Concepts of health tourism

Currently, tourism is considered as one of the largest and most diverse industries in the world, and its rapid growth has led to many social and economic changes. It is the leader and dynamic in developed countries and has a significant contribution in earning income, gross national product and job creation.

The tourism industry is the third largest industry in the world after the oil and automobile industries. This industry has a special place in the financial circulation of countries and will definitely be one of the first industries in the world in the future. In previous years, tourist centers had a general form. With the passage of time and the progress of this industry, many sub-branches such as urban tourism, rural tourism, cultural tourism, electronic and virtual tourism, food tourism, space tourism, adventure tourism, nostalgic tourism, health tourism, etc. were added to it.

For this reason, organizations working in countries interested in tourism development draw their attention to this part of the tourism industry and plan for it (Rajaei, colleagues, 2019).

Health tourism is a type of tourism that takes place in order to maintain, improve and regain the physical and mental health of a person for a period of more than 24 hours and less than a year.

The World Tourism Organization (WTO) specifically defines health tourism as: the use of services that lead to the improvement or enhancement of health and morale of a person (using mineral waters, climate or medical interventions) and in a place It lasts more than 24 hours outside the person's place of residence. Health tourism includes various subsets such as natural therapy tourism, care and recovery, non-conventional treatments, medical treatments, surgery, clinical, diagnostic, hospital surgery, acupuncture, energy therapy, yoga, meditation and preventive tourism.

Nowadays, the idea of ​​tourism and treatment together has found a special place among the people and officials of the country, and almost the vast majority of patients prefer to spend a small part of it in a cheaper country for treatment instead of paying heavy expenses in western countries. And at the same time, they can use the rest of the money to benefit from the natural and tourist facilities of the region.

Global growth in the circulation of patients and health professionals as well as medical technology, budget, capital and regulatory regimes across national borders has created new patterns of consumption and production of medical services in recent decades. A significant new element of the growing business in health care involves the movement of patients across borders in pursuit of medical care. A phenomenon commonly called "health tourism".

Factors such as changes in consumer values, structural changes, aging of the population, requirements of the health service system can be considered as the main factors of the emergence of health tourism. The set of these factors have caused health tourism to be considered among the fastest growing types of tourism.

 The health tourism market has emerged as one of the most profitable and competitive industries in the world and is one of the new areas of advanced tourism. At the macro level, governments are interested in enjoying the economic benefits of this industry. Increasing competition among different countries, especially developing Asian countries, has begun to attract health tourists. (Hrrick MD, 2007)

On the other hand, health tourism has become more prosperous in developing countries. Globalization and liberalization of trade in the field of health services became the platform for the rapid growth of this type of tourism. (2005, Garcia Altes A)

 Nature therapy with many branches and sources is effective in treating and preventing many physical and mental diseases.

Considering this issue, most countries in the world are trying to build or simulate natural attractions in order to benefit from health tourism, while our country has God-given and huge natural resources in this area, so there is a need for study and research in this regard. It is quite noticeable.

 If health tourism is considered as a priority, Iran can potentially prevent foreign currency and manpower from going to other countries. Health tourism in our country is an inter-institutional issue such that the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, the Ministry of Health, Treatment and Medical Education of the country, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Labor Cooperation and Social Welfare are among the institutions that are involved in the expansion of this are involved.

Iran, while having natural and God-given gifts, also has medical potential and appropriate equipment among the countries in the region. Therefore, the recognition of these gifts and the foundation of various programs resulting from feasibility studies and needs assessment in order to benefit from this category, is quite noticeable.

 Due to its geographical, commercial and scientific location, with hospitable and kind people and a rich cultural and historical heritage, Iran has been a special attraction for world travelers and tourists since ancient times. Based on the writings of Xenophon Herodotus, Greek and Roman merchants traveled to Iran for trade and travel. Islamic Iran was visited by tourists such as Ibn Hawqal, Yaqut Hamavi and Ibn Battuta from the Arab world, who described their observations of the nature and conditions of the Iranian people in works such as Surah Al-Arz, Majam al-Baldan, etc. The most famous European tourists who came to Iran and wrote travelogues about Iran and its people are the French Jean Chardin, the Italian Peter Delavalle, the Venetian Marco Polo and the French Tavernier.

Today, Iran needs to diversify tourism services to keep pace with the competitive tourism market.

Considering Iran's significant progress in health and medical services, it is possible to benefit from the benefits of health tourists entering the country by combining this science with various tourism services.