Medical Tourism in the Region of Crete, Greece: Perspectives from Healthcare Providers, Hotel Managers, and Medical Tourists

Dimitrios Batakis, Symeon Sidiropoulos (), Alkinoos Emmanouil-Kalos, Theodoros Fouskas, Constantin Zopounidis and Athanassios Vozikis
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Dimitrios Batakis: Department of Medical Tourism Technical, University of Crete, 71110 Heraklion, Greece
Symeon Sidiropoulos: Laboratory of Health Economics & Management, Department of Economics, University of Piraeus, 18534 Piraeus, Greece
Alkinoos Emmanouil-Kalos: Laboratory of Health Economics & Management, Department of Economics, University of Piraeus, 18534 Piraeus, Greece
Theodoros Fouskas: Department of Public Health Policy, School of Public Health, University of West Attica, 11521 Athens, Greece
Constantin Zopounidis: Department of Finance, Audencia Business School, 44300 Nantes, France

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 24, 1-16

Abstract: Medical tourism is a rapidly growing sector, and could become a major driver of tourism in Greece. This research examines the status quo and the potential of medical tourism on the island of Crete, Greece. A cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2021 to February 2022, with the administration of questionnaires. The study involved the participation of 97 hotel managers from four- and five-star hotels, 515 doctors representing various specialties, and 890 medical tourists. Hotel managers overwhelmingly (90+%) believe that medical tourism can significantly contribute to the domestic economy, as well as that the domestic market is ready for the provision of medical tourism services on a larger scale, while more than 70% of the tourists asked would be interested in travelling to Greece to receive medical treatment. IVF, eye surgery, and dental services are the ones that would interest tourists the most, which are also aligned with the services commonly provided by the doctors questioned. Thus, according to the perspectives of doctors, hotel managers, and tourists, medical tourism has the capacity to grow significantly and contribute to the development of the Greek economy. The government should assume a supportive role, facilitating medical tourism processes by addressing the administrative, financial, and promotional aspects.

Keywords: medical tourism; doctors; hotel managers; sustainable tourism; region of Crete (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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