Factors affecting medical tourism destination selection: A Malaysian perspective |
Author : Jeetesh Kumar and Kashif Hussian |
Abstract | Full Text |
Abstract :The study aims to assess the factors for medical tourism destination selection from medical tourist’s perspective and to determine the satisfaction level of medical tourists in Malaysia. Field survey was conducted with the structured questionnaire to medical tourists admitted at 11 public and private hospitals in Kuala Lumpur region during September and October, 2013. A non-probability convenience sampling technique was used and 72 response were collected. Geography of Malaysia was found to be an important factor having direct and positive impact on patient’s destinations selection and satisfaction level. Results also confirms that Malaysia is famous destination for Indonesians as a medical tourism destination. One of the apparent limitations of current research is the sample size, which is very small and also limited to hospitals in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. A study with different sample size and several locations in Malaysia may provide fruitful results for the evaluation of medical tourism destination selection. Finding of the current research are very much beneficial for the health ministry, tourism ministry and practitioners to improve the service level and in attracting big number of medical tourists to Malaysia. Several countries are offering medical tourism in Asia Pacific region and attracting big number of tourist every year. This Research was conducted to find out the factors, which are very much important to attract medical tourists to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and their satisfaction level to improve the performance level in future. Different aspects are involved like organization’s functions, and Malaysian circumstances related to medical tourism in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia. |
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A conceptual framework to explain the impact of visitors’ previous experiences on customer satisfaction |
Author : Suleyman Numan Oz, Ali Ihtiyar, Fauziah Sh Ahmad, and Faizan Ali |
Abstract | Full Text |
Abstract :The article presents a comprehensive and conceptual framework on key factors of intercultural interaction influencing customer satisfaction, which is one of the most important indicators of tourism industry in Malaysia. The theory-based path model of constructs and their possible interrelationships will be proposed such that the future analysis would be based on structural equation modeling approach or related statistical methods. In other words, this study anticipates to propose an applicable technique to empirically examine the inter relationships of intercultural communication competence, interaction comfort, inter-role congruence, perceived cultural distance, previous experience and satisfaction. It is basically a literature reviews on the related constructs and how the relationships’ assessment of those constructs should be carried out. Although numerous researchers have studied the extensive topics of cultural distance and customer satisfaction, none of those studies has explored on the critical role of intercultural communication competence and previous experience on customer satisfaction in the industry. |
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Furthering the debate on globalization’s origins: New evidence |
Author : P. Edward Leffler |
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Abstract :Throughout recorded human history there have been small shifts in how humans have interacted with each other. The ancient empires of the Far East, Near East, and Europe emerged from the city and city-states, tribe and communities began to trade with each other, written language allowed for the transference of knowledge between cultures and across the span of time. Of these monumental shifts there have been few. The most recent of these event thresholds is Globalization. Globalization is here, for our benefit or loss, and has begun to affect every part of our society: from the goods we consume, to the money we use, to the music we listen to, to the people we are friends with. Subsequently, one of the most prevalent questions in most social science literature is: How long has Globalization been around? By examining literature on multiple sides of the globalization discourse, specifically new evidence from social scientists examining greater arrays of early traded commodities, this paper will further the argument that economic globalization began in the early 16thcentury with the birth and expansion of inter-continental trade between the New World, Asia, and Europe. At the same time, this paper will refute the opposing arguments against this theory and the opposing theory that Globalization has only really began in the early 20th century. |
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Much ado about… Everything: The plight of Southern European economies from a national competitiveness perspective |
Author : Rui Vinhas Da Silva and Natália Teixeira |
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Abstract :This paper identifies what are understood to be key drivers of country competitiveness. These are the institutional and structural conditions in an economy that are linked with the attainment of sustainable national competitive advantages through the creation of societal conditions that lead to a collective spirit of healthy competition at the heart of which lay competent organizations. The verification of these institutional and economic conditions of national competitiveness implies the development of a profound understanding of international markets and their aesthetic idiosyncrasies, with clear consequences to the promotion of exported goods and services of high aggregated value and the stimulation of domestic demand as well as the increasing sophistication of domestic business environments. |
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Leading university education policy in China |
Author : Daniel Hak-Loong Lam |
Abstract | Full Text |
Abstract :Outcomes-based teaching and learning and criterion-referenced assessment have been implemented in many universities in Hong Kong. Recently these were adopted by a university in China. This paper is based on a qualitative research to explore if the policy implementation is producing the desirable results for the students and the lecturer, and to assess the learning outcomes with respect to Bloom’s Taxonomy. The exploratory results indicate that the policy implementation generated positive impact to students’ learning outcomes. |
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