Identifying and Analyzing Affective Factors on Health Tourism Development in Kurdistan Province with Emphasis on Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Health Tourists

Iraqi Kurdistan tourists coming to the country to be treated or spend their leisure time, the development of health tourism in Kurdistan province can act as an efficient driver in the economic and social development of the province regarding its therapeutic and tourism potentials and advantages. However, in the current situation, the province of Kurdistan, mostly, plays a crossroads and the health tourists of Iraqi Kurdistan leave the province and are attracted to other destinations in the country. In this regard, the present study, with a comprehensive and systematic view, examines the current status of health tourism management and development in Kurdistan province in order to identify the obstacles and problems in the development of health tourism in the province by attracting Iraqi Kurdistan tourists. The present Mix study is a descriptive-analytical one that using survey data (interview, observation and questionnaire) collected from target groups, including provincial tourism, health and development managers, officials, local experts, academic specialists and Iraqi health tourists. Qualitative data analysis by fundamental theory technique indicated that 63 barriers and challenges in the form of 6 weaknesses categorized in tourism infrastructure and services; weaknesses in marketing, education and advertising; weaknesses in attractions, weaknesses in Planning, supervision and performance of governmental organizations; social and economic failures; failure to desire and motivate and characterize inbound tourists in the central components or main Dimensions of Post-Supply Problems; and weaknesses and failure related to demand dimension have affected on health tourism development of Kurdistan province rgarding Iraqi health tourists