{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,11]],"date-time":"2026-10-11T19:46:04Z","timestamp":1791747964033,"version":"4.3.4"},"reference-count":61,"publisher":"Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,1]],"date-time":"2026-08-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1785542400000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-nd\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["lww.com","ovid.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":[],"abstract":"<jats:p>This study systematically reviews global research trends in health tourism (2000\u20132024), comparing international and Chinese scholarly perspectives to identify key themes, differences, and future directions for the field. We employed a systematic literature analysis approach, examining studies on health tourism definitions, classifications, motivations, influencing factors, evaluation systems, and development strategies. Comparative insights were drawn between international and Chinese research priorities. Findings reveal distinct research emphases: International scholars focus on global perspectives, interdisciplinary integration, cross-border service delivery, and ethical concerns, while Chinese researchers prioritize localized frameworks, regional characteristics, and policy applications. Both groups, however, share an interest in industrial integration and growth drivers. The study recommends that China enhance standardized evaluation methods, deepen quantitative research, and cultivate distinctive health tourism brands. Globally, researchers should strengthen qualitative studies with holistic perspectives and develop transferable models. Future research should integrate four key dimensions\u2014theoretical advancement, technological innovation, and industrial collaboration\u2014to address evolving demands in global health governance and industry transformation.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.4103\/jehp.jehp_1406_25","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,31]],"date-time":"2026-08-31T13:01:59Z","timestamp":1788181319000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1097\/lww.0000000000001000","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Global perspectives on health tourism: A comparative review of research trends and future prospects (2000\u20132024)"],"prefix":"10.4103","volume":"15","author":[{"given":"Yunrong","family":"Lai","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Pharmacy, Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Hengbo","family":"Zhao","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Pharmacy, Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Haibo","family":"Wu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Economics and Management, Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yuanan","family":"Lu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Public Health Research Lab, University of Hawaii, United States"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"276","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,8]]},"reference":[{"key":"R1-20261011","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"5","DOI":"10.1177\/135676670100700101","article-title":"Wellness tourism: Market analysis of a special health tourism segment and implications for the hotel industry","volume":"7","author":"Mueller","year":"2001","journal-title":"J Vacat Mark"},{"key":"R2-20261011","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"15498","DOI":"10.3390\/su142315498","article-title":"Application of a decision-making tool for ranking wellness tourism destinations","volume":"14","author":"Lopes","year":"2022","journal-title":"Sustainability"},{"key":"R3-20261011","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"25","DOI":"10.21581\/jts.2020.8.32.3.25","article-title":"Development of evaluation scale for wellness tourism","volume":"32","author":"Hee-Yu","year":"2020","journal-title":"J Tour Stud"},{"key":"R4-20261011","first-page":"e66832","article-title":"Exploring the frontiers of health tourism: A bibliometric analysis of research themes and trends","volume":"16","author":"Lukose","year":"2024","journal-title":"Cureus J Med Sci"},{"key":"R5-20261011","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"447","DOI":"10.1586\/14737167.6.4.447","article-title":"Globalization and healthcare: Understanding health and medical tourism","volume":"6","author":"Carrera","year":"2006","journal-title":"Exp Rev Pharmacoecon Outcomes Res"},{"key":"R6-20261011","first-page":"7","article-title":"On the conceptual connotation of wellness tourism","volume":"3","author":"Wu","year":"2010","journal-title":"Borderl Econ Cult"},{"key":"R7-20261011","first-page":"126","article-title":"Integrated development of health tourism industry: Motivation, mechanism and path","volume":"33","author":"Yang","year":"2020","journal-title":"Huxiang Forum"},{"key":"R8-20261011","first-page":"7","article-title":"Research status of domestic health tourism based on cite space analysis","volume":"23","author":"Wang","year":"2022","journal-title":"Tourism Overview"},{"key":"R9-20261011","first-page":"109","article-title":"A comparative study of foundational theories in wellness tourism: Domestic and international perspectives","volume":"3","author":"Wang","year":"2008","journal-title":"J Technical Econ Manag"},{"key":"R11-20261011","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"137","DOI":"10.1300\/J162v07n01_08","article-title":"European Spa World: Chances for the project's sustainability through application of knowledge management","volume":"7","author":"Lebe","year":"2006","journal-title":"J Quality Assurance in Hospitality Tourism"},{"key":"R12-20261011","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1093","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tourman.2005.11.005","article-title":"Medical tourism: Sea, sun, sand, and surgery","volume":"27","author":"Connell","year":"2006","journal-title":"Tour Manag"},{"key":"R13-20261011","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"276","DOI":"10.1016\/j.healthpol.2011.06.009","article-title":"Medical tourism: A review of the literature and analysis of a role for bi-lateral trade","volume":"103","author":"Smith","year":"2011","journal-title":"Health Policy"},{"key":"R14-20261011","first-page":"809","article-title":"Challenges associated with global bariatric medical tourism","volume":"116","author":"Dhannoon","year":"2023","journal-title":"Ir Med J"},{"key":"R15-20261011","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"363","DOI":"10.1080\/01459740.2010.501313","article-title":"\u201cCycling overseas\u201d: Care, commodification, and stratification in cross-border reproductive travel","volume":"29","author":"Whittaker","year":"2010","journal-title":"Med Anthropol"},{"key":"R16-20261011","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"122","DOI":"10.35183\/ajbc.2021.11.13.3.122","article-title":"A preliminary investigation into the potential to attract medical tourism from Australia in Jeollabuk-do, South Korea","volume":"13","author":"Dover","year":"2021","journal-title":"Asia Pac J Bus Commer"},{"key":"R17-20261011","first-page":"70","article-title":"On the types, market, and concept of health tourism","volume":"1","author":"Li","year":"2016","journal-title":"Territory & Natural Resour Study"},{"key":"R18-20261011","first-page":"171","article-title":"A review of domestic health tourism research","volume":"24","author":"Shan","year":"2015","journal-title":"J Mudanjiang Univ"},{"key":"R19-20261011","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1063","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph20021063","article-title":"A study on market segmentation according to wellness tourism motivation and differences in behavior between the groups: Focusing on satisfaction, behavioral intention, and flow","volume":"20","author":"Lee","year":"2023","journal-title":"Int J Environ Res Public Health"},{"key":"R20-20261011","first-page":"279","article-title":"The influence of well-being lifestyle on green health tourism motivation and visit attitude in Gangwon area","volume":"14","author":"Lee","year":"2015","journal-title":"J Hotel Resort"},{"key":"R21-20261011","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"563","DOI":"10.1080\/13691058.2012.672653","article-title":"Transsexual emergence: Gender variant identities in Thailand","volume":"14","author":"Ocha","year":"2012","journal-title":"Cult Health Sex"},{"key":"R22-20261011","first-page":"146","article-title":"SWOT analysis and strategies for the development of health tourism in Taizhou","volume":"10","author":"Meng","year":"2023","journal-title":"Tourism Overview"},{"key":"R23-20261011","first-page":"51","article-title":"Opportunities, advantages and safeguard measures for vigorously developing wellness resort tourism-A case study of Guizhou province","volume":"3","author":"Lyu","year":"2021","journal-title":"Agric Econ"},{"key":"R24-20261011","first-page":"138","article-title":"Research on the development path of health and wellness tourism in Xincheng ancient town under the background of \u201cHealthy China\u201d","volume":"26","author":"Chen","year":"2020","journal-title":"Anhui Agricultural Sci Bull"},{"key":"R25-20261011","first-page":"44","article-title":"Study on relationship among healthy motivation, processing, effects of Chinese urban residents'travel practices","volume":"1","author":"Gong","year":"2024","journal-title":"J of Chin Ecotourism"},{"key":"R26-20261011","first-page":"11","article-title":"On integrating development of leisure and health tourism and Zen Cultural Industry: Power, mechanism and path----A case study of Yichun City in Jiangxi Province","volume":"40","author":"Ding","year":"2018","journal-title":"J Yichun Univ"},{"key":"R27-20261011","first-page":"44","article-title":"Research on the \u201cmotivation-process-effect\u201d relationship of health tourism among Chinese urban residents","volume":"14","author":"Gong","year":"2024","journal-title":"China Ecotourism"},{"key":"R28-20261011","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"12448","DOI":"10.3390\/su132212448","article-title":"The benefits of blockchain technology for medical tourism","volume":"13","author":"Tyan","year":"2021","journal-title":"Sustainability"},{"key":"R29-20261011","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"373","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tourman.2018.12.009","article-title":"Home, sweet home? Understanding diasporic medical tourism behavior: Exploratory research of Polish immigrants in Belgium","volume":"72","author":"Mathijsen","year":"2019","journal-title":"Tour Manag"},{"key":"R30-20261011","first-page":"1180","article-title":"Recreational potential of medical tourism of Russia","volume":"28","author":"Aksenova","year":"2020","journal-title":"Problems of Social Hygiene, Public Health and the History of Medicine"},{"key":"R31-20261011","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"235","DOI":"10.35176\/JMTR.21.3.13","article-title":"The analysis on the determinants of visitor characteristics and satisfaction in wellness marine and coastal tourism","volume":"21","author":"Yoon","year":"2021","journal-title":"J Mice Tourism Res"},{"key":"R32-20261011","first-page":"942","article-title":"PEST analysis and strategy selection for the development of China\u2019s health tourism industry","volume":"35","author":"Yang","year":"2018","journal-title":"Chin Health Serv Manag"},{"key":"R33-20261011","first-page":"65","article-title":"Spatial distribution characteristics and influencing factors of health tourism resources in Yunnan province based on POI data","volume":"40","author":"Li","year":"2024","journal-title":"J Shangqiu Normal Univ"},{"key":"R34-20261011","first-page":"48","article-title":"On health tourism and its development","author":"Li","year":"2021","journal-title":"J Nanyang Normal Univ"},{"key":"R35-20261011","first-page":"10","article-title":"Internal logic and practical path of integrated development of traditional Chinese medicine and tourism","volume":"41","author":"Lai","year":"2024","journal-title":"Health Econ Res"},{"key":"R36-20261011","first-page":"28","article-title":"Research on the spatiotemporal evolution and influencing factors of China\u2019s wellness tourism environment","author":"Yang","year":"2024","journal-title":"Scientific Technol Manag Land Resour"},{"key":"R37-20261011","first-page":"51","article-title":"Research on risk management of wellness tourism projects based on fuzzy analytic hierarchy process-A case study of Yongding Tianzi Hot Spring in Longyan City","volume":"38","author":"Jiang","year":"2021","journal-title":"J Shandong Agricultural Engineering Univ"},{"key":"R38-20261011","first-page":"65","article-title":"Developing a measurement indicator of service quality for wellness tourism","volume":"24","author":"Kim","year":"2024","journal-title":"J Mice Tourism Res"},{"key":"R39-20261011","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"683","DOI":"10.3390\/su13020683","article-title":"Ranking of sustainable medical tourism destinations in Iran: An integrated approach using fuzzy Swara-Promethee","volume":"13","author":"Ghasemi","year":"2021","journal-title":"Sustainability"},{"key":"R40-20261011","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"155","DOI":"10.18604\/tmro.2021.25.1.9","article-title":"The Effect of wellness tourism on subjective happiness and revisit intentions","volume":"25","author":"Park","year":"2021","journal-title":"J Tourism Manag Res"},{"key":"R41-20261011","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"16","DOI":"10.1108\/16605371111127206","article-title":"Wellness tourists: in search of transformation","volume":"66","author":"Voigt","year":"2011","journal-title":"Tourism Review"},{"key":"R42-20261011","first-page":"1491","article-title":"Analysis on the evolution and effect of China\u2019s health tourism policy","volume":"38","author":"Zhang","year":"2022","journal-title":"Resour Dev Market"},{"key":"R43-20261011","first-page":"87","article-title":"The evolution and alignment of supply and demand in China\u2019s wellness tourism policies: A longitudinal textual analysis (2011-2022)","author":"Zhang","year":"2024","journal-title":"Social Scientist"},{"key":"R44-20261011","first-page":"56","article-title":"Hot Spots and Cutting Edge Trends in CiteSpace based research on wellness tourism","author":"Qiu","year":"2024","journal-title":"J Anyang Institute Technol"},{"key":"R45-20261011","first-page":"76","article-title":"A study on construction strategy of Yunnan health tourism destination based on SWOT quantitative analysis","volume":"37","author":"Tang","year":"2020","journal-title":"J Baoshan Univ"},{"key":"R46-20261011","first-page":"106","article-title":"Research on classification and evaluation index system of leisure and wellness tourism resources in Fangchenggang City","volume":"43","author":"Wang","year":"2022","journal-title":"Sports Sci Technol"},{"key":"R47-20261011","first-page":"21","article-title":"Research on the Integration of Transportation and Tourism in Bama International Longevity and Wellness Tourism Destination","author":"Zhao","year":"2024","journal-title":"Tourism Overview"},{"key":"R48-20261011","first-page":"34","article-title":"Empirical research on the development and validation of health tourism destination brand personality scale","volume":"36","author":"Guo","year":"2024","journal-title":"J Liupanshui Normal Univ"},{"key":"R49-20261011","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"602","DOI":"10.1002\/jtr.2027","article-title":"A market and spatial perspective of health tourism destinations: The Hungarian experience","volume":"17","author":"J\u00f3n\u00e1s-Berki","year":"2015","journal-title":"Int J Tourism Res"},{"key":"R50-20261011","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"109","DOI":"10.21581\/jts.2018.05.30.2.109","article-title":"The cultural competence of medical tourism service providers and the relationship between intercultural communication competence and trust","volume":"30","author":"Lee","year":"2018","journal-title":"J Tourism Stud"},{"key":"R51-20261011","first-page":"1607","article-title":"Developmental strategies of the promotion policies in medical tourism industry in South Korea: A 10-year study (2009-2018)","volume":"48","author":"Kim","year":"2019","journal-title":"Iran J Public Health"},{"key":"R52-20261011","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"11786329241245231","DOI":"10.1177\/11786329241245231","article-title":"Exploring the potential of a multi-level approach to advance the development of the medical tourism industry in Indonesia","volume":"17","author":"Supriadi","year":"2024","journal-title":"Health Serv Insights"},{"key":"R53-20261011","first-page":"135","article-title":"A study on policies for establishing a medical tourism hub through the collaboration of oriental and western medicine","volume":"30","author":"Son","year":"2024","journal-title":"Law Poli cy Rev"},{"key":"R54-20261011","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"31","DOI":"10.21097\/ksw.2021.11.16.4.31","article-title":"Development of regional wellness tourism cluster model","volume":"16","author":"Maeng","year":"2021","journal-title":"J Wellness"},{"key":"R55-20261011","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"85","DOI":"10.3126\/jota.v2i1.25934","article-title":"Strategies for development of yoga, ayurveda, and meditation-based health tourism in Nepal: Using SWOT analysis","volume":"2","author":"Bishnu","year":"2019","journal-title":"J Tourism Adventure"},{"key":"R56-20261011","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"910","DOI":"10.1186\/s12913-024-11375-4","article-title":"A comprehensive perspective on local drivers in community-based health tourism industry development: A qualitative study of Mazandaran Province, Iran","volume":"24","author":"Khazaee-Pool","year":"2024","journal-title":"BMC Health Serv Res"},{"key":"R57-20261011","article-title":"Medical Tourism Development: Adopted Strategies Across the Globe: A Systematic Review","author":"Manso","year":"2021","journal-title":"Instituto Universitario de Lisboa"},{"key":"R58-20261011","first-page":"149","article-title":"Research on the impact of major events on the development of health tourism in Bama, Guangxi-based on grey correlation analysis","author":"Zhao","year":"2023","journal-title":"China Circulation Econ"},{"key":"R59-20261011","first-page":"164","article-title":"Research on the development strategy of health tourism in Zhejiang Province","volume":"22","author":"Zhang","year":"2022","journal-title":"Tourism Overview"},{"key":"R60-20261011","first-page":"181","article-title":"Research on the construction of health tourism model in Hainan under the background of Hainan free trade port","volume":"19","author":"Lin","year":"2024","journal-title":"Tourism Overview"},{"key":"R61-20261011","first-page":"46","article-title":"Research on the construction path of health tourism destinations in Jilin Province","volume":"10","author":"Lou","year":"2023","journal-title":"Tourism and Photography"},{"key":"R62-20261011","first-page":"41","article-title":"Key points and paths for building China\u2019s International Health Tourism Destinations","volume":"4","author":"Zhang","year":"2024","journal-title":"Globalization"}],"container-title":["Journal of Education and Health Promotion"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.ovid.com\/10.4103\/jehp.jehp_1406_25","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,11]],"date-time":"2026-10-11T19:00:15Z","timestamp":1791745215000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.ovid.com\/10.4103\/jehp.jehp_1406_25"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,8]]},"references-count":61,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4103\/jehp.jehp_1406_25","relation":{},"ISSN":["2277-9531","2319-6440"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2277-9531","type":"print"},{"value":"2319-6440","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,8]]},"assertion":[{"value":"2025-07-23","name":"received","label":"Received","group":{"name":"publication_history","label":"Publication History"}},{"value":"2025-11-04","name":"accepted","label":"Accepted","group":{"name":"publication_history","label":"Publication History"}}]}}