Medical Tourism as a New Form of Niche Tourism in Egypt

Abstract

Medical Tourism is an occasion where people who live in one country travel to another country to receive medical treatment, dental or surgical care. It is a growing new niche market in developing countries, where they can expand tourism products and maximize revenues. Recently, Egypt has emerged as a new medical destination through the innovation 'Tour n' Cure', which motivates patients of Hepatitis 'C' to visit Egypt to receive affordable medical tourism packages. The study primary aim is to examine the contemporary growth of 'medical tourism', where medical treatment is deliberately associated with tourism. Moreover, the research explored international tourists' perception of medical tourism in Egypt. A questionnaire survey was conducted among a random sample drawn from tourists who used medical services in Egypt. The findings indicated that most of the tourists who visited Egypt for medical purpose were from Arab and Muslim countries, where they receive high quality medical services at international standards medical facilities at affordable prices, while staying in a first class accommodation and enjoying Egypt tourists' attractions.

Egypt as a Destination for Health Tourism: Opportunities and Obstacles

“…Visitors can engage in activities such as nature trips, hiking, camping, walking, and sports training in these areas. Some of the famous ecotourism destinations in Egypt include Wadi El-Rayan Reserve, St. Catherine's Reserve, and Ras Mohamed Reserve (Zaki, 2017).…”

“…In conclusion, health tourism is a significant component of sustainable tourism development, as it promotes investment in health infrastructure, creates new job opportunities, bolsters the local economy, promotes health and well-being, and offers a unique and satisfying tourist experience (Pan et al, 2018). Egypt boasts several renowned destinations for health tourism, including the https://ijthsx.journals.ekb.eg/ Red Sea oases, Siwa Oasis, Saint Catherine, and many other places, where numerous resorts, hospitals, and health clinics are available throughout the country (Zaki, 2017).…”

تقییم فعالیة مواقع السیاحة الطبیة المصریة: دراسة استکشافیة

“…Medical tourism is developing rapidly in many countries such as Hong Kong, India, Iran, Korea, Latin America, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand ,Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon and United Arab Emirates (Connell, 2006;Yu and Ko, 2012). Egypt has emerged as a new medical tourism destination, where patients can be treated at affordable prices (Zaki, 2017). The most popular treatments in Egypt are cardiology, orthopedics like hip replacement, cosmetic surgery and dentistry, offered at only 50 percent of the cost when compared to other countries in the world (Jagyasi, 2014;Khalifa & Haley, 2010).…”