fear of Difficult Moral Situations as Managers,” Tourism Management, Vol. 27, No. 4, 2006, pp. 561-575. doi:10.1016/j.tourman.2005.02.001 [25] M. Tutton, “Medical tourism: have illness, will travel,” CNN Health, 29 March 2009. http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/03/26/medical.tourism/index.html?iref=allsearch#cnnSTCText [26] J. McKinley, “A Tax on Nips and Tucks Angers Patients, Surgeons,” New York Times, 30 November 2009, p. A14. [27] J. Woodman, “Patients beyond Borders: Everybody’s Guide to Affordable, World-Class Medical Tourism,” Healthy Travel Media, Chapel Hill, 2007. [28] P. Mason, P. Grabowski and W. Du, “Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, Tourism and the Media,” The International Journal of Tourism Research, Vol. 7, No. 1, 2005, pp. 11-21. doi:10.1002/jtr.519 [29] R. Law, “The Perceived Impact of Risks on Travel Decisions,” International Journal of Tourism Research, Vol. 8, No. 4, 2006, pp. 289-300. doi:10.1002/jtr.576 [30] N. Singh and M. J. Lee, “Exploring Perceptions toward Education in 3-d Virtual Environments: An Introduction to ‘Second Life’,” Journal of Teaching in Travel & Tourism, Vol. 8, No. 4, 2008, pp. 315-327.