Presenting a Model of the Critical Success Factors of the Health Tourism Supply Chain: a Fuzzy Cognitive Map Approach

Today, Iran's health tourism supply chain has faced many disturbances, which highlights its resilience. This study endeavored to identify the critical factors of health tourism supply chain resilience, classifying them based on resilience stages, and presenting their conceptual model.

This qualitative study was done in 2 stages. Initially, the critical factors of supply chain resilience have been identified based on the four stages of resilience. In the second stage, a model for them has been presented. The participants in both stages are experts. The method of sampling is purposive, followed by the snowball method. The number of participants in first and second stages are 18 and 10, respectively. The method of data collection is semi-structured interviews and interactive management approach. The method of data analysis is thematic analysis and fuzzy cognitive map, respectively.

Based on the interviews, 67 critical success factors for resilience were identified, which were categorized into 20 categories. The results revealed that training, information management and coordination and cooperation have the most out degree. Market management, supplier relationship management and supply chain design have the most in degree. Supplier relationship management, coordination, and cooperation as well as planning ability have the highest degree of centrality..

Providing appropriate training, especially in the areas of problem-solving and decision-making skills, reducing uncertainty in government decisions and approaches, upgrading information infrastructure and software, are important ways to enhance the resilience of the health tourism supply chain.