Prospects for the development of inbound medical tourism in Russia from Central Asian countries

Aim. The study aims to determine and analyze the prospects for the development of inbound medical tourism from Central Asian countries. Objectives. The work seeks to study the opportunities and barriers of Russian healthcare in the medical tourism market. It assesses the demand for medical services abroad within Central Asian countries and evaluates the potential for attracting inbound medical tourists from the region to Russia. Methods. The study employs general scientific methods, including monographic method, along with analysis and synthesis, induction and deduction, description, and applied methods of structural, systemic and comparative economic analysis. Results. The analysis of healthcare in Central Asian countries reveals key issues that shape healthcare performance and influence the motivations for medical tourism and the types of medical care. The key factor limiting the demand for medical tourism is the low income and high poverty levels in the region. The factor complicating the development of medical tourism in the region under consideration is competition from South Korea, Turkey, Israel, Germany and other countries that actively operate in the Central Asian medical tourism market. The multi-vector policies of these countries, including preferential cooperation with other nations, further hinder demand for Russian healthcare services. Conclusions. Amid geopolitical tensions and stringent anti-Russian sanctions from Western countries, Russian clinics face challenges in developing medical tourism and attracting tourists, even from friendly countries. However, inbound medical tourism remains a promising field since Russia offers several competitive advantages as a medical tourism destination, including affordable yet high-quality medical care, skilled doctors and medical personnel, advanced medical technologies, visa-free travel, direct flights, and the absence of language barriers with Central Asian tourists.