tourism management
Rahim Zare
Abstract
Since long ago, health tourism has been one of the most attractive and popular. Various causes and factors in creating and developing this type of tourism need to be investigated and verified. The current research has been conducted to analyze and evaluate the critical components in creating sustainable ...
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Since long ago, health tourism has been one of the most attractive and popular. Various causes and factors in creating and developing this type of tourism need to be investigated and verified. The current research has been conducted to analyze and evaluate the critical components in creating sustainable health tourism in Tehran, using the Padin Model to achieve the goal. The research method is a mix that has investigated the issue using the qualitative method of the expert panel and the quantitative survey method. The tools for collecting data and information in the qualitative method are semi-structured interviews and questionnaires in the quantitative stage. Statistical analysis of research data was done using SPSS-26 and Smart-PLS3 software. In the qualitative stage, 15 experts from related fields participated in the panel, and in the quantitative stage, using stratified sampling, 26 experts answered the questionnaire questions. According to the analysis and coding of semi-structured interviews, 71 basic themes, 24 organizing themes, and six global themes were extracted in the quantitative stage while confirming all the components. The values of the economic component were calculated higher than in other cases. According to the research results, health tourism can be among the reliable alternatives in different aspects. Also, it can be a factor in guiding related policies and politics for sustainable tourism development in the future. Introduction Today, people travel for health, fitness, and well-being, not relaxation. In response to this growing demand, countries, health and medical service providers, and hospitality and tourism organizations are adapting to offer a broader range of health, wellness, and medical tourism experiences. Among the factors that encourage health tourists to look for an alternative health tourism destination are the cost of the medical services provided, the medical staff, the medical center’s reputation, and their credibility. In addition, other factors that lead to increased demand for health tourism services are ease of access, travel affordability, and innovative health technologies.Tehran is one of the most important cities in Iran in providing health and treatment services in the region, and it has the most facilities and places for accommodation treatment. It is the capital of the Islamic Republic of Iran. For many years and in different governments, measures have been taken to create sustainable health tourism, but they still need to be managed and planned cohesively. Due to the existence of specialized and skilled treatment staff, the existence of up-to-date and even international facilities in hospitals and residential centers, and the low cost of treatment and leisure time, compared to other countries, this city is considered the primary option in providing health tourism services. Despite the efforts of various officials and stakeholders in this field, it is still observed that there are various challenges in creating sustainable health tourism in this city, which requires further investigation and deepening.On the other hand, it is necessary to use the potential and actual capacities in this city so that in this research, it is possible to create a basis for effective measures to be taken to create sustainable health tourism. On the other hand, despite the importance of this issue and the existence of various research in the field of health tourism, it can be seen that comprehensive research that can analyze the critical components of creating sustainable health tourism in Tehran has not yet been carried out and needs to be done. It has more analysis and deepening. Therefore, investigating and analyzing critical components in health tourism development in Tehran are essential to show future research directions and enrich the health tourism literature. As a result, this study examines the critical components of sustainable health tourism while filling the theoretical gap in this field. It also examines the dynamics of this type of tourism more deeply.Materials and MethodsRegarding practical purpose and methodology, this research is classified as mixed research. First, using the qualitative method of the panel of experts, the components and indicators related to the creation of sustainable health tourism in Tehran are counted and extracted; finally, using the quantitative survey method, each of the extracted items is tested. to comment on their authenticity and approval. The participants of the qualitative phase of the research, who were identified using purposeful sampling, are professors and executive and research specialists in the fields of tourism management, marketing management, urban and rural planning and management, medical service management, regional management, and development, development management, sociology, and management. Fifteen people participated in the panel. Moreover, in the quantitative phase, a questionnaire containing the above components and indicators was sent to experts and specialists in tourism - especially health tourism - to express their opinions regarding their proficiency and approval. The data collection tool is different in each phase. In the qualitative phase, semi-structured interviews were conducted on tourism activities related to health, well-being, and well-being. With nature or environment" were organized in Tehran.Discussion and Results As we know, simply using and implementing a model cannot solve problems. For this reason, there is a need to create local and built models to be by with the spatial and temporal conditions and effectively achieve the goals. Therefore, referring to the items mentioned in the methodology section, using the expert panel method, the critical indicators of this area extracted from the perspective of tourism experts were examined and completed. It should be noted that the Padin Model’s components were considered the primary basis of these indicators and components. With semi-structured interviews of experts, 142 primary codes were extracted, which were categorized into three basic, organizing, and comprehensive themes using Attride-Stirling coding. By adopting the inductive approach, 71 basic themes, 24 organizing themes, and six global themes were extracted, placed in the three economic, social, and environmental dimensions of Padin’s model, and management and political, spatial, physical, and technological components were also added. In the quantitative part, the economic component has a higher rank and value among other components, which shows the importance and sensitivity of this category in the field of health tourism in Tehran.ConclusionsThe global prosperity in medical and health care has made tourist destinations and companies in health tourism an essential part of the tourism industry. This industry, a mixture of medical and health services, leisure, and entertainment, can be among the reliable economic, cultural, and social alternatives. From a theoretical and operational point of view, this study is expected to make a significant contribution to the field of health tourism, and the above findings can confirm this. According to the research findings, each of the themes extracted can be considered as strategies and policies that drive the development of health tourism in Tehran. The collaborative development of the public and private sectors is effective in this field, and the better development of academic cooperation and the health tourism industry can imply "sustainable health tourism" in the city of Tehran.
Information systems
seyed mohsen lotfi ashtiani; lila andervazh; Ebrahim Albo naeimi
Abstract
This is developmental research, with a qualitative method. The statistical population in the qualitative phase includes the managers of medical tourism facility companies and the managers of the department of international patients in Tehran hospitals, including Farabi Khatem Al-Anbia (pbuh) and Shahid ...
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This is developmental research, with a qualitative method. The statistical population in the qualitative phase includes the managers of medical tourism facility companies and the managers of the department of international patients in Tehran hospitals, including Farabi Khatem Al-Anbia (pbuh) and Shahid Rajaei Heart hospitals, of which 15 people were selected purposefully and non-randomly. The main tool of data collection is semi-structured in-depth interviews. Qualitative data analysis was done using the database theory method and MAXQDA software. In the quantitative section, the statistical population includes all patients who refer to hospitals in Tehran (unlimited population), based on which a sample of 384 people was selected using Morgan's table. Data collection was done in the quantitative section using a questionnaire and data analysis was done with the partial least squares method.Based on the obtained paradigm model, the components related to digital marketing in the medical tourism industry in six categories of causal factors (application marketing, social media marketing, digital advertising, display advertising, facilitating communication, and providing the information), background conditions (social media technology, social media environment, interactivity, comprehensibility), central phenomenon (human-centered digital marketing, customer data analysis, and market development), strategies (b short-term and long-term strategies, functional value and expected value), intervening conditions (software and hardware indicators) and outcomes (tourist loyalty, tourist satisfaction, service quality, and social media content) were identified.IntroductionMedical tourism can be defined as the process of traveling outside the country of residence in order to receive medical care. The growing popularity of medical tourism has attracted the attention of policymakers, researchers, and the media. In the past, the term often referred to the travel of patients from less developed countries to pursue treatments unavailable in their country. At the same time, we are experiencing quantitative and qualitative changes in patient mobility as people travel from wealthier to less developed countries to access health services. Such a change is mainly due to the relatively low cost of treatments in less developed countries, the availability of low-cost flights, and increased online marketing and consumer information about the availability of medical services. Medical tourism represents a multi-billion-dollar worldwide phenomenon expected to grow significantly over the next decade. For those interested in health care, cost is a key factor in receiving medical care abroad.With the development of mobile applications and increasing digital literacy, digital marketing is becoming the dominant paradigm in the service industries today, and this is also true in medical tourism. In order to create trust and awareness in medical tourism, offices and centers providing such services must provide timely and reliable information to patients worldwide. Therefore, in the past few years, social media has been used as a medical tourism tool for advertising and information. Some countries' experience shows that social media use and investment in this field have played a significant role in the development of medical tourism. Iran - at least at the regional level - has high capacities for developing medical tourism; a large part of this capacity has yet to be realized.If a targeted and appropriate program is made for digital marketing, the necessary platform for developing medical tourism in the country will be provided. However, despite some medical tourism agencies' occasional use of social media, there needs to be a codified and coherent program in this field inside the country. Part of this shortcoming may be that managers and decision-makers in the medical tourism sector need to be better aware of the importance and effectiveness of social media in attracting tourists and patients. In this regard, the first step will be to prove the effectiveness of social media for marketing medical tourism destinations by conducting field studies. Such studies will increase senior managers' insight and awareness of the high potential of social media. On the other hand, the review of the research literature shows that despite conducting numerous studies in medical tourism marketing, there needs to be more research in presenting a model in this field. Especially In domestic studies, more effort must be made to present the digital marketing model of medical tourism. These studies need to indicate a research gap in medical tourism destination marketing. With these explanations, the current research aims to provide a marketing model for medical tourism destinations in Iran using digital media.Materials and MethodsThe current research is developmental research. Qualitative data analysis was done with exploratory and interview-based data theory, and quantitative data analysis was based on the nature and method of descriptive-survey research, which was a questionnaire for data collection. Also, the current research was conducted with a mixed (qualitative-quantitative) approach.The statistical population in the qualitative phase includes managers of companies that facilitate medical tourism and managers of international patients' departments in Tehran hospitals, including Farabi Hospital, Shahid Rajaee's Heart Hospital, and Khatem Al_Anbia Hospital, of which 15 people were selected in a non-random way. In the quantitative section, the statistical population includes all patients who refer to hospitals in Tehran (infinite population), based on which a sample of 384 people was selected using Morgan's table.The main data collection tool in the qualitative part is the semi-structured in-depth interview. In the quantitative part, to test these research hypotheses, a questionnaire tool was used to collect information. In order to evaluate the reliability of the questionnaire, Cronbach's alpha coefficient was calculated, and two methods of form-content validity and divergent validity were used to check the validity.Qualitative data analysis was done using the database theory method and MAXQDA software. In order to analyze the data and test the research hypotheses, inferential statistics, partial least squares technique (PLS), and Smart PLS software were used. Discussion and ResultsThe indicators of application marketing, social media marketing, digital advertising, display advertising, facilitating communication and providing information were selected as categories of causal conditions in developing the research model. Social media marketing is important because it not only creates a relationship between the organization and customers, but also provides a network of internal relationships between customers to talk about the brand; so, it forms an ecosystem of mutual relations that provides the basis for promoting a product or brand as much as possible.Social media technology, environment, interactivity, and comprehensibility indicators were selected as background categories in developing the research model. Over time, a social media marketing strategy reinforces a company's brand and message in customers' minds. That is important because consistent branding tells consumers what to expect from a company, leading to reputation. If a business can continue to meet these expectations and improve its reputation, it can build trust among loyal customers and increase its brand value in the eyes of consumers. Strategic use of social media has become essential for marketers to achieve competitive advantage and superior performance.Human-centered digital marketing indicators, customer data analysis, and market development were selected as central categories in developing the research model. Customer-oriented marketing is an approach in which the business identifies customers' needs, problems, and challenges by conducting market research, collecting and categorizing data, and creating value by providing solutions. This approach focuses on maximizing customer lifetime value (CLV) and converting potential customers into loyal customers. Today's model for building a company's brand differs from the past. Thanks to the rise of social media and the increasing number of ways we can communicate with each other, branding has become less about traditional PR and marketing campaigns and more about organic growth. In social media, an organic relationship is created with the permanent presence of humans (users), which leads to the promotion and introduction of the brand in the best way. Previous studies have shown that the strength of human ties is an important determinant of customer behavior in social networks.Software and hardware indicators were selected as intervention categories in developing the research model. This finding shows that success in digital marketing requires a new combination of hardware and software. With the advent of widespread social networking platforms, customers are no longer limited to a passive role in their relationship with a company. In addition to having more information about competitive products available anywhere on mobile devices, customers can easily express their opinions and distribute them to a large audience. Companies are likely to manage customers' messages about their products/services. They find it difficult. The net effect of the rise of social media-based technologies has been to increase the power of consumers. Instead of CRM, companies should focus on understanding vendor relationship management (VRM), where consumers manage their vendor relationships. These developments are potentially harmful to companies: customers spreading negative messages about a company can damage its reputation. However, the rise of social media offers companies opportunities to listen and engage with their customers and potentially encourage them to become advocates for their products. The challenge for companies is identifying and using such opportunities and avoiding the following traps.Indicators of short-term and long-term strategies, functional value, and expected value were selected as strategic categories in developing the research model. The customer spends money to buy the product or service he receives. What does he want in return? Of course, he wants value that justifies or exceeds his price. Customers today have several options and alternatives. So, the question is, how can a company please and retain its customers? The answer is simple; customers' money should be valued. Customer value is a measure to determine the value of a product or service and compare it with its alternatives. It is a tool that determines whether the customer feels they are getting enough value for the money they have spent. So, technically, value serves as an insight into preventing customer regret.The indicators of tourist loyalty, satisfaction, service quality, and social media content were selected as outcome categories in developing the research model. Studies show that loyal customers spend 67% more on products and services than new customers. So, even if most loyal customers make up only 20% of the audience, they provide up to 80% of revenue. When it is 5x easier to retain a customer than to acquire a new one, numbers like these are hard to ignore. Loyal customers are more likely than new customers to buy products and services from the same brand or store again.
Hossein Livani; Ali Farhadi Mahalli; Alireza Matoufi
Abstract
Medical tourism is one of the branches of the tourism industry that has flourished in recent decades and has played a significant role in generating income and employment in countries. the present study was conducted to identify key requirements affecting the implementation of medical tourism policies ...
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Medical tourism is one of the branches of the tourism industry that has flourished in recent decades and has played a significant role in generating income and employment in countries. the present study was conducted to identify key requirements affecting the implementation of medical tourism policies in Golestan province. This qualitative research was conducted using grounded theory method. Participants included 13 people with at least 5 years of relevant work experience and expertise in the field of medical tourism who were included in the study through purposive sampling with snowball technique and were interviewed in depth. Frequent refinement of primary codes led to the formation of open codes and then core codes such as management system, public transport infrastructure, general regulations, and so on. Selected codes were also organized under the headings of organizational architecture, capacity building and service quality, etc
Nader Naderi; Rasoul Yazdani; SHahin Behvar
Abstract
The main purpose of the research is to analyze and extract the negative consequences of medical tourism in order to reduce its negative effects on the tourism industry. This study was applied in qualitative research group in terms of purpose and paradigm. Data was analyzed using inductive content analysis ...
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The main purpose of the research is to analyze and extract the negative consequences of medical tourism in order to reduce its negative effects on the tourism industry. This study was applied in qualitative research group in terms of purpose and paradigm. Data was analyzed using inductive content analysis method. Required information was collected through semi-structured interviews and library and internet documentation. The study population included faculty members of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences and Faculty of Economics and Entrepreneurship of Razi University of Kermanshah and medical tourists. The research was purposive sampling and due to theoretical saturation, 18 interviews were completed. Participants 'review methods, researchers' theoretical sensitivity, and simultaneous data analysis and expert review were used to verify and validate the findings. The results show five thematic categories as: negative economic, psychological, socio-cultural, scientific and political consequences.
Mehdi Karoubi; Sasan Ahmadi
Abstract
Today, developing Medical tourism especially for developing countries is one of the sources of income. If any development in the body of tourism not within the strategic planning framework, and which does not consist of continuous control and preventive actions, will, in different dimensions, ...
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Today, developing Medical tourism especially for developing countries is one of the sources of income. If any development in the body of tourism not within the strategic planning framework, and which does not consist of continuous control and preventive actions, will, in different dimensions, meet negative and irrecoverable impacts. Hence, the present study is to examine the position of medical tourism in Shiraz in order to formulate appropriate strategies for proper and comprehensive development. This research method is a combination of surveys and descriptive-analytics. 80 medical tourists and 20 medical tourism experts were selected as a random sample, and, for samples, strategic factors through questionnaires were distributed. Data collected were set in the framework of the Strategic SWOT model, and computational steps were computed using decision-making method based on Fuzzy-TOPSIS. Analysis of findings showed that according to the focus of the first, second, and third strategy obtained from combining Comments of sample groups, focus strategy to action is an aggressive one.
Ali Asghar Shalbafian
Abstract
Strategic alliances have come to prove instrumental across various industries owing to rapidly evolving and competitive world. Partner selection plays core and key role in any strategic alliance formation and its outcome. Though voluminous studies targeted partner selection in general, the subject has ...
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Strategic alliances have come to prove instrumental across various industries owing to rapidly evolving and competitive world. Partner selection plays core and key role in any strategic alliance formation and its outcome. Though voluminous studies targeted partner selection in general, the subject has rarely investigated in tourism industry particularly in the context of a tourism type i.e. medical tourism and a specified market i.e. Iran. To this end, 17 medical tourism experts have been recognized by snowball sampling. Data have been gathered through semi-structured interviews and analyzed with Maxqda 10 software based on theme analysis. Findings show that 3 main themes including prior relation and cognition, probing about partner and partner characteristics can affect on medical tourism alliance formation in Iran.
Amin Arefi; Davood Feiz; Bahar Beishami; Azim Zarei
Abstract
The purpose of this research is identifying the specific characteristics and the logical benefits of hotel Hospital with Halal brand. The research methodology is based on the philosophical interpretation, fundamental orientation, deductive approach and method of doing is qualitatively. The statistical ...
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The purpose of this research is identifying the specific characteristics and the logical benefits of hotel Hospital with Halal brand. The research methodology is based on the philosophical interpretation, fundamental orientation, deductive approach and method of doing is qualitatively. The statistical population in this research was the staff, managers and patients of Gandi Hotel Hospital and Helal Complex of Iran. Sampling was done by judiciary and to extract tangible features and logical benefits with 15 employees and managers and for the extraction of emotional features, 20 patients were interviewed by this hotels hospital. The interview data was analyzed by thematic analysis technique using MAX QDA software. The results of this research are based on the Pyramid brand model which includes 14 tangible features and 67 Logical benefits.
Mahdi Ebrahimi; Seyed Amir hossein Tayebi Abolhassani
Abstract
Nowadays, medical tourism has become one of the most important types of tourism, to carry out its effective activity, research in this field is necessary. This research has been done to declare the inbound medical tourism market of Tehran as much as possible. Since one of the convenient tools for identifying ...
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Nowadays, medical tourism has become one of the most important types of tourism, to carry out its effective activity, research in this field is necessary. This research has been done to declare the inbound medical tourism market of Tehran as much as possible. Since one of the convenient tools for identifying and studying the market is segmentation, the basis of this research is segmentation using tourist clustering. For this purpose, 151 questionnaires were completed by foreign patients in selected hospitals of Tehran (Moheb, Mehr, Pars, Asia, Laleh and Royan Institute). The results of the questionnaires were analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis and finally, four different clusters of medical tourists were identified with the names of totalitarians, quality- seeker individuals, people with banned treatment, and people seeking treatment.
ali imanzadeh
Abstract
Medical tourism, as one of the subdirectories of health tourism is one of the most important branches of tourism industry that has great economic and social benefits. The aim of this study is lived experiences of medical tourists during their treatment in Tabriz hospitals. The study was conducted based ...
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Medical tourism, as one of the subdirectories of health tourism is one of the most important branches of tourism industry that has great economic and social benefits. The aim of this study is lived experiences of medical tourists during their treatment in Tabriz hospitals. The study was conducted based on the qualitative approach, using an interpretive phenomenological method. Participants in this study were 20 medical tourists in hospitals of Tabriz who were selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected through in-depth and semi-structured interviews. The transcribed interviews were analyzed based on the hermeneutic approach using the analysis method proposed by Diekelmann, Allen, Tanner (1989). The mentioned interviews continued until no new meanings emerged and until the researchers were satisfied with the depth of their understanding. The analysis from lived experiences of medical tourists revealed five factors as the main reasons of choosing this hospital: financial, social and cultural issues, transportation, accommodation, and hospital structure. As one of the potential destination to become the country tourism hub, Tabriz medical tourism needs to remove obstacles such as brokerage, inappropriate administrative structure of hospitals, transportation, accommodation, and financial restriction
Farzaneh Abouhashem Abadi
Abstract
The main purpose of this study is to identify and determine the components andsuggested content for medical tourism facilitators to attract prospective medicaltourists. To achieve this goal, a two-phase strategy was used. First, top facilitatorwebsites of medical tourism have been identified from googling ...
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The main purpose of this study is to identify and determine the components andsuggested content for medical tourism facilitators to attract prospective medicaltourists. To achieve this goal, a two-phase strategy was used. First, top facilitatorwebsites of medical tourism have been identified from googling seven keywords.Then, a Suggested content have been developed using extracted information andservices. All of the selected websites have been studied based on the qualitativeconcept analysis. As a result, different kinds of information and services wereoffered to medical tourists were identified and classified in three levels regardingtheir importance. Therefore a suggested content were presented to introduce andclassify the mentioned services and information. And after, the websites were rankedusing qualitative content analysis approach and their frequency and repetition wereconfirmed. The results show that in these facilitator websites, the concept of medicaloptions introduction has the most importance. Website facilities introduction,medical tourism introduction, the website introduction and the reviews of customers,were ranked next in importance.
Abolfazl Tajzadeh Namin; Zhaleh Hashemzadeh
Volume 9, Issue 26 , July 2014, , Pages 31-58
Abstract
The role of local music festivals in tourism developing;From the perspective of the potential tourists:Case study; local music of Azerbaijan region(Ashighlar)Abolfazl Tajzadeh Namin 0F∗Zhaleh Hashemzadeh1F∗∗AbstractMusical tourism is a combination of two interesting recreation thathave ...
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The role of local music festivals in tourism developing;From the perspective of the potential tourists:Case study; local music of Azerbaijan region(Ashighlar)Abolfazl Tajzadeh Namin 0F∗Zhaleh Hashemzadeh1F∗∗AbstractMusical tourism is a combination of two interesting recreation thathave a lot of favor around the world. Today in many of developedcountries have recognized high potential of music in attracting oftourists. Iran is a country with ancient civilization and culture, andwide variety of tribes that everyone has its own special culture identitythat provides an opportunity for developing of folk music tourism. Forinstance region of Azerbaijan is located in north west of Iran that thisregion besides of many kind of natural and cultural attractions has aninteresting local music called Ashighlar that it can be as a new culturalproduct. This research is tried to evaluate the role of folklore musicfestivals as a strategic marketing tool in a specific destination in orderto attract tourist and develop the local tourism. In the present paper,the data are collected via questionnaires distributed among potentialtourists presented in 8th National folk Music Festival held from 19thto 21st May 2013 at Vahdat Hall in Tehran. 120 questionnairesdistributed between the people who were present during performanceof Azerbaijan folklore music (Ashighlar) at festival in three days, 99questionnaires were usable after collecting. Eventually in base ofabove conceptions a conceptual model was designed. This article forvalidity of model and responding to hypothesizes used ConfirmatoryFactor Analysis and one sample T test by using LISREL and SPSSsoft wares. The results suggest that music festivals have ability inattracting of tourist and development of local tourism as welldevelopment of tourism causes conservation, revival and sustainabilityof folk music.Keywords: cultural tourism, musical tourism, folk music, Ashighlar∗ Associate Professor , Allameh Tabataba’i University, Tehran, Iran.Tajzadehnamin@yahoo.com∗∗ Assistant Professor, Department of Management, Qom University, Qom, IranSubmitted: 2014/9/5 Accepted: 2015/2/6
Seyed Mohammad Tabatabaeinasab; Abolfazl Nouri; Zohreh Mohammadnabi; Fzaneh Heshmati
Volume 9, Issue 26 , July 2014, , Pages 60-82
Abstract
This research is performed to identify the effective solutions forattracting medical tourists and making them loyal. Hence, afterstudying theoretical background and reviewing literature, the effectivefactors on choosing destination were gathered regarding supply anddemand model of medical tourism. Then, ...
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This research is performed to identify the effective solutions forattracting medical tourists and making them loyal. Hence, afterstudying theoretical background and reviewing literature, the effectivefactors on choosing destination were gathered regarding supply anddemand model of medical tourism. Then, the medical tourists dividedinto four groups including Platinum, Gold, Iron and the Lead and thequestionnaires distributed among them. Next, regarding the results,which means the priorities of medical tourists' demands, authors putmedical tourists in two new categories termed Diamond and Silver,based on the similarities on their needs. Afterward, these needsclassified into two categories named hygiene needs and motivationalneeds, regarding Herzberg two-factor theory. In the Diamond type, thelack of motivational needs lead to dissatisfaction, but in the Silvertype, it will not lead to dissatisfaction.
Majid Goodarzi; Masoud Taghvaei; Ali Zangiabadi
Volume 8, Issue 23 , November 2013, , Pages 1-25
Abstract
Annually, many of tourists travel to other countries in order to cure themselves and enjoy the tourist attractions of the country simultaneously. Currently, this type of tourism is very common and has turned into as asset in the pursuit of sustainable development and economic fertility in most countries. ...
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Annually, many of tourists travel to other countries in order to cure themselves and enjoy the tourist attractions of the country simultaneously. Currently, this type of tourism is very common and has turned into as asset in the pursuit of sustainable development and economic fertility in most countries. Regarding the fact that tourism is a low-cost industry with a relatively good profit, many developing countries have taken advantage of it and planned for its development. In line with what said, the present study aims at investigating and evaluating the impacting factors on the medical tourism development in Shiraz megalopolis. The dominant approach of the study is developmental with a descriptive, analytical methodology based on survey. For analyzing the data and testing the hypotheses, multivariate regression and path analysis were used. The statistical analysis was done by SPSS 19.0 and the map was drawn by Arc GIS. Findings depicted that while all the quality, culture, facilities, possibilities and ICT factors had a direct and positive relationship with the development of medical tourism, price bore a negative and reverse effect on it. In other words, the more prices increased, the less medical tourism developed and vice versa. Path analysis of the above mentioned also showed that all the factors namely, price, quality, culture, facilities, possibilities and ICT, in a direct and indirect way influenced the development of medical tourism in Shiraz.
akbar pour faraj; mohammad hoseyn khoshkhu imani; reyhaneh behbudi
Volume 4, Issue 11.12 , May 2006, , Pages 57-80
Abstract
A destination image is 'the expression of all objective knowledge, impressions, prejudice, imaginations and emotion thoughts an individual or group might have of a particular place'(Lawson, baud, 1977).This concept is of great importance in tourism context as it can determine tourist' preferences and ...
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A destination image is 'the expression of all objective knowledge, impressions, prejudice, imaginations and emotion thoughts an individual or group might have of a particular place'(Lawson, baud, 1977).This concept is of great importance in tourism context as it can determine tourist' preferences and influence their behavior during all trip stages from pre-travel steps to post-travel ones. On the other hand destination's built environment, architecture and buildings which are considered as the most significant cultural attractions, can affect the tourist destination image formation. This study examines the relationship between Iranian-Islamic architecture and European's post-visitors Image towards Iran. The aim of this paper is also to study the various aspects of this image via a model proposed by Echtner and Ritchie in 1993. To be more precise, the study has focused on the Safavid buildings of Isfahan, a well-known Iran's tourist destination. Results of the study indicate that Iranian- Islamic architecture had a significant effect on European tourist image. According to findings, Naghsh-e -Jahan Square and Sheik Lotfollah mosque are considered as the most remarkable and memorable places in European's functional perception. Responses show that most of the respondents have expressed their affective image of Iranian• Islamic architecture by the words which connote wonder, admiration and economic activities caused is essentially the nature of the services to be remembered as the industry after the oil industry and automobile industry as the third world to be known. Among the different fields of tourism, health tourism, and subsets of its capabilities and advantages due to their attention have doubled and growth acceleration, among other forms of tourism shows. Iran tourism development in this field as it should perhaps focus has not been the custodian institutions and consequently the level of business in the private collection of active and feet have not been successful. Negligible number of which deal with this matter of economic prosperity and business continuity are not entitled. Answer and explain why the development of medical tourism (as one of the most important part of health tourism) and the concept of learning to understand and prioritize the factors related to health tourism development topic and purpose of this article. To do this important first questionnaire consisted of 25 factors affecting the development of medical tourism, based on literature research and expert were set. The questionnaires for these 85 practitioners from the field of medical tourism that snowball method was identified were sent. Finally, prioritize each factor using the Friedman test as the results of a questionnaire were determined. The findings indicated that the view of practitioners medical tourism business, three factors "for Iran in the field Brand treatment", "full coordination with related institutions, health tourism" and "exist institution between the part of trustee and agency policy" were greatly priority first to third of Iran in the development of medical tourism are.
