The Barriers Against the Entrepreneurship Development of Medical and Healthcare Tourism Industry: Evidence From Kermanshah, Iran

Abstract

Background: Medical and healthcare tourism is an important area influencing destination development. Considering the geographical location of Kermanshah City, Iran and presence of the associated experts, the medical and healthcare tourism and entrepreneurship development are among the key resources for the sustainable development of Kermanshah. Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the barriers against the entrepreneurship development of medical and healthcare tourism in Kermanshah. Methods: This explorative study was conducted with a mined design using the mixed-methods approach, involving both qualitative and quantitative methods. The sample population consisted of experts, tourists, skilled individuals in the areas of health, medicine, and tourism. Results: The main barriers against entrepreneurship development in medical and healthcare tourism in Kermanshah included infrastructural barriers, marketing and promotion barriers, human resource barriers, management barriers, governmental barriers, barriers related to rules and regulations, cultural barriers against tourism development, and issues in the cooperation of private and governmental sectors. Conclusions: According to the results, the severity of the impact of the barriers against entrepreneurship and tourism development was classified into three levels, and the implications were also discussed.