The aim of this study is to determine the current status of medical tourism, identify the existing problems, propose solutions, and provide recommendations for increasing the share of medical tourism. The research was conducted through the phenomenological design, one of the qualitative research designs, employing the technique of face-to-face interviews with 23 participants working at five private and five public hospitals in Kayseri which is located in the important region of the Central Anatolia. The data were collected through a semi-structured interview form and subsequently subjected to content analysis. Through the process of content analysis, seven themes emerged, and a total of 35 coding operations were performed under these themes. The study identified a number of issues, including deficiencies in promotion and advertising, language and communication barriers, lack of skilled personnel, inadequate demand, legal and regulatory challenges, inadequate physical and technological infrastructure, lack of coordination between stakeholders, and a disconnect between tourism activities and the local community. The study concludes that these issues can be addressed through initiatives such as increasing promotional activities, developing package offers, seeking the necessary accreditation documents, promoting the training of qualified personnel, encouraging regional specialization providing education in the field of medical tourism, and further developing legislation on health tourism.

Key Words: Health Tourism, Medical Tourism, Private Hospitals, Public Hospitals