Presenting the Conceptual Framework for the Formation of the Medical Tourism Model and Socio-Economic Development of Rasht City

Document Type : Independent Research Articles

Authors

1 PhD Student, Department of Geography and Urban Planning, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

2 Associate Professor, Department of Geography and Urban Planning, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

3 Professor, Department of Geography and Urban Planning, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Medical tourism is one of the emerging and growing branches of the tourism industry, which has significantly prospered in recent decades. This part of tourism has not only helped to increase countries' income but has also played a significant role in creating job opportunities and strengthening the local economy. In this regard, this research aims to provide a conceptual framework for forming Rasht City's medical tourism model and socio-economic development. Communication design is one of these factors. The research method is descriptive-analytical. The content analysis method was used to identify the factors that provided the conceptual framework. In the interpretive structural modeling section, the opinions of academic experts in the field of tourism and research centers were used through the Delphi method. The data collection tool is in the form of an interview and a two-way questionnaire, and the criterion of face validity was used to measure and evaluate the validity of the questionnaire. The conceptual framework of the formation of the medical tourism model and socio-economic development of Rasht City has been determined and analyzed in an integrated manner using a new analytical methodology under the title Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM). The findings showed that the factors of international advertising and marketing and development programs of the government and municipality, with an influence of 10, have the highest influence, and the factors of the development of modern medical technologies and the potential of natural and historical tourism, together with an influence of 7, have the lowest influence.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Urban Structure and Function Studies
Volume 12, Issue 4
October 2025
Pages 121-149

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History

  • Receive Date: 04 January 2025
  • Revise Date: 23 March 2025
  • Accept Date: 03 June 2025

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