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Assessing Preparation Level of Medical Tourism in Zahedan City

Mostafa Mir
*
*+olfa,l -a.,ade/-Namin

-ourism Management 0epartment( *llame/ -a+ata+a1i 2ni3ersit4( -e/ran( Iran
*
m195mir64a/oo.7om

Abstract
Purpose- -/e o+.e7ti3e of t/is stud4 is assessing preparation le3el of t/e 7it4 of 8a/edan in 7arr4ing out
a7ti3ities 7on7erned wit/ medi7al tourism. -/e o+.e7ti3e is demonstrated in t/e framewor9 of assessing t/e
status :uo of medi7al tourism in 8a/edan in four areas of ;/ospital <a7ilities=Ser3i7es>( ;?otels( <ood and
Be3erage>( ;-ourism <a7ilities> and ;@o3ernmental <a7tors>.
Design/methodology/approach- -/e resear7/ met/od adopted in t/e stud4 is des7ripti3e-sur3e4. -/e
population of t/e resear7/ in7ludes managers( medi7al eAperts from 8a/edan /ospitals. -o attain t/e o+.e7ti3es a
:uestionnaire was designed in four main parts of 8a/edan medi7al tourist s4stem +ased on Bi9ert.
esearch limitations/implications- -/e limitation of t/is paper is t/e needs to find t/e /ospital and /ealt/
eAperts t/at /a3e 3iew a+out tourism industr4 in 8a/edan.
Practical implications- -/e main impli7ation of t/is paper is for 8a/edan 7it4 to do +etter for t/e /ealt/ tourism
management. *lso t/is paper impro3es t/e /ealt/ tourism s4stem model in t/e de3eloping 7ountries .
!riginality/value- t/is paper eAam t/e s4stemati7 model for managing medi7al tourism in 8a/edan 7it4 as
tourism destination. -/is s4stemati7 model eAplores t/e main elements of medi7al tourism destination.
"indings- -/e results s/owed t/at 8a/edan /as some s/ort7omings in 7arr4ing out a7ti3ities 7on7erning medi7al
tourism. -/e s/ort7omings in7lude low 7osts of treatment and a77ommodation( /a3ing no 3arious /istori7al and
re7reational pla7es( /a3ing no eAperts in treatment( endemi7 diseases( no ser3ing of a diet appropriate to patients
and +ad attitudes among people of ot/er towns.
#ey$ords% medi7al tourism( medi7al tours( /ospital eAperts( 8a/edan.

&' (ntroduction
-ourism industr4 /as in7reasing importan7e in modern world. Man4 de3eloped and de3eloping 7ountries /a3e
put t/e industr4 of tourism among t/eir e7onomi7 priorities. -/ese 7ountries /a3e dedi7ated a great s/are of t/e
world mar9et to t/emsel3es. -/e importan7e of tourism is not limited to pro3iding .o+ opportunities and
re3enues. Sin7e 1950 tourism industr4 /as undergone great 7/anges so t/at some 7all it tourism re3olution.
-/ese 7/anges /a3e led to 3ast and eAtensi3e tourism and in t/e future will turn into :ualitati3e tourism.
Currentl4 tourism is a great and powerful professional a7ti3it4 in t/e world in a wa4 t/at it first pre7eded
petroleum in importan7e( t/en was le3el wit/ it and after t/at got a /ig/er position t/an petroleum Masoumi(
1$#5(9". -ourism /as de3eloped 7onsidera+l4 during t/e last 50 4ears. -oda4 tourism /as turned into a world
industr4 and +4 itself it is a great e7onomi7 sour7e ?allmann et al( 2012". -ourism is a 7ompleA so7ial and
e7onomi7 e3ent w/i7/ needs to +e studied at different le3els so as to +e a+le to rea7/ t/e eApe7ted de3elopment
Distes9i et al( 2012". <or management in t/e area of tourism( ot/er t/an definition( an understanding of all t4pes
of tourism and t/eir 7ategories is 3er4 important for demands and ser3i7es re:uired +4 different tourists are not
identi7al Ea,emi( 200'". *lso t/e I- and internet ser3es as a new 7ommuni7ation and distri+ution 7/annel for e-
tra3ellers and suppliers of tra3el ser3i7es and produ7ts. -/is new 7/annel also ena+les tourism +usiness to
impro3e t/eir 7ompetiti3eness and performan7eBaw et al( 200)".
-oda4 t/e 7ountries /a3e organi,ed eApansion of ser3i7e mar9et for t/e purpose of in7reasing t/eir
national gross in7ome. -/e4 /a3e found tourism t/e most important mar9et wit/ 7as/ 747les( produ7ti3e .o+
opportunities and /ig/ profit margins. In7reasing growt/ of international trips on t/e one /and and in7reasing
interest in tra3el destinations on t/e ot/er /and /a3e added more suffiAes and prefiAes to t/e term of tourism
su7/ as religious tourism( sport tourism( war tourism( leisure tourism( /ealt/ tourism et7. Medi7al tourism is
7onsidered one of t/e most important t4pes of tourism. -oda4 medi7al tourism /as dedi7ated a growing part of
mar9et to itself among tourism mar9ets Connell( 2012". -/e towns of Sistan o +alou7/estan and parti7ularl4
8a/edan 7an +e re7ommended to tourists as a uni:ue tourist destination owing to t/eir spe7ial tourist attra7tions.
*lso /a3ing a prestigious medi7al uni3ersit4 in different fields( 8a/edan 7an +e re7ommended for medi7al
tourism all o3er t/e 7ountr4. Surgi7al operations su7/ as e4e surger4 and general surgeries are among 7ases
w/i7/ 7an ma9e 8a/edan a famous destination for medi7al tourism. -/us in t/is stud4 we tr4 to determine
preparation le3el of medi7al tourism in 8a/edan w/i7/ pla4s a 9e4 role in su77essful management of medi7al
tourism wit/ t/e aid of t/eoreti7al and pra7ti7al resear7/es. *t lengt/ we will offer some guidelines for
impro3ement of t/is preparation. In ot/er words we tr4 to eAamine su+.e7ts and attain t/e o+.e7ti3e of assessing
preparation le3el of 8a/edan in order to turn it into a medi7al tourist destination.

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1)F
)' Literature evie$
-ourism is defined and 7ategori,ed +ased on different fa7tors. ?owe3er one of t/ese 7ategories is 7alled medi7al
tourism. &arious definitions of medi7al tourism /a3e +een offered. In one of t/ese definitions( medi7al tourism is
applied to a t4pe of tra3el w/i7/ is done to ot/er 7ountries and for re7eption of ser3i7es su7/ as treatment( dental
ser3i7es and surgi7al operations. In anot/er definition offered in 2005 in glo+al anal4sis report of medi7al
tourism( medi7al tourism is applied to an4 form of tra3el from li3ing pla7e to anot/er destination in order to
re7ei3e surgi7al ser3i7es and t/e li9e. -/is .ourne4 must at least in7lude one nig/t of a77ommodation outside t/e
li3ing pla7e Sadrmomta, and *g/ara/imi( 2010". *lso medi7al tourism is applied to .ourne4s to re7ei3e /ealt/
7are ser3i7e in ot/er 7ountries as tourists. Nowada4s medi7al tourism is among t/e most important fa7tors
7on7erning tourism industr4 t/at /as /ig/ e7onomi7 ad3antages and is applied to international .ourne4s w/i7/ an
indi3idual ma9es to re7ei3e medi7al ser3i7es and surgi7al operations in order to use medi7al ser3i7es w/i7/ are
less 7ostl4 t/an /is own 7ountr4 Correra and Bridges( 200#".
It must +e noted t/at one t4pe of medi7al tourism is t/e one in w/i7/ do7tors( nurses and .o+ /olders in
t/e department of treatment wor9 3oluntaril4 for de3eloping 7ountries Edel/eit( 200#". ?owe3er we mean it is a
t4pe of trip t/at t/e indi3idual ta9es for t/e purpose of /ealt/ 7are and treatment. In spite of long waiting on t/e
part of patients( /ea34 medi7al eApenses and also o+sta7les to tra3el to ot/er 7ountries( patients are still in7lined
to tra3el to ot/er 7ountries to gett/emsel3es treated and use medi7al ser3i7es. -/ere are 3arious reasons in
support of medi7al tourism. <irst pro3iding /ealt/ 7are +rings a+out pro7urement of finan7ial in7ome. -/is in
turn en/an7es regional /ealt/ 7are s4stem of a 7ountr4 Der7i3eil et al( 200'". Sin7e mid-1990 some fa7tors
reinfor7ed t/is industr4 of w/i7/ t/e following is mentionedG
1. EApansion of firms wit/ medi7al tourism ser3i7es for eAample in Canada t/ere are at least 15 medi7al
tourism 7ompanies @or7ia( 200'(Eor7o9( 199F". -/us in spite of long waiting lists( more people tra3el
to ot/er 7ountries for medi7al treatment !riest( 200F".
2. Cost reasons for eAample *meri7an patients 7an re7ei3e medi7al ser3i7es at 1=) 7ost e3en in some
7ases 1=10 of lo7al 7ost a+road. +esides )0 million *meri7ans do not /a3e treatment insuran7e *wod,l
and !ando( 2005".
$. Es7alating rate of demands for re7ei3ing treatment is related to growt/ of old population and eApenses
in de3eloped 7ountries. <or eAample man4 Japanese 7ompanies send t/eir emplo4ees to -/ailand for
7/e79ups e3er4 4ear. *lso in Canada dela4 in intermediar4 surgi7al operations is a serious issue and
la79 of a77ess to famil4 do7tors ma9es treatment arduous. -/us su7/ patients ta9e trips to 7ountries li9e
-/ailand and India -urner( 200F".
). Some patients prefer to 9eep t/eir treatment espe7iall4 plasti7 surger4( +eaut4 and sterilit4 se7ret. -/at
is t/e reason w/4 t/e4 go a+road Ildoromi and Sefidi( 2011".
*mong t/e most important surgeries in t/e world( t/e most attention is gi3en to t/ig/ and 9nee surger4(
7ardia7 surger4 and dental ser3i7es and different t4pes of plasti7 surgeries. %t/er t4pes of treatment 7an also +e
put under t/e 7ategor4 of ser3i7es offered in t/is tourism. -/us t/roug/ tra3elling a /ealt/ tourist 7an use
treatment ser3i7es of ot/er 7ountries in order to gain /is well -+eing. Currentl4 more t/an 50 7ountries are 9nown
to use medi7al tourism as a national industr4 for gaining profits @a/linger( 200#". -/ere is no eAa7t information
as to t/e num+er of patients re7ei3ing /ealt/ ser3i7es at medi7al tourist destinations. -/e main pro+lem in
determining t/e num+er of medi7al tourists is related to eAa7t definition of t/ese tourists. In fa7t t/e reported
figures in7lude treatment of foreigners sta4ing in target 7ountr4( traders and tourists needing /ealt/ ser3i7es
during a77ommodation. *lso t/e num+er of t/ose using *4ur3eda and /ealt/ ser3i7es su7/ as 4oga( massage et7.
ma4 +e added to t/is list. In spite of t/ese s/ort7omings( it is e3ident t/at a 7onsidera+le num+er of patients
parti7ipate in t/e pro7ess of medi7al tourism 0elgos/aee et al( 2012".
-o gain a +etter understanding of t/e status of medi7al tourist mar9et( Ca+allero and Muom+a 200F"
/a3e s/own essential and sele7ti3e information 7on7erning t/is t4pe of tourist mar9et. -/e4 argued a+out w/at
we need to pa4 attention to different fa7tors +esides medi7al status and 7urrent potentials of /ospitals in order to
rea7/ medi7al tourism. -/ese fa7tors in7ludingG Consumer +enefits( +randing( so7ial issues( operators( legal
framewor9( 7ommuni7ation 7/annel( infrastru7ture( produ7t and target mar9et.
-o gain su77ess in t/e area of medi7al tourism we must pa4 attention to ot/er fa7tors +esides t/e ones
mentioned a+o3e. Sin7e t/e 7on7ept of 11destination11 is a +asi7 7on7ept in organi,ation( medi7al tourism needs to
+e studied in an organi,ed framewor9. In tourism t/e 7on7ept of destination 7an +e applied to a 7ountr4( region(
7it4 or state w/i7/ is in pursuit of en/an7ing its uni:ue attra7tions and also impro3ing its image so as to +e
7ompetiti3e among ot/er purposes of tourism ?allmann et al( 2012".
0espite great ad3an7es in modern te7/nolog4( produ7ing safe food and 9eeping it safe remains a
worldwide pu+li7 /ealt/ pro+lem wit/ illness 7aused +4 t/e 7onsumption of 7ontaminated food des7ri+ed as t/e
most widespread /ealt/ pro+lem in t/e 7ontemporar4 world. *3aila+le data indi7ate t/atG
most 7auses of su7/ illness are of +iologi7al originH
t/e ma.orit4 of t/ese are 7aused +4 mi7ro-organismsH
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t/at mis/andling of food at some stage along t/e food 7/ain is often responsi+leH and
food +usinesses wit/in t/e /ospitalit4 industr4 are impli7ated in a disproportionate num+er of out+rea9s(
-/e implementation and management of safe food /andling pro7edures is( t/erefore( of 7ru7ial importan7e to
+ot/ industr4 and 7onsumers-a4lor(200#"( espe7iall4 in ?eat/ -ourism.

*' esearch +ypotheses
1. -/e status of 8a/edan in terms of fa7ilities and medi7al ser3i7es is appropriate for t/e use of /ealt/
tourists.
2. 8a/edan1s tourism in terms of a77ommodation( food and drin9 is appropriate for t/e use of /ealt/
tourists.
$. -/e status of 8a/edan in terms of ser3i7es and fa7ilities of tourism and infrastru7ture is appropriate for
t/e use of tourists.
). Degional fa7tors affe7ting 8a/edan1s tourism are in good 7ondition.

,' The esearch Model
-/e model utili,ed in t/is stud4 /as an organi,ed framewor9 w/i7/ is 9nown as medi7al tourism s4stem and is
mentioned in @4u9oIs2011" studies. In /is model figure 1" /e /as di3ided medi7al tourism into 2 parts. -/e
first part in7ludes destination of medi7al tourism to w/i7/ a tourist tra3els to re7ei3e medi7al ser3i7es. -/e
se7ond part in7ludes t/e starting point of a tourist w/i7/ is /is li3ing pla7e. -/e relations/ip +etween t/e two
destinations is formed t/roug/ 7oming and going of medi7al tourists. In t/is relations/ip mar9eting pla4s a 9e4
role. In t/is s4stem a tourist or t/e person tra3elling for medi7al ser3i7es /as t/e main role for if t/is t4pe of
tourist did not eAist( ot/er parts would lose t/eir meaning. In t/is model in t/e tourist1s starting point li3ing
pla7e" t/ere are ' t4pes of patients as followsG patients wit/ /ea34 surgeries( patients wit/ minor surgeries(
plasti7 surger4( diagnosti7 surger4( su+stitution +e/a3iors and patients /a3ing spe7ial lifest4les. %t/er t/an
patients( t/ere are also ot/er se7tions in t/is areaG emplo4ees in treatment se7tion( insuran7e 7ompanies( and
tra3el agen7ies 7ondu7ting /ealt/ tours and arranging trips. In t/e ot/er se7tion of t/e model w/i7/ is a tourist -
in3iting region or a medi7al tourist destination t/ere are ) main parts +esides tra3el agen7iesG /ospital ser3i7es
and fa7ilities( and regional and state fa7tors. In t/is stud4 onl4 destination is eAamined and t/e model and its
parts are eAamined in 8a/edan. Sin7e tra3el agen7ies in 8a/edan /a3e a wea9 role in t/e organi,ation of patientsI
trips( t/e4 are eliminated.
?ospital ser3i7es and fa7ilities s/ow t/e 7apa7it4 of t/e destination to offer medi7al ser3i7es and t/ings
li9e medi7al eApenses at destination( a77essi+ilit4 to eApert do7tors( ne7essar4 /ospital e:uipment and t/e
li9e. .*77ommodation part in7ludes /otels and t/eir fa7ilities for t/e use of patients. -/e main fa7tor in t/is part
is eAisten7e of t4pes of food suita+le for patients and fa7ilities li9e +at/room and ele3ators in /otels of medi7al
tourism destinations. -arget tourism ser3i7es and fa7ilities are infrastru7tures of destination. Cases li9e /istori7al
and 7ultural attra7tions( re7reational fa7ilities and good image of destination are in7luded. Degional fa7tors
in7lude features of a medi7al tourist destination and 7ases li9e t/e rate of /ospitalit4 +4 nati3e people( o+ser3ing
t/e rig/ts of guests and 7ultural differen7es +etween guest and /ost @u49o( 2011". *lso -/e ?otel and lodging
industr4 /as +een 7ompeting on guest satisfa7tion and su7/ 7ompetition /as +e7ome more intense in re7ent
de7ades%/ J Jeong( 2010".

<igure.1( Medi7al -ourism S4stem Model
Sour7eG @4uEo(Medi7al -ourism S4stem Model( International Journal of -ourism S7ien7es( &olume 11( 2011
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1)9
-' esearch Methodology
-/e 7urrent resear7/ is KIapplied resear7/II and data gat/ering is +ased on KIsur3e4II met/od. -/e population of
t/e resear7/ 7onstitutes /ospital eAperts and treatment se7tion of medi7al uni3ersit4 of 8a/edan. EAperts are
7/osen from /ospitals of E/atam al an+ia( *li i+n*+itale+( Ba/aran /ospital( op/t/almolog4 of *l,a/ra and
Boali /ospital. -/ese eAperts are a7:uainted wit/ su+.e7ts of /ealt/ tourism. Degarding 7larit4 of resear7/
su+.e7t in 8a/edan and limitations of t/e eApe7ted population to 7omment on t/e su+.e7t( t/e snow+all met/od
was emplo4ed in sampling. * num+er of 110 :uestionnaires were issued to eligi+le people and 102 ones were
re7ei3ed and +e7ame t/e 7riterion for 7on7lusion. In order to gat/er resear7/ literature field studies were
emplo4ed t/roug/ issue of :uestionnaires and to measure resear7/ /4pot/eses t/e Bi9ert s7ale test was utili,ed.
In t/e :uestionnaire options from 1 to ' are related to measuring 3aria+le of /ospital ser3i7es and fa7ilities(
options from F to 12 are related to t/e 3aria+le of a77ommodation( food and drin9( options from 1$ to 1# are
related to t/e 3aria+le of 7i3il and tourism ser3i7es and fa7ilities and options from 19 to 2) are related to t/e
3aria+le of regional fa7tors. -o measure 3alidit4( a :uestionnaire wit/ t/e met/od of 7ontent 3alidit4 and
7orro+oration of eAperts was used. -o measure relia+ilit4( a num+er of $5 :uestionnaires in t/e form of a
primar4 sample wereissued. -/e 7oeffi7ient of Cron+a7/Is *lp/a e:uals 0.#0 w/i7/ indi7ates relia+ilit4 of t/e
:uestionnaire.

.' Analysis
-/e resear7/er /as emplo4ed des7ripti3e and dedu7ti3e statisti7s to anal4,e data.0es7ripti3e statisti7s in7lude t/e
fre:uen74 of Bi9ert s7ale options( median( mean( standard de3iation of resear7/ 3aria+les. In dedu7ti3e statisti7s
t/e resear7/er /as emplo4ed t/e <riedman test to eAamine importan7e of t/e resear7/ 3aria+les.
1.6 Descriptive analysis of factors of research variables
-/e results o+tained from des7ripti3e anal4sis of resear7/ data w/i7/ in7ludes fre:uen74 of dedi7ated 7odes to
Bi9ert s7ale of ea7/ :uestion( median and mean for ea7/ 3aria+le is as followsG

/' esult
1.7 Variable of "medical facilities and services"
Degarding t/e 3alues s/own in ta+le no.1( parti7ipants /ad t/e most agreement in sur3e4 wit/ :uestions 1( $ and
)( t/e medians of w/i7/ are $.9'( 5.1F and ).20 respe7ti3el4. -/e most disagreement was wit/ :uestions 2(5 and
'( t/e medians of w/i7/ are $.$0( $.)F and 2.'1 respe7ti3el4. It is wort/ noting t/at 7loseness of mean and
median of data s/ows normal distri+ution of data.
2.7 The variable of "hotels, food and beverage"
Degarding t/e 3alues s/own in ta+le no.2( t/e parti7ipants /ad t/e most agreement in sur3e4 wit/ :uestions 2($()
and 55( t/e medians of w/i7/ are ).01( ).)2( ).0) and $.#0 respe7ti3el4. -/e most disagreement was wit/
:uestions 1 and '( t/e medians of w/i7/ are $.55 and $.1) respe7ti3el4. It is wort/ noting t/at 7loseness of mean
and median of data s/ows normal distri+ution of data.
3.7 The variable of "torismfacilities and services"
Degarding t/e 3alues s/own in ta+le no.$( t/e parti7ipants /ad t/e most agreement in sur3e4 wit/ t/e :uestions $(
)( 5 and '( t/e medians of w/i7/ are $.95( $.9#( ).## and $.92 respe7ti3el4. -/e most disagreement was wit/ t/e
:uestions 1 and 2( t/e medians of w/i7/ are 2.F) and 2.25 respe7ti3el4. It is wort/ noting t/at t/e 7loseness of
mean and median of data s/ows normal distri+ution of data.
!.7 The variable of "governmental factors"
Degarding t/e 3alues s/own in ta+le no.)( t/e parti7ipants /ad t/e most agreement in sur3e4 wit/ t/e :uestions 2(
$ and )( t/e medians of w/i7/ are ).')( $.#$( and ).25 respe7ti3el4. -/e most disagreement was wit/ t/e
:uestions 1( 5 and '( t/e medians of w/i7/ are 2.)0( 2.F) and 2.'1 respe7ti3el4. It is wort/ noting t/at t/e
7loseness of mean and median of data s/ows normal distri+ution of data.

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150

Appendi0 ) - Table 1o'&2 Descriptive statistics of the variable of esearch Model
St.
0e3iation
Median Mean
No
Item &aria+le
& ) * , - . 3
1.)) ) $.9' $ 15 22 1' 2) 1F 5 Medi7al eApenses in 8a/edan are low.
?ospital <a7ilities and
Ser3i7es
1.50 $ $.$0 1$ 1' $1 1) 1) 10 ) -/ere is eAport medi7al personnel in /ospitals.
0.91 5 5.1F 0 0 $ 11 $# $9 9 -/reat of endemi7 diseases in 8a/edan.
1.5' ) ).20 ' # 19 1) 20 2' 9
*fter dis7/arge( as9ing a+out pattentsI /ealt/ is
done.
1.)$ $ $.)F F 1# 2) 20 1$ 10 10
Medi7al e:uipment li9e w/eel7/air and t/e li9e is
a lot in 8a/edan.
1.1F 2 2.'1 12 $' 2) # ' 2 1)
-o fa7ilities treatment( 7ontra7ts /a3e +een signed
wit/ different insuran7es.
1.$F $ $.55 ) 15 2) 1F 12 9 21 *77ommodation eApenses are low in 8a/edan.
?otels( <ood and
Be3erage
1.22 ) ).01 0 0 15 15 12 # )' ?otels staff in ,a/edan are professional.
1.2F 5 ).)2 1 ) 9 1$ 19 1$ )$
8a/edan /otels ser3e suita+le t4pe of food and
+e3erage for patients.
1.$1 ) ).0) 1 F 2F 15 1# 15 19 -/e 7osts of food and drin9 are low in 8a/edan.
1.$) ) $.#0 1 10 1# 1) 11 9 $9 -/ere are ser3i7es li9e internet in 8a/edan /otels.
1.)5 $ $.1) # 1# 2# 5 # # 2F <a7ilities li9e ele3ator and +at/room.
1.15 $ 2.F) 11 $1 $5 ' 10 1 # *77ess to 8a/edan t/roug/ air and land is eas4.
-ourism <a7ilities
1.1# 2 2.25 $0 $0 1) 1' 1 1 10
Mentalit4 of people in ot/er towns towards
8a/edan is good.
1.21 ) $.95 2 # 2F 21 29 # F
@eneral transportation ser3i7es in 8a/edan are
appropriate.
1.5$ ) $.9# 5 1$ 2$ 1) 21 21 5
-/e weat/er in 8a/edan is fa3ora+le most of t/e
time.
1.1# 5 ).## 1 2 12 1' 2F $9 5
-/ere are a lot of 7ultural and re7reational
attra7tions in ,a/edan.
1.)) ) $.92 ) 12 2) 12 25 1) 11 -/ere are ser3i7es li9e sport fa7ilities in 8a/edan.
1.2) 2 2.)02$ 2$ 2F 25 ' $ $ 15 Dig/ts of guests are o+ser3ed in 8a/edan.
@o3ernmental <a7tors
1.$$ 5 ).') 2 # ' 1' $1 2# 11
-/e rate of /ospitalit4 among people of 8a/edan
in /ig/.
1.55 ) $.#$F# # 11 ) 2$ 1# 10 2#
-/ere is 7ultural inter7/ange +etween nati3es and
people of ot/er towns.
1.5$ ) ).255$ 5 # 19 1' 1# 2# # -/e rate of 7rime is /ig/ in 8a/edan.
1.1$ $ 2.F)29 # 2) 2$ 9 5 1 $2
0ifferent .o+s in 8a/edan /a3e t/eir own
s4ndi7ates.
1.12 $ 2.'1'2 15 $0 )2 5 ) $ $ *-M ser3i7es are easil4 done.
1LCompletel4 disagree 2L0isagree $LModeratel4 disagree )LModeratel4 agree 5L*gree 'LCompletel4 agree

".7 #imilarity test of independent research variables
In order to eAamine rating of resear7/ 3aria+les of t/e resear7/ <riedman test was emplo4ed. -a+le no.5 s/ows
median of rating for ea7/ 3aria+le. -/e /ig/er t/e 3alues in t/e median of ratings( t/e more important t/e4 are.
In t/is stud4 t/e 3aria+le of tourist fa7ilities wit/ rating median of $.0$ re7ei3es t/e most importan7e and t/e
3aria+le of regional fa7tors wit/ rating median of 1.'9 re7ei3es t/e least importan7e. Degarding t/e 3aria+les
s/own in ta+le no.5 sigL0.00(M
2
L 12$.)$2" sigN5 and t/is indi7ates t/at importan7e of resear7/ 3aria+les is not
similar from t/e 3iewpoint of parti7ipants in sur3e4.
Appendi0*- Table 1o')2 Mean an4
Mean Dan9 &aria+le
2.F0 O?ospital <a7ilities and Ser3i7esO
2.5# O?otels( <ood and Be3erageO
$.0$ O-ourism <a7ilitiesO
1.'9 O@o3ernmental <a7torsO

Appendi0 ,- Table 1o'*2 "riedman Test
102 N
59.#5' M
2
$ df
0.000 !-3alue

5' esearch "indings
-/is paper o+tains results of t/e sur3e4 from eAperts of medi7al department of 8a/edanIs /ospitals. Desear7/
findings for ) independent 3aria+les are as followsG
1.$ The variable of medical services and facilities
*77ording to des7ripti3e data it is 7on7luded t/atG 8a/edan /as a good status in terms of medi7al eApenses and
7aring a+out patients after dis7/arge. -/ere are endemi7 diseases in 8a/edan and medi7al 7enters are wea9
owing to la79 of medi7al eAperts( medi7al fa7ilities and 7ontra7t wit/ different insuran7es.

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&ol.'( No.2$( 201)

151
2.$ The variable of accommodation, food and drin%
*77ording to des7ripti3e data it is 7on7luded t/atG /otels in 8a/edan are appropriate owing to eApert personnel(
suita+le t4pes of food for patients( low 7osts of food and drin9( a77ess to internet for medi7al tourists. ?owe3er
in terms of a77ommodation eApenses and eAisten7e of fa7ilities li9e ele3ator and +at/rooms in /otels and
pro7urement of appropriate t4pes of food for patients( it /as some wea9nesses.
3.$ The variable of torist facilities and services
*77ording to des7ripti3e data it is 7on7luded t/atG in t/e area of tourist fa7ilities and ser3i7es( appropriateness of
general transportation ser3i7es( fa3ora+le weat/er most of t/e time( eAisten7e of re7reational fa7ilities( ri7/
7ulture and sports fa7ilities( 8a/edan /as great potentials. ?owe3er it does not /a3e a good status in terms of air
and land a77essi+ilit4 and mentalit4 of people in ot/er towns.
!.$ The variable of regional factors
*77ording to des7ripti3e data it is 7on7luded t/atG people in 8a/edan are /ospita+le and t/ere is 7ultural
inter7/ange +etween nati3es and people of ot/er towns. -/e /ig/ 3alue in t/e median of :uestion ) indi7ates
/ig/ rate of 7rime in 8a/edan from t/e 3iewpoint of parti7ipants in t/e sur3e4. 8a/edan /as some wea9nesses in
terms of o+ser3ing t/e rig/ts of guests( eAisten7e of .o+s wit/ spe7ial s4ndi7ates and *-M ser3i7es.

6' Conclusion
Sadr momta, and *g/ara/imi 2010" in t/eir stud4 s/ow 7oordination +etween t/e parts in3ol3ed in tourism and
7reation of in7enti3es to in3est in medi7al tourism. -/is 7oordination is a77essi+le t/roug/ a s4stemati7 and
organi,ed approa7/. -/e model under stud4 in t/is resear7/ in7ludes all parts of medi7al tourism +ot/ in starting
point and destination and it offers some guidelines wit/ respe7t to t/e role of ea7/ one.
0elgos/aee et al 2012" /a3e 7lassified 7/allenges and opportunities for IranIs medi7al tourism in four fa7tors of
strategi7 and 7ompetiti3e status( terms of demand( dependent industries( patrons and operating terms. %rgani,ing
medi7al tourism wit/ s4stemati7 approa7/ and eApanding it 7auses en/an7ement of 7ompetition in tourist
destination among ot/er destinations and t/e first step is 7orre7t management for eApansion of medi7al tourism.
Degarding t/e results of resear7/ anal4sis and pre3ious studies it is 7on7luded t/at t/e town of 8a/edan /as t/e
ne7essar4 potentials to 7ondu7t a7ti3ities in t/e area of medi7al tourism. Bow 7osts of treatment turn 8a/edan
into a proper pla7e for medi7al tourism in t/e 7ountr4 and east. *lso 8a/edan needs to a+sor+ eAperts and
eApansion of /ospital e:uipment must +e 7onsidered +4 organi,ers. Controlling endemi7 diseases must also +e
ta9en into a77ount. Degarding low eApenses of a77ommodation in 8a/edan( /otels and a77ommodation 7enters
in 8a/edan /a3e t/e opportunit4 to attra7t medi7al tourists. If t/e4 pa4 more attention to matters li9e ser3ing
appropriate t4pes of food for patients( t/e4 will /a3e +etter opportunities. EAisten7e of /istori7al and re7reational
attra7tions in 8a/edan is a ma.or fa7tor in trips ta9en +4 medi7al tourists. *lso mentalit4 of people and 7iti,ens
in ot/er towns needs to +e impro3ed t/roug/ organi,ing and 7ondu7ting mar9eting a7ti3ities. ?ospitalit4 of t/e
people in 8a/edan must +e ta9en into a77ount. -o 7ontrol 7rime rate in 8a/edan 7orre7t management +4
responsi+le organi,ations is essential.

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