Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2017
Abstract
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.
Keywords
Medical tourism, Dental tourism, Motivation, Satisfaction, Malaysia, Patient satisfaction, Health-care, Service quality, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Dentists, Travel, Perspective, Environmental Sciences & Ecology, Social Sciences - Other Topics, Business & Economics
Divisions
CommunityDentistry
Funders
University of Malaya: Project grant no: PPPC/C1-2015/DHC/09
Publication Title
Tourism Management
Volume
61
Publisher
Elsevier