The Role of Electronic Tourism in the Development of Medical Tourism in Mashhad

The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of electronic tourism in the development of medical tourism in Mashhad. The research method was descriptive and survey type that data collection was done in the field. The statistical population of this study was all foreign tourists who returned to Mashhad as medical tourists. Due to the uncertainty in the size of society, 161 individuals were selected as the statistical sample using available sampling method through Cochran's uncertain volume formula. The data gathering tool was a researcher-made questionnaire whose validity was confirmed by 11 experts in the field of tourism and reliability of the tool was obtained through Cronbach's alpha coefficient (α = 0.952). Descriptive and inferential statistics (Kolmogorov Smirnov, confirmatory factor analysis and T single sample) were used for data analysis. T-test results showed that all components of electronic tourism have a significant effect on the development of medical tourism. And the components of the location of treatment, medical training, medical tourism development, medical costs and tourists' economic status are the most effective factors. Therefore, the provision of good medical services, the use of experienced and qualified physicians, and the reduction of health care costs were one of the strategies for developing medical tourism.