Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.37741/t.74.2.8
An Evaluation of the Factors of Maternity Tourism Demand: A Multivariate Approach
Sakiru Adebola Solarin
; Centre for Accounting, Finance, and Economics, Multimedia University, 63100, Cyberjaya, Malaysia
Muhammed Sehid Gorus
; Department of Economics, Faculty of Political Sciences, Ankara Yildirim Beyazit University, Ankara, Turkey
*
Mert Akyuz
orcid.org/0000-0002-2322-3384
; Department of Economics, Faculty of Political Sciences, Ankara Yildirim Beyazit University, Ankara, Turkey
Chien-Chiang Lee
; Faculty of Finance, City University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR, China
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
Maternity tourism has become an increasingly important area of study in tourism and population economics
in recent years. As Canada is one of the few developed economies that practices Jus Soli, this study investigates
the determinants of maternity tourism in the country. To this end, the study applies the conventional
tourism demand model to identify the factors that influence maternity tourism, including average income
in priority markets, the real effective exchange rate, the number of obstetricians and gynecologists, the
number of hospital beds, and the infant mortality rate. The study employs a recently introduced Fourier
VAR model to examine relationships among these variables. The empirical results, based on impulse-response
functions, show that higher-quality healthcare, indicated by more hospital beds and obstetricians, attracts
more maternity tourists. Additionally, higher income levels in priority markets increase demand, while an
appreciation of the Canadian dollar reduces maternity tourism. Variance decomposition analysis also shows
that infant mortality is a critical explanatory factor, highlighting the importance of healthcare outcomes in
shaping maternity tourism flows. These findings could help the government implement effective policies
to promote maternity tourism.
Keywords
maternity tourism; tourism demand; Fourier VAR approach; Canada
Hrčak ID:
346512
URI
Publication date:
14.4.2026.
Visits: 222 *