Dental Tourism

Social media are part of the fabric of today's world, from which health care is not excluded. Based on its distribution capacity, a single individual can cause an amount of damage to an institution that only a few decades ago required access to a mainstream news media outlet. Despite the obvious parallels in professional standards in the medical and dental communities, the scholarly activity and resulting collegial discourse observed among medical professionals remain unmatched in the dental education literature. As a result, a rigorous research agenda on the topic is indicated. Once these results are evaluated and thoroughly vetted, actions should be tailored to address the needs, minimize the threats, and maximize the opportunities that have been already noted by the medical profession.

About Destination Health

Destination Health Magazine is the first magazine edited in the UK with the objective of discussing healthcare tourism about the importance of the medical, thermal and other aspects of healthcare tourism with future perspective. Topics are focused on the important niche of modern medicine.

In the magazine, apart from facts related to healthcare providers will include articles about spas, thermals, the latest technological care opportunities and digital health products, the most newly developed medical technologies, alternative treatments models and sections devoted to tourism, literature among others.

Destination Health Magazine an international scientific journalistic magazine dealing with hospitals, clinics, health resort medicine, thermal therapies, SPAs and third age tourism etc.

Includes articles all up to date medical activities originated and derived in expert opinion based and/or scientific evidence-based aiming at health promotion, prevention, therapy and rehabilitation.

Articles are published in English. Regular sections include original articles reporting basic research, review articles, editorials, and letters to the Editor.

Destination Health Magazine is a one-stop destination for healthcare tourism professionals with original and concise articles. DHM reports on the newest trends in the healthcare tourism industry to its audience. The magazine conveys essential and innovative practices, bringing readers deep into the dynamic industry and sharing what is vital for success. With a fresh perspective, no other industry publication delivers a more complete editorial product than Destination Health Magazine.

Your Magazine will also develop a concept as discussing platform on every aspect of healthcare tourism and its role in modern society which named as “Questions & Talks (DHM Qs&Ts)”.

Millions and millions of people use cross-border health services for curative purposes each year. The Destination Health Magazine aims to favour research, share information between countries and professionals, and to publish and promote collaboration between different organizations linked to the healthcare tourism sector.

DHM also offers invaluable learning and networking opportunities, the DHM is a paper and web-based leading international meeting place where innovative minds gather to discuss ideas and solutions that inspire change on the healthcare tourism industry.

Promoting policies and practices benefiting businesses and communities, the DHM helps to reinforce the role of healthcare tourism in building a healthier future.

Öz Tarih boyunca kişileri seyahat etmeye yönelten en önemli amaçlardan birisi de "sağlık" olmuştur ve bu amaçla yapılan seyahatlerin sayısı da süreç içerisinde her geçen gün artmıştır. Sağlık turizminin tedavi ve hekim müdahalesi gerektiren türü tıp turizmi ya da medikal turizm olarak tanımlanır. Turizm endüstrisindeki önemini zaman içinde daha da arttıran ve niş pazarlar içerisinde önemli bir yer tutan tıp turizminin özel bir alanı olan "dental turizm" de tüm dünyada önemli bir alt-medikal turistik ürün haline gelmiştir. Ülkemizin de özellikle gelişmiş batı ülkelerine göre tedavi fiyatları bakımından avantajlı olduğu bu turizm türünde pazar potansiyeli oldukça yüksektir. Bu çalışmanın temel amacı da, ilgili alan yazında henüz yeteri kadar değerlendirilmemiş olan dental turizmin Türkiye' deki durumunu incelemek ve bu amaçla Türkiye'ye gelen dental turistlerin seyahat motivasyonlarını Aydın'ın Didim ilçesi ölçeğinde değerlendirmektir. Bu hedefe dönük olarak, Didim' de yapılan araştırmada, bölgeyi ziyaret eden sağlık turistlerinin temel özellikleri ve bölgeyi tercih nedenleri incelenmiştir. Çalışmada bir nicel yöntem olan ve anket tekniğine dayalı alan araştırması (survey) yöntemi kullanılmıştır. Çalışmadaki faktör analizi sonuçlarına göre, içinde yer aldığı faktörü en yüksek değerde açıklayan; yeterli bilgilendirme, yorumlar, etkili iletişim ve tavsiye değişkenleri destinasyonun seçiminde birincil derecede önemli faktörler arasında yer almıştır. Anahtar Kelimeler: Medikal Turizm, Dental Turizm, Motivasyon, Didim. Abstract Throughout the ages, "health" has been one of the most important travel motivations of individuals, and the number of travels with this purpose is continuing to increase nowadays as well. Medical or medico-tourism is a kind of health tourism that requires a physician treatment and external intervention. Likewise "dental tourism", as a specific field of medical tourism, has an important place in niche markets and it increases its importance in tourism industry becoming a favorable sub-medical tourism product all around the world. Our country has also substantial potential for health tourism in terms of treatment prices in comparison to developed countries. The basic objective of this study is to examine the actual potential of dental tourism in Turkey, which has not been adequately studied in the related literature so far, and to study the motivations of dental tourists who have already visited Didim as a dental tourism destination. For this purpose, this study examines the main characteristics of the health tourists visiting the region and their basic travel motivations to the region. A survey as a quantitative method based on questionnaire technique was used for data collection. According to the major findings of factor analyses, sufficient information, comments about the services, effective communication and recommendations by former users have been determined as primary explanatory variables for destination preferences of dental visitors.

Patient mobility is increasing. 'Dental tourism' is driven by numerous factors. These factors include the high cost of local care, delays in obtaining access to local dentists, competent care at many international clinics, inexpensive air travel, and the Internet's capacity to link 'customers' to 'sellers' of health-related services. Though dental tourism will benefit some patients, increased patient mobility comes with numerous risks. Lack of access to affordable and timely local care plays a significant role in prompting patients to cross borders and receive dental care outside their local communities.

Acknowledging a growing demand in the sector of medical tourism as well as a growing demand for dental care from developed countries, this paper discusses the possibilities of successful and sustainable use of dental tourism potential and its marketing activities on a national level. Th e purpose of this article is to emphasize dental tourism development as an opportunity for Croatian tourism more than just „sea and sun” seasonal tourism products. Research results show that Croatia has the necessary preconditions and key resources for dental tourism development, recognized in the strategic documents of the Republic of Croatia, such include outstanding natural and qualified human resources, but also competitive prices and proximity to the large source markets, however this form of tourism in Croatia has not used its development possibilities due to the lack of systematic national promotion and the absence of a strong sales network in Croatia. Th e existing market position of dental tourism in Croatia is still insufficiently diversified, relatively unorganized and poorly recognized, and it’s determined mainly by the individual efforts of private clinics so the special focus is given to marketing initiatives which influence the international recognisability of Croatia as a popular destination of dental tourism. The methods used in the research include description, compilation and classification of scientific and professional papers. The primary research was conducted in February 2017 by quota sampling of 15 dental clinics in Primorsko - Goranska County, selected from the Croatian Dental Chamber’s list. Selection criteria was made in base of location and the number of employees. Th e study was focused on gathering qualitative data, focused on the analysis of their websites and an online survey was send to above mentioned dental clinics. Th e online survey was consisted of 18 questions and structured in a way to meet all research objectives. The sample included employees and managers of dental clinics. The study tested the following hypotheses: H1 Croatia has developed dental tourism as a health tourism sub-segment. H2 Dental clinics use marketing activities to promote dental tourisam. H3 Croatia government doesn`t offer subventions for the marketing activities of dental tourism. Dental tourism offers Croatia an opportunity to prolong the tourist season throughout the year, as dental patients have teeth problems all year long, which leads to an increasing percentage of capacity utilization, but it can also influence development of tourist facilities and infrastructure (hotels, restaurants, travel agencies) and raise overall employment. Marketing activities in Croatia’s dental tourism are insufficiently diversified. Dental clinics should enhance their strategic marketing to lure international clients. Croatia’s government should support and evaluate dental tourism development as an economic process and an opportunity for tourism. Contribution of this study is in assessment of Croatia’s dental clinics marketing initiatives and government efforts towards increasing performance and quality of the dental tourism off er. Following global trends and observing the practice and promotional techniques of neighboring countries who are active in the dental tourism market we can find the most appropriate way of implementing such marketing and tourism activity’s which can serve as basis for further development with the aim of enhancing Croatia’s position on the global dental market. Limitation of the study is that research results couldn’t be compared as there is no primer conducted related study in Croatia best to our knowledge. Future research should focus on the number, profi le, motives, satisfaction and movements of dental tourists because there is a general lack of research on those subjects.

Despite the overwhelming interest in medical tourism research, knowledge in dental tourism, which is its subspecialty, remains limited. This study is the first to measure tourist profiles, travel motivation and satisfaction among inbound dental tourists in Malaysia. We purposely sampled twelve selected private dental clinics in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Melaka and Penang; and distributed the questionnaires to their inbound dental tourists. A total of 196 inbound tourists responded to the questionnaire, mainly from Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand and Europe. In order of importance, the main motivation factors were dental care quality, dental care information access, and cost-savings. Tourists were extremely satisfied with dental care services received in the country. While dental care quality, dental care information access and supporting services positively influenced tourist satisfaction; cost-savings and cultural similarities had negative influences. Based on the research findings, we propose some managerial and marketing recommendations. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Despite the overwhelming interest in medical tourism research, knowledge in dental tourism, which is its subspecialty, remains limited. This study is the first to measure tourist profiles, travel motivation and satisfaction among inbound dental tourists in Malaysia. We purposely sampled twelve selected private dental clinics in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Melaka and Penang; and distributed the questionnaires to their inbound dental tourists. A total of 196 inbound tourists responded to the questionnaire, mainly from Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand and Europe. In order of importance, the main motivation factors were dental care quality, dental care information access, and cost-savings. Tourists were extremely satisfied with dental care services received in the country. While dental care quality, dental care information access and supporting services positively influenced tourist satisfaction; cost-savings and cultural similarities had negative influences. Based on the research findings, we propose some managerial and marketing recommendations. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Despite the overwhelming interest in medical tourism research, knowledge in dental tourism, which is its subspecialty, remains limited. This study is the first to measure tourist profiles, travel motivation and satisfaction among inbound dental tourists in Malaysia. We purposely sampled twelve selected private dental clinics in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Melaka and Penang; and distributed the questionnaires to their inbound dental tourists. A total of 196 inbound tourists responded to the questionnaire, mainly from Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand and Europe. In order of importance, the main motivation factors were dental care quality, dental care information access, and cost-savings. Tourists were extremely satisfied with dental care services received in the country. While dental care quality, dental care information access and supporting services positively influenced tourist satisfaction; cost-savings and cultural similarities had negative influences. Based on the research findings, we propose some managerial and marketing recommendations. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.