Identifying and Prioritizing Key Success Factors in Developing Iran's Medical Tourism Under International Sanctions: A Hybrid Fuzzy Delphi and DANP Approach

Zarei Mahmoudabadi, Mohammad; Mirhosseini Baghdashti, Seyed Kobra

doi:10.22054/tms.2026.90517.3156

Identifying and Prioritizing Key Success Factors in Developing Iran's Medical Tourism Under International Sanctions: A Hybrid Fuzzy Delphi and DANP Approach

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Mohammad Zarei Mahmoudabadi ¹

Seyed Kobra Mirhosseini Baghdashti ²

¹ Associate Professor /Department of Industrial Management, Meybod University, Meybod, Iran.

² PhD student of Industrial Management College of Humanities, Meybod University, Meybod, Iran.

https://doi.org/10.22054/tms.2026.90517.3156

Abstract

This study addresses a critical research gap by identifying and prioritizing the key success factors (KSFs) for developing Iran's medical tourism sector within the unique constraint of international sanctions. Employing a robust hybrid methodology—fuzzy Delphi for expert consensus and the DANP model for causal analysis—the research integrates insights from industry experts and hospital managers. It identifies five pivotal KSFs: medical infrastructure, healthcare service quality, impact of sanctions, branding and marketing, and patient networks. Crucially, the analysis reveals medical infrastructure as the most influential dimension, exerting the greatest causal power on the system. A key finding is that indigenous strategies can mitigate some negative impacts of sanctions. The study provides an integrated strategic framework, emphasizing infrastructure strengthening and factor synergy, to guide policymakers and managers in resource allocation and strategy formulation for sustainable sector growth under complex geopolitical conditions.

Keywords

Medical Tourism

International Sanctions

Key Success Factors

Fuzzy Delphi Method

DANP Model

Subjects