THE REALITY OF MEDICAL TOURISM: A FIELD STUDY OF SELECTED THERAPEUTIC TOURISM SITES IN IRAQ

Abstract

This research aims to assess the current state of therapeutic tourism in Iraq in order to identify key criteria that contribute to its development. The study is based on a field-based analytical approach, using a random sample of beneficiaries of therapeutic services. To collect primary data, a questionnaire was used, and the statistical program SPSS was employed to analyze the data and extract results.

The study reached several conclusions, the most important of which is that therapeutic sites in Iraq are generally well-received by visitors. However, the overall evaluation does not reflect a satisfactory level of service quality. Respondents indicated weaknesses in service provision, poor maintenance of facilities and infrastructure, and a lack of promotion and organization.

Among the studied sites, Hammam Al-Alil in Mosul was rated the most favorably, achieving the highest mean score and the lowest standard deviation—indicating relative satisfaction due to its ongoing development. In contrast, Ain Kabrit in Mosul received the lowest acceptance, pointing to a need for service improvement. Therefore, the General Authority for Tourism should reconsider the current state of these sites to enhance their therapeutic and tourism roles.