International Journal of Travel Medicine and Global Health

International Journal of Travel Medicine and Global Health

Development Strategy of Health Tourism in Iran

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Seyed Mojtaba Hosseini 1
Ali Maher 1
Omidreza Safarian 1
Ali Ayoubian 2
Donya Sheibani-Tehrani 3
Hossein Amini-Anabad 4
Zahra Hashemidehaghi 5, 6
1 Department of Health Services Management, Tehran North Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
2 Health Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
3 Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
4 Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
5 Eye Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
6 Department of Health Services Management, Tehran South Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
10.20286/ijtmgh-0304143
Abstract
Introduction: Iran has considerable potentials for growth of health tourism. However, they have not been properly realized towards national development.This paper has attempted to prioritize the development strategies of health tourism in Iran which has been conducted on the hospitals of Tehran.

Methods: This study is a descriptive-analytical research. It was carried out in 2013 and the sample size was determined through snowball non-probability sampling. A questionnaire was administered to 29 participants and the development strategies were formulated by SWOT.

Results: The findings of the research showed that the weakness points of the health tourism industry override the strength points. This is while the opportunities of development are more than threats.

Conclusion: One may conclude that Iran’s health tourism is in a weakness opportunity (WO) situation and needs strategies which have been specially designed for such situations. Therefore, the improvement strategies (WO) have been located in priority for the development of health tourism in Iran. 
Keywords
Strategy of Development
Health tourism
SWOT
Iran
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International Journal of Travel Medicine and Global Health
Volume 3, Issue 4 - Serial Number 11
Autumn 2015
Pages 153-158

  • Receive Date 01 May 2015
  • Revise Date 26 July 2015
  • Accept Date 07 August 2015