Medical Tourism in Lebanon: An Analysis of Tourism Flows

Medical tourism is defined as the travelling activities of patients seeking low-cost treatment in third world countries. Lately, this field of tourism has been growing very fast due the specialization of medical agencies, hospitals and medical professionals. In Lebanon, medical tourism could evolve to account for an important share of the regional economy, as only in 2014, it has generated growth worth of $1.2 billion. In the recent years, several factors have been contributing in medical tourism?s progress such as medical professionalism, the media and the attractive landscape. Especially the role of media is crucial for the development of this activity in Lebanon, as through this channel, the operation of medical centers and hospitals as well as the advantages and disadvantages of medical tourism could get in the center of public discourse. The main objective of the present study is to present and analyze the flows (both inflows and outflows) of medical tourism in Lebanon.