The Economic Impact of Medical and Wellness Tourism

Authors

  • Fahad Kareem Basit Kinnaird College for Women
  • Bilal Zahid Mustaqim Kinnaird College for Women

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.62951/icgtsave.v1i1.163

Keywords:

Medical Tourism, Wellness Tourism, Healthcare Travel, Economic Impact

Abstract

Medical and wellness tourism has become a significant contributor to global economies, with an increasing number of patients traveling for specialized treatments and holistic wellness experiences. This paper analyzes the factors driving the growth of medical and wellness tourism, its economic benefits, and the challenges associated with it, including regulatory frameworks and ethical concerns. By examining case studies from key regions such as Asia, Europe, and the Americas, the study highlights the critical role these sectors play in healthcare and tourism industries while emphasizing the need for sustainable, ethical practices. The findings suggest that while medical and wellness tourism offers economic advantages, it also presents unique challenges that require careful management and policy formulation.

References

Bhattacharyya, S. (2011). Regulation of medical tourism: An international perspective. Health Policy and Technology, 3(2), 67-74.

Connell, J. (2006). Medical tourism: Sea, sun, sand and surgery. Tourism Management, 27(6), 1299-1300.

Crooks, V. A., et al. (2010). Promoting medical tourism in developing countries: The case of India. Social Science & Medicine, 70(5), 792-801.

Deloitte. (2016). The global healthcare tourism market: Key drivers and challenges. Deloitte Insights.

Global Wellness Institute. (2018). Global wellness tourism economy 2018 report. Global Wellness Institute.

Hall, C. M., & Page, S. J. (2014). The geography of tourism and recreation: Environment, place and space. Routledge.

Horowitz, M. D., & Rosensweig, J. A. (2007). Medical tourism: A survey of patients seeking care abroad. Journal of Health Care Finance, 33(4), 29-34.

Horowitz, M. D., Rosensweig, J. A., & Jones, C. A. (2010). Medical tourism: Globalization of the healthcare marketplace. Expert Review of Pharmacoeconomics & Outcomes Research, 10(4), 327-335.

Lunt, N., et al. (2011). Medical tourism: A case study approach. Tourism Management, 32(5), 1019-1029.

Mishra, A. (2020). India’s medical tourism industry: Challenges and opportunities. Healthcare Review, 9(1), 23-35.

Pinto, S. R. (2017). Challenges and opportunities for wellness tourism development in Asia. Journal of Asian Tourism, 12(1), 22-40.

Smith, M., et al. (2014). Wellness tourism: The next big thing?. Journal of Tourism & Hospitality, 2(4), 1-12.

Thailand Medical Tourism Cluster. (2019). Thailand medical tourism report 2019. Thailand Medical Tourism Cluster.

Tisdell, C. A. (2006). Economic aspects of medical tourism in Asia. International Journal of Tourism Research, 8(3), 33-46.

Verhoeven, I., & Koster, P. (2012). Wellness tourism and its cultural implications. Cultural Geographies, 19(3), 417-432.

Downloads

Published

2024-05-30