The Development of Metaverse Technology to Raise Up the Standard of Health Tourism

Abstract

This research aims to: 1. Investigate the factors of Metaverse technology development for VR spa glasses and their impact on the evolution of Metaverse applications for marketing; 2. Examine how the development of Metaverse applications for marketing influences the promotion of health tourism grounded in Thailand's creative economy (BCG). This study employs a mixed-methods approach. It involves surveying 372 tourists who utilized spa and Thai massage beauty services using a questionnaire. Additionally, focus group discussions were conducted with entrepreneurs and executives instrumental in elevating the standards of medical tourism. The data were analyzed using multiple regression analysis. The findings indicate that the advancement of Metaverse technology for VR spa glasses, encompassing aspects like content, functionality, and design, has significantly influenced the development of Metaverse applications for holistic marketing. This includes sensory experience, sensational experience, thought experience, action experience, and associated experience, with a notable R2 value of 0.590. The study also revealed that the development of Metaverse applications for marketing, encompassing aspects such as sensory experience, cognitive experience, action-oriented experience, and connected experience perceptions, significantly influences the overall drive of health tourism based on the creative economy (BCG) in the country. This encompasses factors like environmental friendliness, fairness, safety, cleanliness, and convenience, with a notable R2 value of 0.509.