• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
• /
• v.7 no.4
• /
• pp.193-202
• /
• 2019

Purpose : The study was conducted to analyze the differences in perceptions, attitudes, and knowledge of health tourism students' medical tourism industry as a basic data for improving the curriculum for human resource development that can be activated by the medical tourism industry. Methods : The questionnaires were directly distributed and retrieved from 394 university students attending 4 year college health department and tourism department of some regions (IRB approval number, KW-2017-05). The questionnaire used the Likert 5-point scale to analyze differences in perceptions, attitudes, and knowledge levels in the medical tourism industry. Independent sample t tests were conducted to examine the differences in perceptions, attitudes, and knowledge about the medical tourism industry between the two groups. Results : Results obtained from this study are as follows. 1. Differences in perceptions of the medical tourism industry were 3.44 points for health and 3.45 points for tourism (p<.05). 2. The difference in attitude level was 2.28 for health and 2.79 for tourism. And that tourism has a high perception and attitude. The knowledge of medical tourism industry was 5.93 in health department and 7.11 in sight tourism, and the tourism sector was significantly higher (p<.001). 3. As a result of analysis on attitudes, interest, direct and indirect experience, practical knowledge acquisition, and development possibility were all statistically significant. 4. 98.6 % of the health students and 97.8 % of the tourism students did not obtain the qualification for the qualification of the international medical tourism coordinator. However, in the future, respondents who answered that they have obtained the certificate of international medical tourism coordinator responded positively to 54.9 % of tourism department and 25.2 % of health department. Conclusion : A systematic education of the medical tourism industry will improve the level of human resource development in the medical tourism industry, including the acquisition of international medical tourism coordinator certification, as well as the level of medical tourism industry awareness, knowledge and attitude.

• International Commerce and Information Review
• /
• v.10 no.4
• /
• pp.579-595
• /
• 2008

Medical tourism is a contemporary phenomenon which has its roots in both tourism and health care industry. This market has grown significantly' for the last 10 years. The purpose of this study is to suggest strategies to develop medical tourism in Korea by studying cases of the medical tourism developed countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, India, Thailand as well as analysis medical tourists who has visited to H university hospital. In total of 254 medical tourists were analysed and the results of the study are followed: Korean government need to appease medical law to be able to attract more medical tourists; medical industry and tourism industry need to develop Korean specialized medical tourism package, Middle-Eastern markets, where the oil money exists, should be developed.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.34 no.2
• /
• pp.41-50
• /
• 2013

Objectives: As a newcomer to the medical tourism industry, Korea needs to differentiate itself from the leading competing countries to vitalize its early-stage medical tourism industry. This study aims to introduce a strategic plan to vitalize the Korean integrated medical tourism so that Korea can differentiate itself from competing countries and create high added value. Methods: The concept and actual conditions of medical tourism and Oriental medical tourism were examined. A plan to differentiate Korea from the competing countries in the medical tourism industry was studied to create high added-value through strategic vitalization of its medical tourism industry. Results: Korean integrated medical tourism must be developed differently from those of other South-East Asian countries in order to strategically promote the cash-cow medical tourism industry. In order to develop such medical tourism, Korean medical practice, which integrates Western and Oriental medicine, is to be developed through mutual understanding and fusion of other disciplines among medical doctors and Oriental medical doctors who are working in local healthcare for health promotion of local residents and disease prevention and control. This will play a key role in developing a unique medical tourism product of Korea by means of strategic alliances as an integrated medicine. Manpower specialized for integrated medicine is to be specially supplied for Oriental medicine-related business lines at city, county and borough levels, among local governments, that are enthusiastically carrying forward Oriental medical tourism with an interest to promoting more active and strategic business development and raise the effectiveness and efficiency of public health centers handling related medical tourism. Manpower specialized for Korean integrated medical tourism is to be specially supplied for the Ministry of Culture, Health and Tourism, a policy control tower to develop and vitalize high value-added fusion (theme) tourism products such as the Korean integrated medical tourism, in order to discover, promote and support Korean integrated medical tourism's differences from existing medical tourism. Conclusions: The differentiated integrated medical tourism that only Korea can offer in a variety of forms, in order to create a key area of high value-added medical tourism, should be strategically vitalized through a liaison between integrated medicine and tourism and the realization of patient-centered health care services with medical technology developed based on mutual understanding of Western and Oriental medicine.

• International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology
• /
• v.8 no.4
• /
• pp.255-262
• /
• 2020

Recently, medical tourism is recognized as a high value-added industry because of its longer period of stay and higher expenditure than general tourism. In particular, although the number of medical tourists visiting Korea is increasing, the perception of Korean medical services is low. The purpose of this paper is to develop the app which, based on medical tourism type, recommends tourism destinations. Additionally, this proposed app can expand general tourism as well. It can provide tourists with medical information easily by sorting types tourists. Besides, as medical tourists normally stay long, we can take the advantage of post-treatment time. This app collects medical information data and tourist destination data, and categorizes the types of medical tourists into four categories: disease medical tourism, traditional medical tourism, cosmetic medical tourism, and recreational medical tourism. It provides medical information according to each type and recommends customized tourist destinations. User-based collaborative filtering is applied for tourist destination recommendations.

• International Journal of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.36-39
• /
• 2022

Medical tourism is recognized as a high value-added industry due to its longer stay and more useful costs than general tourism, and is growing rapidly around the world, especially in Asia. In addition, medical tourism is a new form of tourism that combines medical services with tourism activities such as recreation, leisure, and cultural activities, nowadays, medical tourism is emphasizing the combination of medical and tourism. Although Korea medical system and clinic have excellent medical equipment and infrastructure, it is not consistent with policy support and legislation. That have make it difficult for consumers to choose clinics for medical tourism. Therefore, it is necessary to provide customized information to the clinics that consumers want to match each other's services. In particular, it is aimed at consumers with simple procedures and cosmetic purposes, especially at small hospitals. In this paper, we propose a customized service platform that matches users seeking clinics and also medical tourism. Also we can easy to reservation clinic for medical tour.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.333-341
• /
• 2015

This article aimed to investigate problems relating to medical tourism based on a review of medical tourism reports and statistics in the global healthcare industry. To be a leading nation in the global healthcare industry, the needs and culture of many peoples, including Muslims, should be considered. Qualified medical services by JCI certification, including nutrition services, will provide opportunities to participate in the international and Asia medical tourism markets. In this article, the definitions of medical tourism, medical service, Halal and Haram, nutrition service for inbound Muslim patients, and Halal food supply in Korea were examined for medical service improvement. Mutual assistance between the government and private enterprise, sharing of medical service information, and construction of a cooperative network system are needed and should be supported by the government.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.32-45
• /
• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this research is to develop two medical tourism system models which explain medical tourism phenomenon with a systemic approach. Methodology/Approach: This research was conducted using a qualitative data analysis which mainly refer previous references in relation to medical tourism in the areas of tourism and medicine. Leiper's tourism system model was utilized as a conceptual framework. In-depth interviews with experts in the area were attempted in order to pretest the models. Findings: This research suggests a medical tourism system framework and a medical service provision framework. The first model presents medical tourism components and their relationships within a framework presented in a diagram. The second model shows the relationships among medical services required by medical tourists, the service providers, and service human resources along with movements of medical tourists. Practical Implications: The first model presents a spatial composition of medical tourism components and their relationships, whereas the second model shows the linkage among medical services, the service providers, and relevant service human resources along with time sequential steps of medical tourists. These two models are complementary and may be used as useful tools to observe medical tourism phenomenon with a systemic and holistic approach. These two models may enable stake holders avoid unnecessary confusions and conflicts that result in duplication of government policies and a waste of budget and human resources.

• International Commerce and Information Review
• /
• v.12 no.4
• /
• pp.345-362
• /
• 2010

It is necessary to develop new competitive products under the world economic downturn. The medical tourism industry a good example and it has grown rapidly for last couple of years. This paper aims to investigate socio-demographic proxies of inbound medical tourists in Korea. In particular, the medical tourist behaviors are modeled by considering the factors such as acquisition process of medical tourism information, service level of medical tourism industry and the choice attributes. The results of this study are summarized that: 1) Moot inbound medical tourists are over 40-years old with professional occupation accompanied with families; 2) The information resources are mainly acquired from travel agents and WOM(Word of Mouth) such as friends and relatives; 3) Current problems are lack of various promotion channels and the competitiveness of medical coots; 4) The inbound medical tourists are not homogeneous but vary in different segments. The study suggests that various marketing strategies should be implemented for target market segments to promote Korea as a medical tourism hub.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.137-143
• /
• 2009

1. Objective : This study aims to evaluate the medical tourism structures in countries with prosperous medical tourism industry such as Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and India in order ro propose optimal strategies that can promote the medical tourism in Korea. 2. Methods : All pertinent literature concerning medical tourism directly and indirectly were assessed, and reviews of medical tourism strategies found in various countries were evaluated. 3. Results : Evaluation of related literature reveals that medical tourism is a recent burgeoning industry that has grown In market size considerably in the last five to ten years. Also, it shows that oriental medicine is a highly likely candidate amidst the various medical fields for attraction foreign patients. 4. Conclusion : The Korean government should support and install appropriate legal and administrative bodies in order to attract medical tourists; Korea-specific medical tourism programs (ie. traditional Korean medicine package tours) should be developed in order to attract medical tourists from the western world and the middle-east. In addition, low-price policy of medical tourism is not a proper strategies for the competition against advanced medical tourism destinations such as Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and India. Differentiated medical tourism package such as oriental medical tourism program rather than provision of low-price policy seems to be more effective strategy for the medical tourism in Korea. Future studies on strategies for promoting medical tourism should focus on how foreigners recognize traditional Korean medicine, what diagnostic approach might be appealing to them and how the legal system concerning the medical procedures may be altered and modified.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.85-110
• /
• 2011

As Gangwon-do Province needs an environmental-friendly alternative tourism according to low carbon green growth, this study analyzes specialized fields in green health industry, selects seven specialized fields in green health industry that is fit to Gangwon-do Province, and suggests a development strategy by conducting recognition surveys on preference and impotence of the specialized fields. Surveys and interviews are conducted of 106 students at Green Health Industry Education Center which is operating by Kwandong University and 84 persons who work at medical institutions and tourism related companies in Ganwondo. The surveys and interviews were completed from November 5 to November 19 in 2010, determined factors through a factor analysis when they have many questions, and analyzed by using SPSS 14.0. Out of the seven specialized fields, rest & recuperation field is highly recognized. In order to have competitive edge compared to other self-governing provinces, Ganwon-do Province should prioritize rest and recuperation field. A healthcare program in the green health industry specific to Ganwon-do Province includes hot springs and spa programs as a priority. Gangwon-do's hot springs are deemed to be competitive resources as global medical tourists prefer spa and sauna healthcare programs, while the province promotes its spring resources and builds medical tourism infrastructures. Gangwon-do Province can promote a medical tourism industry that is well suitable for the strength and characteristics of the province. It might pursue oriental medicine therapy tourism, which is related to a recuperating medical service that uses both oriental and western medicine. It can also run such programs as forest bathing (oxygen road), spring and spa, and sea water treatment, which are the specialized fields in green health industry with respect to recreation and healthcare.