Literature Review On Health Tourism

Globalization of health is beneficial for patients that do not have to pay high costs for treatments and can take advantage of touring abroad. Furthermore, globalization of health has opened doors in creating more employment opportunities for the healthcare industry along with the tourism industry. Unfortunately, the movement of patients in search for medical services can lead to a spread of diseases such as in the case of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). Moreover, the trend to find low-cost health care alternatives puts pressure on the healthcare industry when handling paperwork and patient

Global statistics. Since the mid-twentieth century, the spa industry has grown significantly around the world. In 2013, the market size of the global wellness industry grew up more than 3.4 trillion U.S. dollars. According to “The Global Spa & Wellness Economy Monitor Report”, the global spa industry generated $94 billion last year. Thermal/mineral springs sector of wellness industry generated $50 billion worldwide. But wellness tourism (or travel associated with maintaining or enhancing health or wellbeing) was the fastest-growing part of the industry for the past few years. The amount of the earning of this part of the industry was equal to 494 billion. For period from 2012 to 2013 number of people that had taking wellness trips grew by 12% according to U.S. spa industry revenue report for 2013 (“ Statistics and facts”, n.d.).

Tourism has become the largest growth industry in the world. It not only witnesses millions of tourists but is also host to the largest number of jobs. Ranging from hotels, restaurants, attraction sites, transportation services, etc the tourism industry is booming. Tourists travel differently. Weather it be individually, as a couple, as a family, or a group of friends, they all travel to enjoy natural and/or cultural attractions.

Medical Tourism is used to represent obtaining medical or surgical services while travelling or vacationing in another country. Medical tourism is a form of health tourism generally referring to the travel of people to another country with the objective of obtaining medical treatment in that country. Medical Tourism, which is defined as movements of people travelling to another country for medical treatment (Keckley & Underwood, 2008) is continuing to be a growing global industry. Turner (2007) suggested that due to globalization number of patients is increasing due to reductions in health benefits offered by states and employers for affordable medical care. Herick (2007) pointed out that worldwide tough competition in health care is compelling more patients from developed countries to travel for medical reasons to regions once

Many people like to spend their vacation in a different country and like to travel. It is always exciting to explore and discover new cities and cultures. Over the years the way to get to other countries became easier. The rate of international visitors is rising everywhere around the globe and tourism brings some good and bad aspects to each individual country. Due to traveling becoming more popular, Tourism has both benefitted and harmed nearly every country in the world.

Globalization in healthcare is a topic that has been the subject of many debates worldwide. While practically the entire world is becoming a global village due to globalization, the healthcare industry was considered to be invulnerable to this trend. This was attributed to the fact that healthcare is a service industry, where service is delivered on area of purchase. However many developments not only in the healthcare industry but in the entire economical sphere as a whole have seen the aspects of globalization. As a result globalization in the healthcare industry is a common phenomenon in the contemporary world. As the healthcare industry across global boundaries becomes increasingly intertwined,

The cost of healthcare continues to rise in the United States. Americans are struggling to pay out of pocket expenses related to needed surgeries. Many individuals are responsible for the entire bill because they don’t have any health insurance. Many people are now reaching out to other countries for needed live saving procedures. This paper will explore some of the reasons for this change, the trends, and the globalization of healthcare along with the pros, cons and risks to the patient. The questions that begin each paragraph are the homework assignment questions. A decade ago the idea that medical procedures might move offshore was unthinkable. Today it is a reality. What trends have facilitated this process?

In addition, there are many types of tourism around the word. For example, religious tourism, medical tourism, social tourism, sports tourism, shopping

While many problems are associated with International tourism, it can still offer some advantages. For one thing, International tourism can open job opportunities for the native citizens. To demonstrate, when tourists visit an area, the vast majority of them don’t have a clue on

Many postcolonial regions are seen as places which contain therapeutic landscapes. With the rise of medical tourism, countries which already have these therapeutic landscapes are capitalizing on the landscapes by building or modernizing medical facilities to reflect the dominant core’s values, expectations, and infrastructure. Such standards are even being adopted into chains of hospitals in an effort to provide consistent experiences that comfortably meet potential clients’ expectations and assuage any insecurities. Additionally, by adopting strategic essentialism, medical tourism facilities may embrace, “certain stereotypes of exoticness because framing the location in this manner can be an important factor in luring tourists” (Buzinde et

For me, the most important aspect is the different health care system in different countries. As Jennifer mentioned in the workshop, there are two types of health care system- single-payer health care system and multipayer health care system which includes both public and private health care. Public health care is funded by governments which usually provide free treatment. By contrast, private health care allows citizens to buy their private health insurance, which generally asks to spend a huge amount of money(Germov, 2014).

Forms of tourism can be discussed in terms of the displacement of persons within certain conditions. These trips always take the visitors outside their usual environment, but might take them also outside their country of residence into another economy. Forms of tourism can also be discussed in terms of the different types of tourism in a particular country, i.e. ecotourism, sports tourism, health tourism, etc.

individuals who are insured were willing to travel for medical care if the savings netted from $1000 to $2,400. Lastly over 38 percent of uninsured individuals and over twenty five percent of individuals with insurance are willing to travel abroad for medical care if the savings exceed $10,000 (Herrick, 2007). Overall, the majorities of medical tourists seeks lower prices for medical care and are motivated to travel if the end result reduces the burden on their own pocket books.

Health tourism as defined by World Tourism Organization is the part of tourism associated with travel to health spas or resort destinations where the primary purpose is to improve the traveller’s physical well-being through a regimen of physical exercise and therapy, dietary control, and medical services relevant to health maintenance. The health tourism travel sector deliberately promoting healthcare services and facilities, in addition to its regular amenities. These healthcare services may include medical examinations by qualified doctors and nurses at the resort or hotel, special diets, acupuncture, vitamin-complex intakes, special medical treatments for various diseases such as arthritis and herbal remedies. Health tourism is a much broader concept centered mainly on resorts designed to pamper or improve the body and relax the mind. Hundreds of health resorts and spas exist around the world, offering specialized beauty and fitness services, and extensive programs to improve on the health of individuals. These resorts are usually located in a stunning natural environmental view. Destination spas and spa resorts are the most common and popular health travel venue. They offer a comprehensive range of services, form therapies to outdoor recreation facilities. The goal of these resorts is to send

Medical tourism (also called medical travel, health tourism or global healthcare) is a term initially coined by travel agencies and the mass media to describe the rapidly-growing practice of travelling across international borders to obtain health care. It also refers pejoratively to the practice of healthcare providers travelling internationally to deliver healthcare.