Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Department of Tourism Management, Art University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran.
2 Department of Museum and Tourism, Faculty of Advanced Studies in Art and Entrepreneurship, Art University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
Abstract
This study addresses the instability of health tourism development when value-chain logic and human resource considerations are overlooked, as added pressure on medical staff can threaten service quality and continuity. The aim is to explain the optimal mechanism of health tourism emphasizing medical staff retention in Isfahan. Using a qualitative, exploratory thematic analysis, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 58 experts in health, tourism, and migration in Isfahan, selected via purposive sampling until theoretical saturation. Findings indicate that this optimal mechanism can be explained through five interconnected main themes operating within a two-layer dynamic system that interact bidirectionally to enhance the health services value chain. The resulting model positions health human capital not as a peripheral input but as a generative pillar of the health tourism value chain, providing a basis for policy-making and urban planning aimed at simultaneously developing health tourism and retaining healthcare professionals in Isfahan.
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