Determining Key Factors Effective in Medical Tourism Development (Case Study: Isfahan Metropolis)

Abstract

The present study aims to identify the key drivers effective in medical tourism development inIsfahan metropolis. The applied study employed documentary and survey data collection methodsand analytical and exploratory research methods. The statistical population consisted of 35 expertsin urban tourism planning, city managers and researchers in the field of tourism who were selectedvia a snowball sampling technique. Delphi method was used to collect the data of this research, andMicMac software was employed for data analysis. The results of the distribution of variables in thecause-effect (x-y) axis of factors indicate the instability of the system in medical tourismdevelopment in the study area. Finally, according to the high score of direct and indirect effects, 9main factors were identified as key drivers in the future development of medical tourism in themetropolis of Isfahan.

Keywords

• "tourism development"
• " key factors"
• "medical tourism"
• "isfahan metropolis"