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dc.contributor.authorChambers, D.*
dc.contributor.authorMcIntosh, Bryan*
dc.date.accessioned2014-11-19T16:02:55Z
dc.date.available2014-11-19T16:02:55Z
dc.date.issued2008
dc.identifier.citationChambers D and McIntosh B (2008) Using Authenticity to Achieve Competitive Advantage in Medical Tourism in the English-speaking Caribbean. Third World Quarterly. 29(5): 919-937.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10454/6631
dc.description.abstractMedical tourism is a relatively recent global economic and political phenomenon which has assumed increasing importance for developing countries, particularly in Asia. It has been slower to develop within the context of the tourism industry in English-speaking Caribbean countries but there is evidence that the tourism policy makers in the region perceive medical tourism as a potentially lucrative niche market. However, while the potential of medical tourism has seemingly been embraced by the region's political directorate, there has been limited discussion of the extent to which this market niche can realistically provide competitive advantage for the region. The argument of this conceptual paper is that the English-speaking Caribbean cannot hope to compete successfully in the global medical tourism market with many developing world destinations in Asia, or even with other Caribbean countries such as Cuba, on factors such as low cost, staff expertise, medical technological capability, investment in healthcare facilities or even in terms of the natural resources of sun, sea and sand. Rather, in order to achieve competitive advantage the countries of the region should, on the one hand, identify and develop their unique resources and competences as they relate to medical tourism, while, on the other hand, they should exploit the demand of the postmodern tourist for authentic experiences. Both these supply and demand side issues, it is argued, can be addressed through the development of a medical tourism product that utilises the region's indigenous herbal remedies.en_US
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.subjectMedical tourismen_US
dc.subjectCompetitive advantage
dc.subjectCaribbean
dc.subjectMedical technological capability
dc.titleUsing Authenticity to Achieve Competitive Advantage in Medical Tourism in the English-speaking Caribbeanen_US
dc.status.refereedYesen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US
dc.type.versionNo full-text available in the repositoryen_US
dc.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.1080/01436590802106056


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