Air Connectivity and Medical Tourism Competitiveness: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

Medical tourism is a rapidly expanding global industry, driven by rising healthcare costs, advancements in medical technology, and increased international patient mobility. Although healthcare quality and treatment affordability are widely acknowledged as key determinants of medical tourism competitiveness, the influence of air connectivity has received comparatively limited scholarly attention. This systematic literature review investigates the relationship between air connectivity and medical tourism competitiveness by synthesizing studies published from January 2020 to December 2024. The review employs the PRISMA framework and analyzes literature sourced from Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and PubMed. Findings indicate that airport accessibility, airline network connectivity, aviation infrastructure, and passenger facilitation services significantly affect international patient mobility and destination attractiveness. The review also highlights emerging trends such as smart airports, telemedicine integration, artificial intelligence applications, digital health systems, and sustainable aviation practices. Additionally, several research gaps are identified, particularly regarding regional airports, passenger experience, and integrated aviation-healthcare frameworks. This study advances the literature by integrating perspectives from aviation management and healthcare tourism, offering implications for policymakers, airport authorities, healthcare providers, airlines, and tourism stakeholders. The results underscore the importance of recognizing air connectivity as a strategic element of medical tourism competitiveness and sustainable healthcare mobility.