HEALTHCARE ACCESS AND TRAVELLER EXPERIENCES ACROSS TOURISM DESTINATIONS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF QUALITATIVE EVIDENCE

Background: Travellers seeking healthcare away from home must navigate not only clinical care but also mobility, communication, destination services and continuity of care. Aim: This review synthesised qualitative evidence on travellers’ experiences of accessing and receiving healthcare across tourism destinations. Methods: Web of Science Core Collection, Scopus and Business Source Complete were searched for primary qualitative studies published during 2018–2025. Fifteen studies were included, appraised using the CASP qualitative checklist and synthesised thematically. Results: Five themes concerned healthcare-system comparisons, information and trust, culturally responsive communication, the destination environment, and continuity after returning home. Key barriers included language differences, uncertain costs and procedures, transport difficulties and discontinuity of follow-up care. Conclusion: Healthcare access during medical travel extends beyond clinical treatment. Coordinated information, communication, destination services and post-treatment follow-up are important to a traveller-centred healthcare journey.