Traveling for Medical Tourism: The Roles of Demographics, Past Experience and Medical Tourism Destination Familiarity

ABSTRACT

This study examined how demographics, past experience, and medical tourism destination familiarity influence Americans’ intention to visit Cuba for medical treatments. The study revealed discrepancies in Americans’ medical travel intention across demographic groups (i.e. age, education, income). The study results also indicated that Americans familiar with Cuba as a medical tourism destination and those with no medical tourism experience are more likely to travel to Cuba for medical treatment. The research findings contribute to the literature by providing insights into medical tourist behavior, incorporating public health and travel components, and offering Cuban policymakers practical implications to attract American patients.

KEYWORDS:

• Medical tourism
• Demographics
• past experience
• destination familiarity
• travel intention
• Cuba
• United States

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).