The objectives are:

1.    Toexplore the demographic characteristics of medical tourists visiting India

2.    Toidentify the factors motivating medical tourists to choose India as theirmedical tourism destination and their perception toward the prospects andfuture of medical tourism in India

3.    Investigatemedical tourist issues in India

Research Question

1.    Whatare the demographic data of medical tourists visiting India

2.    Whatfactors motivate medical tourist to visit India?

3.    Whatis the perception of medical tourists concerning the prospects and future ofmedical tourism in India?

Literature Review

In recent years, medical tourism has grown in India, becoming one of the most popular destinations for medical tourists. A growing body of literature examines the various aspects of medical tourism in India (Malhotra and Dave, 2022). This literature review will provide an overview of the research on the demographic profile and perception of medical tourists visiting India (Johnston et al., 2010). Several studies have examined the demographic profile of medical tourists visiting India. Reddy (2013) conducted an exploratory study to examine the demographic profile of medical tourists visiting India. The study found that medical tourists visiting India were mostly from the US, the UK, and other developed countries (Kim, Arcadia, and Kim, 2019). The study also found that medical tourists aged between 25 and 64. The study further found that medical tourists were mostly of middle-class backgrounds, with a majority having a good educational background and financial resources (Roman, Roman, and Roman, 2022). Kumar and Dutta (2018) conducted a study to examine the factors motivating medical tourists to visit India.

The study found that medical tourists were motivated by various factors, including the cost-effectiveness of medical treatments, the quality of healthcare services, the availability of skilled medical professionals, and the cultural similarities between India and the home country. The study also found that medical tourists were most likely to be motivated by the cost savings of medical treatments, followed by the quality of healthcare services. Kumar and Prakash (2017) examined the perception of medical tourists concerning the future of medical tourism in India.

The study found that medical tourists positively perceived the prospects and future of medical tourism in India. The study also found that medical tourists were confident that the Indian healthcare system could meet their needs, and that the country had the potential to become a major hub for medical tourism (Hazarika, 2009). These studies provide important insights into the demographic profile and perception of medical tourists visiting India.

The findings from these studies suggest that medical tourists are mostly from developed countries, are mostly of middle-class backgrounds, and are motivated by a combination of factors, including the cost-effectiveness of medical treatments, the quality of healthcare services, and the cultural similarities between India and the home country. The studies also suggest that medical tourists have a positive perception of the prospects and future of medical tourism in India, and are confident that the Indian healthcare system is capable of meeting their needs. Overall, the literature reviewed in this section provides important insights into the demographic profile and perception of medical tourists visiting India. While the studies provide valuable information, there still needs to be more research and understanding concerning the demographic profile and perception of medical tourists visiting India. There is a need to explore further the factors motivating medical tourists to visit India and their perception of the prospects and future of medical tourism in the country. This study aims to fill this gap by analyzing the demographic profile and perception of medical tourists visiting India.

6 Methodology and methods

A qualitative research technique will be used to understand medical tourists in India’s demographics and perceptions. Qualitative research allows a thorough study of participants’ experiences, views, and attitudes, providing a profound grasp of the research issue (L. Haven & Van Grootel, 2019). Qualitative research employs interviews, observations, and focus groups to explore human experiences rather than numerical data. Qualitative research allows researchers to understand the subject’s complexity and subtleties by directly interacting with participants and encouraging them to communicate their ideas, emotions, and viewpoints. This strategy allows participants to tell their stories in their own words, providing a complete and contextualized picture that quantitative data cannot. Qualitative research increases empathy and knowledge of human behavior and societal events (Hennink & Kaiser, 2022). Semi-structured interviews with a sample of medical tourists visiting India will allow for probing and investigating their demographics, motives, experiences, and perspectives

7 Research Philosophy

This study’s interpretative approach highlights the relevance of knowing how medical tourists perceive their experiences. It recognizes that people’s ideas and intentions are shaped by their personal and cultural origins. The research uses an interpretative lens to explore medical tourists’ varied views of their encounters. When seeking medical care overseas, people bring their own values, beliefs, and cultural standards. These variables influence their decision-making, expectations, and medical tourism experiences. The research investigates medical tourists’ motivations, wants, and feelings using qualitative approaches including interviews, observations, and document analysis. To grasp the intricate interaction between people and their sociocultural surroundings, it goes beyond superficial observations. The research study respects the subjectivity and context of medical tourism experiences by using this approach. It tries to illuminate how people manage this phenomenon and the complex meanings that inform their decisions.

8 Research Design

Research design methodology is in reference to the overall strategies of an action that are used to conduct a study or investigations. Some methods that will be utilized for this paper are surveys, interviews, questionnaires, and case studies.

These methods will allow for in-depth demographic and perception studies of medical tourists and learn about medical tourists’ demographics and perceptions in India via this study. The results will add to medical tourism research and enlighten healthcare professionals and policymakers about medical tourists’ needs and expectations, helping expand India’s medical tourism sector.

8.1 Survey

The proposed research methodology for this study is a survey. Surveys provide an effective way to gather data from many participants in a short period. They are particularly well-suited to this study as they are well-suited to exploring a wide range of topics. Surveys will collect data from medical tourists visiting India to gain insights into their demographic profile and perception of medical tourism in India (Sultana et al., 2014). The survey will be structured with both open-ended and closed-ended questions. Open-ended questions will be used to allow participants to provide detailed responses and to provide insights into their perceptions. In contrast, closed-ended questions will be used to collect demographic data and measure attitudes and opinions. The survey will be distributed to a sample of medical tourists visiting India to gain insights into their demographic profile and perception of medical tourism in India. To ensure the quality of the data collected, the survey will be piloted with a small sample of medical tourists visiting India before being distributed to the larger sample.

8.2 Interview

An additional proposed research methodology for this study is an interview and to achieve this aim, a qualitative research approach will be adopted. Semi-structured interviews will be conducted with a sample of medical tourists visiting India to gain insights into their demographic profile and perception of medical tourism in India. Semi-structured interviews combine pre-defined questions with the freedom to explore new topics and ideas as they develop (Husband, 2020).

Interviews provide an effective way to gain insights into the perspectives and experiences of participants. They are particularly well-suited to this study as they allow for a detailed topic exploration. Interviews will be used to collect data from a sample of medical tourists visiting India to gain insights into their demographic profile and perception of medical tourism in India. The interviews will be semi-structured, with both open-ended and closed-ended questions. Open-ended questions will be used to allow participants to provide detailed responses and to provide insights into their perceptions. In contrast, closed-ended questions will be used to collect demographic data and measure attitudes and opinions.

8.3 Questionnaires

Another proposed research methodology for this study involves a questionnaire. Questionnaires provide an effective way to gather data from many participants in a short period. They are particularly well-suited to this study as they are well-suited to exploring a wide range of topics. Questionnaires will be used to collect data from 100 medical tourists visiting the five leading hospitals in India to gain insights into their demographic profile and perception of medical tourism in India.

The questionnaire will be structured with both open-ended and closed-ended questions. Open-ended questions will be used to allow participants to provide detailed responses and to provide insights into their perceptions. In contrast, closed-ended questions will be used to collect demographic data and measure attitudes and opinions (Medallia, 2017). The questionnaire will be distributed to 100 medical tourists visiting the five leading hospitals in India to gain insights into their demographic profile and perception of medical tourism in India. To ensure the quality of the collected data, the questionnaire will be piloted with a small sample of medical tourists visiting the five leading hospitals in India before being distributed to the larger sample. This will allow any issues with the questionnaire design to be identified and addressed before distribution. The questionnaire will be distributed online and in person to maximize the response rate (QOLIPOUR et al., 2018).

8.4 Case Study

Case study methodology will incorporate in-depth exploration of cases, in form of relevant articles and observations to gain a comprehensive understanding of the case. Individual, group and organizational case studies will be collected to define the research questions. Documents and archival records shall be used to ensure data triangulation and to enhance the reliability and validity of the findings.

9 Findings

The findings of this research will provide an understanding of the demographic profile and perception of medical tourists visiting India. The findings will be useful in helping to inform the policies and strategies of the government and other stakeholders in the medical tourism industry (Martínez Álvarez, Chanda, and Smith, 2011). The findings may also be used to identify opportunities for improvement in the medical tourism industry and areas where further research is needed.