Today, health tourism stands out as a rapidly developing sector with intense global competition, to seek high-quality services and access advanced treatment options. Digital transformation and technological innovations play a major role in the development of health tourism. Digital applications and new technologies that offer advantages in terms of access to health services, cost, and quality make health tourism a more efficient and attractive option for both patients and service providers. Digital and technological applications facilitate access to quality health services worldwide by offering fast, effective, and safe treatment methods.

Innovative digital applications such as telemedicine, artificial intelligence-based diagnostic and treatment tools, wearable technologies, virtual and augmented reality, and mobile health applications facilitate access to healthcare services, especially for patients in remote areas or different countries. These technologies allow individuals to benefit from opportunities such as scheduling appointments, receiving virtual consultations, receiving diagnoses, and managing their treatments without leaving their current location. They also increase patient satisfaction by offering personalized treatment plans. Digital transformation and technological innovations expand the boundaries of healthcare services, strengthen communication between patients and healthcare professionals, and increase the competitiveness of countries in healthcare tourism. This provides cost and time savings for both patients and service providers.

In this book chapter, the place and importance of digital transformation and technological innovations in health tourism and their contributions to the sector will be evaluated.