Identification and Ranking the Criteria Related to Location Decisions of Health Villages: A Case Study in Isfahan, Iran

Today, health tourism is one of the fastest-growing and most lucrative forms of tourism, which has turned attracting tourists into a crucial challenge for managers and decision makers. One of the most applicable methods for attracting health tourists is creating tourist villages owning various competitive advantages. This study aims to identify and rank the criteria affecting the locations decisions of health villages in Isfahan province, Iran.
This was a descriptive-analytical study. First, all criteria and sub-criteria affecting the locations decisions of health villages were identified using field study, literature survey, and experts’ opinions. Then, the pairwise comparison questionnaire was designed and a panel of experts and practitioners in the field were invited to complete the questionnaire. Finally, using analytic hierarchy process method, the ranking of criteria was created.
Based on the experts’ opinions, 22 sub-criteria affecting the locations decisions of health villages were identified and categorized under 6 main criteria of natural, topographic, climatic, economic, health, and skeletal factors. Subsequently, based on the participants’ opinions, natural landscape factors with 28.65%, health factors with 23.86% and climate factors with 16.87% were identified as the most important factors related to the location decisions of health villages in Isfahan.
In addition to the large share of Isfahan province in tourism fields, concentrating on location decisions and development of health villages based on the criteria identified in this study may provide a new competitive advantage for Isfahan within the tourism industry.