Ethical and sustainable healthcare tourism development: A primer

Abstract

In recent years, healthcare tourism has emerged as a viable economic sector for several regions. Although the sector offers economic benefits, it has been suggested that pursuit of such benefits is often associated with unethical and unsustainable practices. To assuage these concerns, this article argues that destinations should adopt a collaborative stakeholder-driven approach. It also offers suggestions which can aid regions in developing this sector in a sustainable and ethical manner. The proposed framework and suggestions are not intended as panaceas for healthcare tourism development. Instead, they are offered as discussion starting points to provoke thought, discussion, and debate about how regions can leverage healthcare tourism resources in a profitable, ethical, and sustainable manner. Additionally, the framework and suggestions can be adopted by tourism policy planners and practitioners to assist in the ethical and sustainable development and management of the healthcare tourism sector.