ABSTRACT
This chapter analyzes the temporal dimension of the medical tourism industry and integrates the findings into international product life cycle theories. It describes the aspect of the medical tourism industry and integrates the finding into International Product Lifecycles (IPLC) concepts. The traditional IPLC theory suggests that when a new product is invented, it relies on inputs that are available locally. The IPLC has been adapted to account for the internationalization of various industries, including services. Observing the movement patterns of medical tourism expands our understanding of the IPLC. The medical tourism industry seems to follow the first stage and the second stage of the IPLC. Medical tourism is a dynamic worldwide industry involving various key stakeholders who shape the industry. Countries participating in medical tourism were identified as the targets for collection of information, strategies and behavior from 1997 to 2013.
