Investigation of the awareness level of health tourism supports of institutions operating in the health tourism sector

Health tourism has rapidly become a growing sector on a global scale and has gained economic, social, and strategic importance for countries. In Türkiye, the sustainable development of this sector and the enhancement of its international competitiveness are closely related to the awareness levels of institutions operating in the field of health tourism regarding public support mechanisms. This study evaluates the awareness levels of institutions holding a health tourism authorization certificate across Türkiye towards the supports provided by the Ministry of Trade, their utilization of these supports, the problems encountered, and their suggestions. The research population consists of 337 authorized institutions in Türkiye. Data were collected through a questionnaire form structured with expert opinions and analyzed using SPSS 25.0. Frequency analysis, independent sample t-test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Pearson correlation, and content analysis methods were employed. Findings revealed that participants' general awareness level regarding the supports is moderate. Only 43.3% of the institutions benefit from the supports, and the most frequently encountered problems during the application process are complex procedures, regulatory changes, and long payment periods. It was found that the awareness levels of cooperation organizations regarding the supports are significantly higher than those of other types of institutions. Based on the hypotheses tested in the study, significant differences were found in awareness levels regarding health tourism supports according to variables such as institution type, utilization of supports, receiving consultancy services, and finding the supports sufficient. Additionally, the rate of increase in health tourism revenues over the past three years significantly affects the awareness level of supports. These findings indicate that access to and perception of benefits from the supports vary depending on institutional characteristics. The study recommends simplifying the application processes, expanding information and training activities to enhance the effectiveness of health tourism supports. Furthermore, it is considered that awareness levels can be increased through practices such as strengthening sectoral collaborations, training qualified human resources, and rewarding successful institutions. The research provides key findings that address the awareness gap in the literature and guide future studies.