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Health Tourism in Turkey: Developments, Opportunities, and Future Perspectives

Yıl 2025, Cilt: 8 Sayı: 2, 55 - 73, 22.12.2025
https://doi.org/10.58636/jtis.1805780

Öz

This conceptual study examines the potential, historical development, and current state of health tourism in Turkey. Health tourism has become a rapidly growing and globally significant sector in recent years. Turkey has become an attractive destination for health tourism due to its geographical location, quality health services, experienced healthcare personnel, and affordable treatment options. The study covers different types of health tourism, its historical development, economic impacts, and the advantages and challenges Turkey offers. Additionally, the potential of health tourism in Turkey and the necessary investments for the future are evaluated. In this context, a comprehensive perspective on the current situation and future prospects in the field of health tourism is presented through the compilation and analysis of existing studies in the literature. The study aims to contribute to the health tourism literature and provide useful information for policymakers, healthcare professionals, and academics.

Kaynakça

  • Akbulak, C. (2016). Ardahan ilinde kırsal turizm potansiyelinin sayısallaştırılmış SWOT analizi ile değerlendirilmesi. Humanitas-Uluslararası Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 4(7), 1–30.
  • Alçiçek, H., Bülbül, A., Yavuzer, İ., & Alçiçek, M. C. (2019). Origin and evolution of the thermal waters from the Pamukkale geothermal field (Denizli Basin, SW Anatolia, Turkey): Insights from hydrogeochemistry and geothermometry. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 372, 48–70.
  • Alrawadieh, D. D. (2021). Mapping the governmental response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its implications on the hospitality and tourism industry: The case of Turkey.
  • Aydın, Y., Çalıpınar, H., Korkmaz, S., & Demir, L. (2024). A systematic review of medical tourism supply chain: Current status and future directions. International Journal of Contemporary Tourism Research. https://doi.org/10.30625/ijctr.1525031
  • Bağcı, E., Uzun, C., & Bostan, A. (2020). Covid-19 and health tourism. Journal of Awareness, 5(3), 331–348.
  • Barsacchi, F. G. (2021). Two festivals celebrated by a Hittite prince (CTH 647.I and II–III): New light on local cults in north-central Anatolia in the second millennium BC. Journal of the American Oriental Society, 140(4), 1007–1009.
  • Bender, T., Karagülle, Z., Bálint, G. P., Gutenbrunner, C., Bálint, P. V., & Sukenik, S. (2005). Hydrotherapy, balneotherapy, and spa treatment in pain management. Rheumatology International, 25(3), 789–794.
  • Bookman, M. Z., & Bookman, K. R. (2007). Medical tourism in developing countries. Palgrave Macmillan.
  • Connell, J. (2006). Medical tourism: Sea, sun, sand and … surgery. Tourism Management, 27(6), 1093–1100.
  • Connell, J. (2013). Contemporary medical tourism: Conceptualisation, culture and commodification. Tourism Management, 34, 1–13.
  • Connell, J. (2015). From medical tourism to transnational health care? An epilogue for the future. Social Science & Medicine, 124, 398–401.
  • Darcy, S., & Dickson, T. J. (2009). A whole-of-life approach to tourism: The case for accessible tourism experiences. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 16(1), 32–44.
  • Darendeli, T., & Binan, C. Ş. (2021). Seljuks inherit to Anatolia: Caravanserais. American Journal of Archaeology, 7, 137–172.
  • Durak, S., Yeke, S., & Arslan, T. V. (2016). Significance of cultural heritage preservation in sustainable cultural tourism: Muradiye Complex in Bursa, Türkiye. European Journal of Sustainable Development, 5(1), 1–12.
  • Durduran, Y., Okka, B., & Avan, A. (2017). Preferences of those who utilize thermal springs about spa tourism. European Journal of Business and Management, 9(3), 98–105.
  • Erfurt, P. (2021). Hot springs throughout history: The geoheritage of hot springs. Springer Nature.
  • Erfurt-Cooper, P., & Cooper, M. (2009). Health and wellness tourism: Spas and hot springs. Channel View Publications.
  • Fioravanti, A. (2020). Foreword: Balneotherapy in rheumatic diseases. International Journal of Biometeorology, 64(5), 903–904.
  • Han, H., & Hwang, J. (2013). Multi-dimensions of the perceived benefits in a medical hotel and their roles in international travelers’ decision-making process. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 35, 100–108.
  • Hanefeld, J., Lunt, N., Smith, R., & Horsfall, D. (2015). Why do medical tourists travel to where they do? The role of networks in determining medical travel. Social Science & Medicine, 124, 356–363.
  • Heung, V. C. S., Kucukusta, D., & Song, H. (2011). Medical tourism development in Hong Kong: An assessment of the barriers. Tourism Management, 32(2), 235–243.
  • Horowitz, M. D., Rosensweig, J. A., & Jones, C. A. (2007). Medical tourism: Globalization of the healthcare marketplace. MedGenMed, 9(4), 33.
  • İbret, B. Ü. (2011). Türkiye’de yeni gelişen bir termal turizm merkezi: Çavundur Kaplıcası. Doğu Coğrafya Dergisi, 12(18), 135–164.
  • Isikli, E., Serdarasan, S., & Karadayi-Usta, S. (2019, September). Predicting the medical tourism demand of Turkey. In Global Joint Conference on Industrial Engineering and Its Application Areas (pp. 119–132). Springer.
  • Joint Commission International. (2018). Accreditation standards for hospitals (6th ed.). Joint Commission Resources.
  • Kaya, S., Karsavuran, S., & Yıldız, A. (2015). Medical tourism developments within Turkey.
  • Kayaalp, P. (2019). An analysis of the hospitals of Sultan Suleyman and Hurrem: Two different approaches to healthcare in the sixteenth-century Ottoman Empire. Journal of Medical Biography, 27(2), 102–108.
  • Kılavuz, E. (2018). Medical tourism competition: The case of Turkey. International Journal of Health Management and Tourism, 3(1), 42–58.
  • Kim, Y. S., Lee, J., Moon, Y., Kim, H. J., Shin, J., Park, J. M., ... & Choi, J. (2020). Development of a senior-specific, citizen-oriented healthcare service system in South Korea based on the Canadian 48/6 model of care. BMC Geriatrics, 20(1), 32.
  • Koçak, E., Doğru, T., Shehzad, K., & Bulut, U. (2023). The economic implications of the COVID-19 outbreak on the tourism industry: Empirical evidence from Turkey. Tourism Economics, 29(3), 742–758.
  • Lunt, N., & Carrera, P. (2010). Medical tourism: Assessing the evidence on treatment abroad. Maturitas, 66(1), 27–32.
  • Lunt, N. (2011). Medical tourism: Treatments, markets and health system implications – A scoping review. Monroy-Rodriguez, S., & Caro-Carretero, R. (2025). Mapping the landscape of health tourism: A bibliometric review and its alignment with the SDGs. International Journal of Spa and Wellness, 8(1), 76–105.
  • Mueller, H., & Kaufmann, E. L. (2001). Wellness tourism: Market analysis of a special health tourism segment and implications for the hotel industry. Journal of Vacation Marketing, 7(1), 5–17.
  • Naderi, S., & Erbengi, A. (2005). History of neurosurgery and neurosurgical applications in Turkey. Surgical Neurology, 64, S115–S122.
  • Nicolaisen, J., Blichfeldt, B. S., & Sonnenschein, F. (2012). Medical and social models of disability: A tourism providers' perspective. World Leisure Journal, 54(3), 201–214.
  • OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development). (2020). Tourism trends and policies 2020. https://doi.org/10.1787/6b47b985-en
  • Omay, E. G. G., & Cengiz, E. (2013). Health tourism in Turkey: Opportunities and threats. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 4(10), 123–135.
  • Orbay, K. (2011). The magnificent Süleymâniye owed a debt to the butcher and the grocer. Belleten, 75(272), 87–134.
  • Özdemir, M., & Kervankıran, İ. (2011). Turizm ve turizmin etkileri konusunda yerel halkın yaklaşımlarının belirlenmesi: Afyonkarahisar örneği. Marmara Coğrafya Dergisi, 24, 1–25.
  • Özsarı, H., & Şeker, M. (2018). Health tourism and an example of private healthcare solution. International Journal of Health Management and Tourism, 3(2), 82–86.
  • Patterson, I. R. (2006). Growing older: Tourism and leisure behaviour of older adults. CABI.
  • Pirzada, N. (2022). The expansion of Turkey’s medical tourism industry.
  • Runnels, V., & Carrera, P. M. (2012). Why do patients engage in medical tourism? Maturitas, 73(4), 300–304.
  • Şentürk, T., Terzi, F., & Dökmeci, V. (2011). Privatization of healthcare facilities in Istanbul. European Planning Studies, 19(6), 1117–1130.
  • Shaw, G., & Coles, T. (2004). Disability, holiday making and the tourism industry in the UK: A preliminary survey. Tourism Management, 25(3), 397–403.
  • Smith, M., & Puczkó, L. (2014). Health, tourism and hospitality: Spas, wellness and medical travel. Routledge.
  • Smith, R., Álvarez, M. M., & Chanda, R. (2011). Medical tourism: A review of the literature and analysis of a role for bilateral trade. Health Policy, 103(2–3), 276–282.
  • Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Services. (2020). Accessibility strategy and national action plan 2019–2025.
  • Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism. (2019). Türkiye tourism strategy report.
  • Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism. (2021). Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency report.
  • Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Health. (2019). Health tourism report 2018.
  • Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Health. (2019). City hospitals report.
  • Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Health. (2020). City hospitals report 2019.
  • Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Health. (2023). Health tourism report 2022.
  • Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure. (2020). Transport and infrastructure report.
  • Tonga, F., Çağlar, Y. Ş., & Aktan, E. S. (2021). Possible early examples of medical tourism. The American Journal of the Medical Sciences, 362(3), 227–232.
  • Turkish Statistical Institute (TURKSTAT). (2020). Tourism statistics report.
  • Turkish Statistical Institute (TURKSTAT). (2021). Tourism statistics report.
  • Turkish Statistical Institute (TURKSTAT). (2025). Tourism statistics report.
  • USHAŞ – International Health Services Inc. (2025). Türkiye health tourism statistics report. https://www.ushas.com.tr/en/saglik-turizmi-verileri/
  • Vural, I. E. (2017). Financialisation in health care: An analysis of private equity fund investments in Turkey. Social Science & Medicine, 187, 276–286.
  • Wittenberg, H., & Schachner, A. (2013). The ponds of Hattuša – early groundwater management in the Hittite kingdom. Water Science and Technology: Water Supply, 13(3), 692–698.
  • Yereli, A. B., & Kara, T. (2012). Türk devletlerinin yeni hamle sahası: Sağlık turizmi. In International Conference on Eurasian Economies (Vol. 353).
  • Yıldırım, H. H. (2020). Health tourism and Anatolian blessings medicine: A strategic business model proposal for Turkey’s branding. Journal of Health Systems and Policies, 2(1), 1–32.

Türkiye’de Sağlık Turizmi: Gelişmeler, Fırsatlar ve Gelecek Perspektifleri

Yıl 2025, Cilt: 8 Sayı: 2, 55 - 73, 22.12.2025
https://doi.org/10.58636/jtis.1805780

Öz

Bu çalışma, Türkiye'nin sağlık turizmi potansiyelini, tarihsel gelişimini ve mevcut durumunu incelemektedir. Sağlık turizmi, son yıllarda hızla büyüyen ve dünya genelinde önem kazanan bir sektör haline gelmiştir. Türkiye, coğrafi konumu, kaliteli sağlık hizmetleri, deneyimli sağlık personeli ve uygun maliyetli tedavi seçenekleri ile sağlık turizmi açısından cazip bir destinasyon olmuştur. Çalışma kapsamında sağlık turizminin farklı türleri, tarihsel gelişimi, ekonomik etkileri ve Türkiye’nin sunduğu avantajlar ile karşılaştığı zorluklar ele alınmıştır. Ayrıca Türkiye’nin sağlık turizmi alanındaki potansiyeli ve gelecekte yapılması gereken yatırımlar üzerine değerlendirmeler yapılmıştır. Bu bağlamda literatürdeki mevcut çalışmaların derlenmesi ve analizi ile sağlık turizmi alanındaki güncel durumu ve gelecek perspektifleri hakkında kapsamlı bir bakış açısı sunulmuştur. Çalışmanın sağlık turizmi literatürüne katkı sağlaması ve politika yapıcılar, sağlık sektörü profesyonelleri ve akademisyenler için faydalı bilgiler sunması hedeflenmektedir.

Kaynakça

  • Akbulak, C. (2016). Ardahan ilinde kırsal turizm potansiyelinin sayısallaştırılmış SWOT analizi ile değerlendirilmesi. Humanitas-Uluslararası Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 4(7), 1–30.
  • Alçiçek, H., Bülbül, A., Yavuzer, İ., & Alçiçek, M. C. (2019). Origin and evolution of the thermal waters from the Pamukkale geothermal field (Denizli Basin, SW Anatolia, Turkey): Insights from hydrogeochemistry and geothermometry. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 372, 48–70.
  • Alrawadieh, D. D. (2021). Mapping the governmental response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its implications on the hospitality and tourism industry: The case of Turkey.
  • Aydın, Y., Çalıpınar, H., Korkmaz, S., & Demir, L. (2024). A systematic review of medical tourism supply chain: Current status and future directions. International Journal of Contemporary Tourism Research. https://doi.org/10.30625/ijctr.1525031
  • Bağcı, E., Uzun, C., & Bostan, A. (2020). Covid-19 and health tourism. Journal of Awareness, 5(3), 331–348.
  • Barsacchi, F. G. (2021). Two festivals celebrated by a Hittite prince (CTH 647.I and II–III): New light on local cults in north-central Anatolia in the second millennium BC. Journal of the American Oriental Society, 140(4), 1007–1009.
  • Bender, T., Karagülle, Z., Bálint, G. P., Gutenbrunner, C., Bálint, P. V., & Sukenik, S. (2005). Hydrotherapy, balneotherapy, and spa treatment in pain management. Rheumatology International, 25(3), 789–794.
  • Bookman, M. Z., & Bookman, K. R. (2007). Medical tourism in developing countries. Palgrave Macmillan.
  • Connell, J. (2006). Medical tourism: Sea, sun, sand and … surgery. Tourism Management, 27(6), 1093–1100.
  • Connell, J. (2013). Contemporary medical tourism: Conceptualisation, culture and commodification. Tourism Management, 34, 1–13.
  • Connell, J. (2015). From medical tourism to transnational health care? An epilogue for the future. Social Science & Medicine, 124, 398–401.
  • Darcy, S., & Dickson, T. J. (2009). A whole-of-life approach to tourism: The case for accessible tourism experiences. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 16(1), 32–44.
  • Darendeli, T., & Binan, C. Ş. (2021). Seljuks inherit to Anatolia: Caravanserais. American Journal of Archaeology, 7, 137–172.
  • Durak, S., Yeke, S., & Arslan, T. V. (2016). Significance of cultural heritage preservation in sustainable cultural tourism: Muradiye Complex in Bursa, Türkiye. European Journal of Sustainable Development, 5(1), 1–12.
  • Durduran, Y., Okka, B., & Avan, A. (2017). Preferences of those who utilize thermal springs about spa tourism. European Journal of Business and Management, 9(3), 98–105.
  • Erfurt, P. (2021). Hot springs throughout history: The geoheritage of hot springs. Springer Nature.
  • Erfurt-Cooper, P., & Cooper, M. (2009). Health and wellness tourism: Spas and hot springs. Channel View Publications.
  • Fioravanti, A. (2020). Foreword: Balneotherapy in rheumatic diseases. International Journal of Biometeorology, 64(5), 903–904.
  • Han, H., & Hwang, J. (2013). Multi-dimensions of the perceived benefits in a medical hotel and their roles in international travelers’ decision-making process. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 35, 100–108.
  • Hanefeld, J., Lunt, N., Smith, R., & Horsfall, D. (2015). Why do medical tourists travel to where they do? The role of networks in determining medical travel. Social Science & Medicine, 124, 356–363.
  • Heung, V. C. S., Kucukusta, D., & Song, H. (2011). Medical tourism development in Hong Kong: An assessment of the barriers. Tourism Management, 32(2), 235–243.
  • Horowitz, M. D., Rosensweig, J. A., & Jones, C. A. (2007). Medical tourism: Globalization of the healthcare marketplace. MedGenMed, 9(4), 33.
  • İbret, B. Ü. (2011). Türkiye’de yeni gelişen bir termal turizm merkezi: Çavundur Kaplıcası. Doğu Coğrafya Dergisi, 12(18), 135–164.
  • Isikli, E., Serdarasan, S., & Karadayi-Usta, S. (2019, September). Predicting the medical tourism demand of Turkey. In Global Joint Conference on Industrial Engineering and Its Application Areas (pp. 119–132). Springer.
  • Joint Commission International. (2018). Accreditation standards for hospitals (6th ed.). Joint Commission Resources.
  • Kaya, S., Karsavuran, S., & Yıldız, A. (2015). Medical tourism developments within Turkey.
  • Kayaalp, P. (2019). An analysis of the hospitals of Sultan Suleyman and Hurrem: Two different approaches to healthcare in the sixteenth-century Ottoman Empire. Journal of Medical Biography, 27(2), 102–108.
  • Kılavuz, E. (2018). Medical tourism competition: The case of Turkey. International Journal of Health Management and Tourism, 3(1), 42–58.
  • Kim, Y. S., Lee, J., Moon, Y., Kim, H. J., Shin, J., Park, J. M., ... & Choi, J. (2020). Development of a senior-specific, citizen-oriented healthcare service system in South Korea based on the Canadian 48/6 model of care. BMC Geriatrics, 20(1), 32.
  • Koçak, E., Doğru, T., Shehzad, K., & Bulut, U. (2023). The economic implications of the COVID-19 outbreak on the tourism industry: Empirical evidence from Turkey. Tourism Economics, 29(3), 742–758.
  • Lunt, N., & Carrera, P. (2010). Medical tourism: Assessing the evidence on treatment abroad. Maturitas, 66(1), 27–32.
  • Lunt, N. (2011). Medical tourism: Treatments, markets and health system implications – A scoping review. Monroy-Rodriguez, S., & Caro-Carretero, R. (2025). Mapping the landscape of health tourism: A bibliometric review and its alignment with the SDGs. International Journal of Spa and Wellness, 8(1), 76–105.
  • Mueller, H., & Kaufmann, E. L. (2001). Wellness tourism: Market analysis of a special health tourism segment and implications for the hotel industry. Journal of Vacation Marketing, 7(1), 5–17.
  • Naderi, S., & Erbengi, A. (2005). History of neurosurgery and neurosurgical applications in Turkey. Surgical Neurology, 64, S115–S122.
  • Nicolaisen, J., Blichfeldt, B. S., & Sonnenschein, F. (2012). Medical and social models of disability: A tourism providers' perspective. World Leisure Journal, 54(3), 201–214.
  • OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development). (2020). Tourism trends and policies 2020. https://doi.org/10.1787/6b47b985-en
  • Omay, E. G. G., & Cengiz, E. (2013). Health tourism in Turkey: Opportunities and threats. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 4(10), 123–135.
  • Orbay, K. (2011). The magnificent Süleymâniye owed a debt to the butcher and the grocer. Belleten, 75(272), 87–134.
  • Özdemir, M., & Kervankıran, İ. (2011). Turizm ve turizmin etkileri konusunda yerel halkın yaklaşımlarının belirlenmesi: Afyonkarahisar örneği. Marmara Coğrafya Dergisi, 24, 1–25.
  • Özsarı, H., & Şeker, M. (2018). Health tourism and an example of private healthcare solution. International Journal of Health Management and Tourism, 3(2), 82–86.
  • Patterson, I. R. (2006). Growing older: Tourism and leisure behaviour of older adults. CABI.
  • Pirzada, N. (2022). The expansion of Turkey’s medical tourism industry.
  • Runnels, V., & Carrera, P. M. (2012). Why do patients engage in medical tourism? Maturitas, 73(4), 300–304.
  • Şentürk, T., Terzi, F., & Dökmeci, V. (2011). Privatization of healthcare facilities in Istanbul. European Planning Studies, 19(6), 1117–1130.
  • Shaw, G., & Coles, T. (2004). Disability, holiday making and the tourism industry in the UK: A preliminary survey. Tourism Management, 25(3), 397–403.
  • Smith, M., & Puczkó, L. (2014). Health, tourism and hospitality: Spas, wellness and medical travel. Routledge.
  • Smith, R., Álvarez, M. M., & Chanda, R. (2011). Medical tourism: A review of the literature and analysis of a role for bilateral trade. Health Policy, 103(2–3), 276–282.
  • Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Services. (2020). Accessibility strategy and national action plan 2019–2025.
  • Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism. (2019). Türkiye tourism strategy report.
  • Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism. (2021). Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency report.
  • Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Health. (2019). Health tourism report 2018.
  • Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Health. (2019). City hospitals report.
  • Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Health. (2020). City hospitals report 2019.
  • Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Health. (2023). Health tourism report 2022.
  • Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure. (2020). Transport and infrastructure report.
  • Tonga, F., Çağlar, Y. Ş., & Aktan, E. S. (2021). Possible early examples of medical tourism. The American Journal of the Medical Sciences, 362(3), 227–232.
  • Turkish Statistical Institute (TURKSTAT). (2020). Tourism statistics report.
  • Turkish Statistical Institute (TURKSTAT). (2021). Tourism statistics report.
  • Turkish Statistical Institute (TURKSTAT). (2025). Tourism statistics report.
  • USHAŞ – International Health Services Inc. (2025). Türkiye health tourism statistics report. https://www.ushas.com.tr/en/saglik-turizmi-verileri/
  • Vural, I. E. (2017). Financialisation in health care: An analysis of private equity fund investments in Turkey. Social Science & Medicine, 187, 276–286.
  • Wittenberg, H., & Schachner, A. (2013). The ponds of Hattuša – early groundwater management in the Hittite kingdom. Water Science and Technology: Water Supply, 13(3), 692–698.
  • Yereli, A. B., & Kara, T. (2012). Türk devletlerinin yeni hamle sahası: Sağlık turizmi. In International Conference on Eurasian Economies (Vol. 353).
  • Yıldırım, H. H. (2020). Health tourism and Anatolian blessings medicine: A strategic business model proposal for Turkey’s branding. Journal of Health Systems and Policies, 2(1), 1–32.
Toplam 64 adet kaynakça vardır.

Ayrıntılar

Birincil Dil İngilizce
Konular Turizm (Diğer)
Bölüm Derleme
Yazarlar

Erdal Kaan Toprakkale 0000-0003-2465-0668

Mehmet Halit Akın 0000-0002-9455-0323

Gönderilme Tarihi 17 Ekim 2025
Kabul Tarihi 24 Kasım 2025
Yayımlanma Tarihi 22 Aralık 2025
Yayımlandığı Sayı Yıl 2025 Cilt: 8 Sayı: 2

Kaynak Göster

APA Toprakkale, E. K., & Akın, M. H. (2025). Health Tourism in Turkey: Developments, Opportunities, and Future Perspectives. Journal of Tourism Intelligence and Smartness, 8(2), 55-73. https://doi.org/10.58636/jtis.1805780