Review article

Business development opportunities in dental tourism in Croatia

Marina Gregorić ; University North, Koprivnica, Croatia
Melita Sečan ; Polytechnic of Međimurje in Čakovec, Čakovec, Croatia
Romana Pomper ; Polytechnic of Međimurje in Čakovec, Čakovec, Croatia
Mateja Miklik ; Polytechnic of Međimurje in Čakovec, Čakovec, Croatia

Abstract

Dental tourism is one of the newest selective forms of tourism, but also one of the fastestgrowing in the world. It is the most developed part of Croatian medical tourism, which attracts mostly patients from abroad as a result of a combination of low cost and highquality service and natural beauty of the country. Therefore, Croatia is recognized as a destination for affordable, but quality dental tourism. In the last few years, there has been an expansion of private dental polyclinics throughout Croatia, which have recognized dental tourism as an additional source of income or chosen it as their main business orientation/activity. The main objectives of this paper are to analyze the existing situation in the dental tourism market in Croatia and to identify business development opportunities within this selective type of tourism. The existing situation and the level of competition in the dental tourism market are determined by analyzing the offer of dental services, prices, facilities
with their attractiveness and familiarity and by analyzing the demand in certain tourist dental centers. This paper uses desk research, which includes the use of secondary data from professional literature, scientific and professional papers and information available on the official websites of dental centers, polyclinics, institutions and other organizational forms. The paper also uses the primary research method through interviews conducted at certain dental centers. Based on the results of the research, we can conclude that the opportunities for the development of entrepreneurship in dental tourism have been largely exploited in Istria and Kvarner and the City of Zagreb, while there is a possibility of its development in other parts of Croatia through linking it with other specific forms of tourism such as health, rural and wellness tourism.

Keywords

health tourism; medical tourism; dental tourism; Croatia; business opportunities; continental tourism

Hrčak ID:

230578

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/230578

Publication date:

19.12.2019.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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