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Advancing Medical Tourism in the United Arab Emirates: Toward a Sustainable Health Care System

Author

Listed:
  • Hallow Al-Talabani

    (Faculty of Tourism, Eastern Mediterranean University, Gazimagusa, North Cyprus, PO Box 99628, via Mersin 10, Turkey)

  • Hasan Kilic

    (Faculty of Tourism, Eastern Mediterranean University, Gazimagusa, North Cyprus, PO Box 99628, via Mersin 10, Turkey)

  • Ali Ozturen

    (Faculty of Tourism, Eastern Mediterranean University, Gazimagusa, North Cyprus, PO Box 99628, via Mersin 10, Turkey)

  • Suhad Othman Qasim

    (Faculty of Tourism, Eastern Mediterranean University, Gazimagusa, North Cyprus, PO Box 99628, via Mersin 10, Turkey)

Abstract

Medical tourism provides an essential advantage for destinations. On the other hand, the knowledge of developing competitive medical tourism destinations is still limited. This study models a conceptual framework on novel ways of sustaining the United Arab Emirate (UAE) Vision 2020 with reference to the existing models on behavior. In the current study, the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), which is health-related, along with the Finance, System and connection (FSC) model, is employed. Using an empirically based methodology, the data for the investigation is collected with the aid of a questionnaire. As such, the study employs finance, system, and connections variables which are commonly adopted in testing medical tourism development. The designed model incorporates these three important factors that have remained the focal points in the world of medical tourism. Hence, the result reveals empirical evidence suggesting that the finance, system, and the connection factors significantly foster the growth of tourist arrivals in Dubai. Moreover, it predicates that the significant improvement in the economy of Dubai administrative government is likely to be connected with the development of its medical infrastructure. Additionally, by employing the use of SMART PLS (partial least square) software package, the structural analysis tests, like model fit, further affirms the robustness of the results. In addition, the study presents policy implication for the stakeholders in the health sector, tourism sector, and the government.

Suggested Citation

  • Hallow Al-Talabani & Hasan Kilic & Ali Ozturen & Suhad Othman Qasim, 2019. "Advancing Medical Tourism in the United Arab Emirates: Toward a Sustainable Health Care System," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-15, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:1:p:230-:d:194973
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Eunji Oh & M. Minsuk Shin, 2020. "Study Abroad in Support of Higher Education Sustainability: An Application of Service Trade Strategies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-23, March.
    3. Samah Ibnou-Laaroussi & Husam Rjoub & Wing-Keung Wong, 2020. "Sustainability of Green Tourism among International Tourists and Its Influence on the Achievement of Green Environment: Evidence from North Cyprus," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-24, July.
    4. Iva Bulatovic & Katia Iankova, 2021. "Barriers to Medical Tourism Development in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-14, February.
    5. Dalia Perkumienė & Milita Vienažindienė & Biruta Švagždienė, 2019. "Cooperation Perspectives in Sustainable Medical Tourism: The Case of Lithuania," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(13), pages 1-15, June.
    6. Peiman Ghasemi & Amir Mehdiabadi & Cristi Spulbar & Ramona Birau, 2021. "Ranking of Sustainable Medical Tourism Destinations in Iran: An Integrated Approach Using Fuzzy SWARA-PROMETHEE," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-32, January.

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