Perceived Impacts of Medical Tourism Development on Community Wellbeing

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-23-2018

Publication Title

Tourism Management

Volume

69

First page number:

232

Last page number:

245

Abstract

Community leaders and tourism authorities in Las Vegas have suggested the promotion and development of medical tourism to improve the economy and quality of life for residents. The present study uses social exchange theory with spillover theory as the conceptual framework to examine factors of economic performance of medical tourism, overall community satisfaction, health care satisfaction and attitudes toward medical tourism; these factors influence on residents' perceptions of medical tourism's impact on community wellbeing, which in turn affects willingness to pay higher taxes and support for medical tourism development. The findings revealed that the greater the economic performance of medical tourism, the more positive the impact of medical tourism to community wellbeing was perceived. Similarly, attitudes toward medical tourism and overall community satisfaction positively influenced the perceived impact of medical tourism on community wellbeing. Finally, community wellbeing positively influenced residents' willingness to pay higher taxes and support medical tourism development.

Keywords

Medical tourism; Resident perceptions; Community wellbeing; Quality of life; Las Vegas

Disciplines

Tourism and Travel

Language

English


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