Exploring the challenges for medical tourism in the United Arab Emirates during the Covid-19 pandemic era: a stakeholder perspective

Abstract

PurposeThis paper explores medical tourism development challenges in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) pre- and during Covid-19. Medical tourism is becoming a dynamic, rapid growth area and an engine of economic development.Design/methodology/approachIn-depth interviews were conducted with medical tourism professionals. Fourteen medical tourism stakeholders were interviewed from 1 January to 31 January 2020. Qualitative thematic analysis was applied on medical tourism challenges before and during the pandemic.FindingsThe major themes indicated concerns for medical tourism in the UAE and they included higher medical services costs and a shortage of highly qualified medical expertise. The emerging themes related to the challenges of coping with Covid-19 and strategies to attract medical tourists.Originality/valueThis study contributes towards (1) the theory of medical tourism, (2) the related limited prior published work on this topic relating to the UAE and (3) the importance of medical tourism in today’s tourism industry. Additionally, there are theoretical and practical implications for medical tourism stakeholders in terms of attracting inbound medical tourists to the UAE from other countries during the Covid-19 crisis and in the post-pandemic situation.

Middle East tourism – Opportunities and solutions

“…Similarly, the study entitled Exploring the challenges for medical tourism in the United Arab Emirates during the COVID 19 pandemic era: a stakeholder perspective explores MDT challenges in the UAE before and during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and the appropriate strategies to attract medical tourists. Okasha et al (2023) collected quantitative and qualitative data to analyze the state of medical tourism services in the UAE. In addition to a few positives, the authors also express concerns, such as higher medical services costs and a shortage of highly qualified medical experts.…”

The Portrait of Wellness Tourism during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Indonesia. A Case Study of Health Protocol Implementation at Green Kubu Café Bali

“…Currently, wellness tourism has grown and has many market segments. In fact, tourists who carry out wellness tourism activities also have a higher level of expenditure than general tourists (Okasha et al 2023) The potential for the development of wellness tourism during the pandemic is very high because its nonmass tourism can avoid direct contact with other tourists. As an illustration, during the pandemic, special interest tourism, which is small in quantity and considered the easiest to condition, namely backpacker tourism, is still ongoing in Bali and tends to be reliable by local people (Nuruddin, Putu Eka Wirawan and Sri Pujiastuti 2020).…”