Spatial organization of medical and health tourism in the Russia‐Kazakhstan tranboundary region

Abstract

Aim. To analyze the specifics of the spatio‐temporal organization of the resource and infrastructure base of medical and health tourism in the Russia‐Kazakhstan transboundary region.A comparative analysis of historical data obtained from scientific sources and modern official statistical information on the resource and infrastructure base of medical and health tourism in the Russian‐Kazakhstan cross‐border region was carried out; some of the initial data was obtained during field research by the research team.During the period analysed, a slight expansion of the network of sanatoria and health resort organisations of the Republic of Kazakhstan was established, while in the Russian border regions, the number of organizations has increased more than 1.5 times.Analysis of spatial data revealed disparities in the regional development of the resort sector on both sides of the border. In a number of border regions, the formation of transboundary concentration centres of health resort sector organisations has been revealed. The specifics of the organisation of balneological treatment in the region have been determined namely: the use of imported raw materials, the extensive spread of “wild” hospitals and the lack of scientific justification for the use of resources.A complex combination of natural healing resources, climate and landscape features, and the presence of a network of sanatorium and resort organisations forms a unique ‘therapeutic’ steppe landscape in the Russia‐Kazakhstan transboundary region, which can become the basis for the creation of new tourist routes and programmes aimed at improving the health of the population of both countries.

Keywords

• russia‐kazakhstan transboundary region
• cross‐border region
• medical and health tourism
• balneological resources