As an example of niche tourism, medical tourism involves people travelling abroad in search of cosmetic enhancements or surgical solutions to serious medical conditions. Medical tourism benefits, but also challenges, local healthcare providers, and contributes to regional economies and the tourism industry.
The rise of medical tourism emphasizes a number of contemporary themes including the privatization of health care in post-industrial economies, the growing dependence on technology, uneven access to health resources, the accelerated globalization of health care and tourism, rampant consumerism, and body image.
The Nestlé Library contains a variety of resources for the emerging field of medical tourism. Contact the library staff for more help with research related to medical tourism.
