A MODEL PROPOSAL FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF HEALTH TOURISM IN PAMUKKALE:‘’PAMUKKALE HEALTH FREE ZONE’’
Authors: SEDEF Müşerref 
Published: December 2018

AbstractIn the early ages, health
tourism, which is believed to have begun by moving to cities with medical
schools to learn the profession of travels and students who have made medical
trips to other places where humans cannot get treatment in their own environment,
medical doctors who have proven medical proficiency and natural healing
resources, the source has become one of the tourism branches.Health tourism is divided
into three main categories: Old and Disabled Tourism, Spa-Wellness Tourism and
Medical Tourism.Health tourism; until the
1980s, the wealthy of the underdeveloped countries; high quality and
standardized health care services to developed countries as well as travel
towards health care has remained. After the 1980s, developed countries have become
more and more affordable treatments because of the increased cost and price of
health care services, and they have become more and more traveled in less
developed countries that produce quality health care.Countries such as Thailand,
Singapore, India and Dubai, which are well-regarded for the health tourism
potential that has turned towards the underdeveloped countries, have rapidly
become health bases by establishing health facilities with international
standards and accreditation documents. Today, social security institutions of
many developed countries reduce their costs by negotiating with hospitals that
produce health services at the same level as their own countries that have
international accreditation in underdeveloped countries, and treating their
members cheaper.Pamukkale
(Pamukkale-Karahayit-Akköy-Yenicekent-Sarayköy) region, which has six five-star
hotels and various accommodation places and 14.000 beds, Pamukkale which is one
of the most important natural beauties of the world and the world has thermal
water and mud resources, cannot get a share. Pamukkale is also home to the city
of Denizli is close to 600 of the health institutions and institutions of our
country is one of the highest potential health tourism health.Pamukkale; it has the
potential to become an appealing treatment center for health tourists who will
spend the rest of their life here after the treatment of the city and the rest
of the country, as in the Roman period. Only a small part of the tourists who
come to Pamukkale benefit from the Elderly and Handicapped Tourism and
Spa-Wellness Tourism, because the medical service cannot be provided with this
well-organized, well-organized health service and cannot benefit from the
medical tourism services because medical service is not provided in the region.

Pamukkale, which entered the
list of UNESCO world heritage in its natural / cultural category in 1988, is
one of the most recognized and well known trademarks of our country all over
the world. The contribution to the health tourism of the region will be limited
if the country will benefit from the reputation and brand value of Pamukkale
with the construction of health facilities that will produce Elderly and
Disabled Touristic, Spa-Wellness Touristic and Medical (tourism) tourism
services by establishing "Health Free Zone" in the region.