Medical Tourism

Abstract

There is no general agreement within the academic community regarding where medical tourism fits within tourism types and segments. Considering this scenario, the present work conceptualises medical tourism as a sub-segment of health tourism. Medical tourism is generally not well developed, and consequently, not enough studies have addressed it in statistical terms. In this context, the empirical component of this study consists of producing a snapshot of medical tourism in the countries that first started to capitalise on it. Results indicate that the activity is still in an initial phase of development, and provided destinations and businesses continue to provide quality infrastructures and services, it will grow significantly within the following years.