Abstract:

Health tourism is becoming a more important argument in the world economy every day. The world’s economy, which was created by traveling in order to benefit from healthcare in 2010, is $60 billion. In our country, in accordance with the developments in the health sector in recent years and with the increased importance of private hospitals within the health system, both in general health tourism and in particular medical tourism, the share of Turkey in the world has also grown. Many hospitals that want to attract international patients within the framework of the services offered in the sense of international health tourism on this basis have launched studies in the name of obtaining international accreditation documents and developed programs in line with the implementation of various marketing strategies. As of 2013, in our country, 50 International Joint Commission (JCI) accredited health institutions, including 4 in İzmir, have begun to serve. Although it differs from years to years, it is seen that among the countries that have sent most international patients to our country in recent years, Germany, Libya, Russia, Iraq and the Netherlands are ranked first. These countries are followed by other neighboring countries, some Western European countries and the United States. In the study, for a total of 17 months between March 2015 and August 2016, initially in Antalya, Istanbul, Muğla, Izmir and Ankara, tourists were interviewed, and the subject was tried to be illuminated by face-to-face conversations with health officials and administrative staff working in health facilities in the case of the subject. In addition, the "Turkish Health Tourism Perception" survey was developed by the researchers for 310 tourists who have benefited from health services in our country where they have come to Turkey within the framework of health tourism or as tourists. The data obtained was evaluated by SWOT analysis method and evaluated by all aspects of health tourism in Turkey. With this study, the current situation of Turkey in this market is revealed; it is intended to develop the recommendations and regulations necessary to further increase its share in this market in the future.

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