Health Tourism Chain Value in the Metropolitan Area in Cucuta Cadena de Valor Turismo de Salud del Área Metropolitana de Cúcuta

Abstract

Background: The Colombian economy has been characterized by a wide open free market, including current agreements with major trade blocs in the world. This feature requires high competitiveness and diversification conditions, thus national and regional governments must try to promote some sectors that have traditionally been unexploited such as Health Tourism, in order to make it become a world-class industry that contributes to generate economic wealth, employment and diversification of the economy. Health tourism is a growing industry in countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, and Costa Rica, making an important contribution to the GPD. Objective: To establish the chain value in Health Tourism in the Cúcuta area, determining its advantages and disadvantages and proposing strategies for its development as an economic alternative to the border area. Method: Documental and quantitative, focused on Health Provider Institutions, with chain value and porter diamond as fundamental theories. Results: The results indicate that the region has the necessary infrastructure, a geostrategic position and the social and economic conditions that favor the emergence of the sector. It is necessary for the health institutions to obtain international accreditation, bilingual skills of the employees, and an adequate marketing strategy and articulation between the actors of the system. Conclusions: There are conditions for development of health tourism as a viable economic alternative. Design of policies, infrastructure improvement, human resource training, and quality certification of health institutions are necessary.