This paper explores the experiences and perspectives of travel experts who provide services to people living with dementia and their care partners. The study aims to identify the challenges and effective strategies for creating inclusive travel opportunities in this context. The findings are based solely on the perspectives of service providers and do not include direct input from individuals living with dementia or their care partners. A qualitative research design was adopted, involving in-depth interviews with six participants who possess extensive experience in facilitating travel for individuals with dementia. Due to the small number of operators in this niche, participants were selected based on relevant experience in dementia-inclusive tourism. The interview questions explored strategies used by the travel experts to support travellers with dementia, perceived barriers and challenges, and recommendations for tourism operators developing dementia-inclusive services. Data were analysed thematically to identify recurring patterns and insights. Four major themes emerged: (1) enabling tourism services; (2) logistics of enabling services; (3) fostering bonds and purpose; and (4) travel as a key factor to living well. These findings highlight the importance of tailored support and inclusive practices in creating positive travel experiences. This research contributes to the growing body of literature on dementia-inclusive travel by deepening understanding of how travel experiences can be made more accessible, enjoyable, and supportive for people living with dementia and their care partners. The insights can inform tourism, hospitality, healthcare professionals, and host communities by deepening understanding of this growing tourist segment and guiding more inclusive support and services.

Medical tourism involves individuals traveling abroad to receive medical care, significantly influencing healthcare delivery, tourism revenue, and patient preferences. Türkiye has emerged as a leading destination due to its strategic location, advanced healthcare infrastructure, high-quality private hospitals, skilled specialists, and affordable services. This review examines the opportunities and challenges Türkiye presents to international patients seeking cochlear implant procedures. While Türkiye offers substantial clinical expertise and positive outcomes for patients with severe and profound sensorineural hearing loss, focusing solely on economic benefits is insufficient. Cochlear implant treatment extends beyond surgery to include patient selection, thorough audiological evaluation, device selection, postoperative programming, ongoing follow-up, rehabilitation, ethical counseling, and patient safety. Sustainable growth in Türkiye’s cochlear implant medical tourism sector requires strengthening comprehensive care models, improving follow-up, expanding multilingual support, and institutionalizing quality assurance.

Global demographic changes and increasing life expectancy are gradually increasing the importance of the silver tourism market in the tourism sector. The purpose of this study is to reveal the conceptual evolution and current research trends of the silver tourism literature through bibliometric analysis. A total of 216 academic publications retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection database were analysed using VOSviewer software. A thesaurus was employed during the analysis process to improve data reliability and terminological consistency. The study employs co-occurrence and co-citation analyses to map the intellectual and thematic structure of the field. The findings indicate that silver tourism research gained significant momentum especially since 2016, concentrated in the 2021-2025 period, and countries such as China, the USA, Spain, Australia and Portugal are among the leading contributors to the literature. The keyword network shows that the literature is shaped around themes such as senior tourism, well-being, active ageing, motivation, travel constraints, and social tourism. This study provides a strategic roadmap for academia and tourism industry stakeholders regarding the future research directions of the silver tourism market.

Health tourism is a type of tourism that involves individuals traveling across countries to receive healthcare services and has experienced rapid growth in recent years. This study examines the concept of health tourism, its types, its development both globally and in Turkey, as well as medical tourism, marketing strategies, and patient profiles based on a review of the literature. The findings indicate that medical tourism is the fastest-growing segment within health tourism and that Turkey has significant potential in this field. In addition, Turkey has become an attractive destination for international patients due to its strategic geographical location, cost-effective healthcare services, and well-developed medical infrastructure. However, improving service quality, expanding international accreditation, and developing effective marketing strategies are of critical importance for the sustainable growth of health tourism.

With the increasing mobility of international patients, the cross-border organization of healthcare services has evolved into a more complex structure. In this context, assistance companies and intermediary organizations have emerged as key actors that plan and manage patients’ treatment journeys. These entities act as a bridge between patients and healthcare providers, addressing communication, coordination, and logistical processes through a holistic approach. The international patient treatment process generally consists of pre-assessment, identification of an appropriate healthcare institution, treatment planning, travel and accommodation arrangements, and post-treatment follow-up. Assistance companies contribute to determining the most appropriate treatment options by ensuring that patients’ medical data are accurately analyzed and shared with relevant specialists. At the same time, they enhance the patient experience by overcoming communication barriers arising from linguistic and cultural differences. Intermediary organizations, on the other hand, play a strategic role in the marketing of healthcare services, the development of international patient portfolios, and the enhancement of the global competitiveness of healthcare providers. These organizations support the sustainability of the health tourism ecosystem by operating within the framework of patient safety, ethical principles, and service quality. In conclusion, the international patient treatment process managed by assistance companies and intermediary organizations is grounded in effective coordination, accurate guidance, and high-quality service delivery. This structure not only ensures that patients receive safe and satisfaction-oriented care but also strengthens the international standing of healthcare providers.