Medical tourism services and medical tourism destinations in Central and Eastern Europe - the opinion of Britons and Germans

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to identify preferred Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) medical tourism destinations (MTD) and medical services in the context of socio-demographic determinants. The computer-assisted web interviewing (CAWI) method was used. A total of 282 completed self-administered questionnaires were collected from Britons and Germans, who constitute a large segment of medical tourists in CEE. Subsequently, the responses were analysed using the chi-square test and the method of logistic regression function. The results indicated that the chosen destinations and medical services vary depending on gender, age and nationality. The survey results have implications for scholars, allowing them to understand the way Britons and Germans evaluate MTDs and medical services in CEE, as well as for medical tourism facilitators/brokers and destination management organisations engaged in the process of creating a medical tourism product. The obtained results have also implications for further research related to the development of medical tourism in CEE.

The Theory of Planned Behaviour in Medical Tourism: International Comparison in the Young Consumer Segment

“…Although there are studies confirming that the gender of medical tourists affects their behaviour in the context of the choice of destination and the type of medical tourism product [86,87], this variable was not analysed in the context of medical tourism and the TPB. In this study, it turned out to be an insignificant factor for the behavioural intention to participate in medical tourism.…”

Evaluating the Antecedents of Health Destination Loyalty: The Moderating Role of Destination Trust and Tourists’ Emotions

“…The medical tourism market in the Middle East and Africa was valued at $0.83 billion in 2020 and, with a compound annual growth rate of 8.5%, it is forecast to reach $1.25 billion by 2025 (Market Data Forecast, 2021). Scholars have since classified the sector into medical tourism and wellness tourism (Thelen & Travers 2007;Lubowiecki-Vikuk & Dryglas, 2019). While medical tourism focuses on treatment and interventions such as surgery and pharmacology, wellness tourism is centered on 'feel good' or wellbeing activities which enhance the physical, mental and spiritual fitness of tourists using methods such as herbal bath, mud bath, beauty treatment and programmed exercises (Ayoub, 2018).…”

Medical tourism trends in the United Kingdom 2000-2016

“…In contrast, during the post-crisis period (2007)(2008)(2009)(2010)(2011)(2012)(2013)(2014)(2015)(2016), we detect a significant increase in the number of visits as compared to the pre-crisis period for Poland (155,800 visits), Hungary (60,140 visits), Romania (28,103), Slovakia (17,476 visits), Irish Republic (16,655 visits) and Turkey (44,410 visits). For those in the industry, this is packaged very much in terms of the development of these locations as Total nights Pre-crisis (2000Pre-crisis ( -2006 Post-crisis ( medical tourism providers and proof of a medical tourism boom (Lubowiecki-Vikuk and Dryglas, 2019;Wasik, 2017;IMTJ, 2012). Indeed a cursory review of the internet highlights the substantial online activity engaged in by clinics in these regions.…”