Researching medical tourism and the efficiency of medical tourism incentives in the foreign trade scope: The case of Alanya

With the effect of globalization, international trade of services has developed and importance of services in the economy and its share in employment also increased. Increase in the price of health services which are just one part of international trade in services has led people who are living in the developed countries to search for affordable treatment. Countries like India and Thailand which have been actively doing the medical tourism are exporting services to the medical tourists. Since Turkey has recently recognized the importance of medical tourism, it is important that government incentives should be efficiently used to gain advantage in global competition. This study has examined Turkey's foreign trade in means of medical tourism and efficiency of medical tourism incentives in Alanya region with qualitative research method. Interviews have been conducted with the local government authority, public and private sector managers in Alanya and interviews have analyzed with NVivo 8.0. In this study advantages, disadvantages, medical tourism potential of Turkey and Alanya region, and awareness of incentives and incentives efficiency in usage has researched. It is concluded in the research that Turkey and Alanya cannot use its medical tourism potential, businesses haven't truly understand the cost advantage of incentives and promotion of Turkey is insufficient. Turkey has a lot of advantages like qualified personnel, frequent flights, reasonable price and technology. For being a medical tourism hub of the world, Turkey should give importance to promotion, foreign language, incentives and at this process government should play the key role. Keywords: International Trade in Services, Foreign Trade, Medical Tourism, Incentives