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NOTE:
During this stage of development of the Initiative and Site - and our own unfolding 2008 - 2012 Agenda - some of the anticipated content may be missing, listed Websites may be currently inaccessible and some links not connected.

Besides, this Site - as with all our sites and documents - is an EMVIO Document.


"Health Tourism - not what it is but what it can be"

ht8 is an idea whose time has come.

And there is nothing as powerful as an idea whose time has come.

(Rephrasing Victor Hugo)


ht8

...an idea whose time has come

ht8 is the platform of related services that engages the Health Tourism Consumer with the Sector.

It is all about Health Tourism Destinations offering services in the 8 Health-related Tourism Segments.

ht8 Destinations are the result of Health Tourism Pentad Industry-shaping Projects.


Answering the "why?"

…the ht8 approach

ht8 Destinations are integrated, efficient and competitive. It's as simple as that.

"With the ht8 approach, every Tourism Destination can be a Health Tourism Destination - and every Tourist is a potential Health Tourist".

“Expanding the Industry to address a Broader Market”

ht8 is the concept, strategy and practice of integrating 8 Health–related Tourism Segments into Health Tourism.

“ht” refers to Health Tourism and “8” refers to the eight Segments (related to health and travel):

  • Medical Tourism

  • Dental Tourism

  • Spa Tourism (can include Thalassotherapy)

  • Wellness Tourism

  • Sports Tourism (not for spectators)

  • Culinary Tourism (including the new – molecular - Traditional Cuisine)

  • Accessible Tourism

  • Assisted Residential Tourism (Ambient Assisted Living Abroad)

ht8 is a practically applicable concept and strategy (devised by healthCare cybernetics, a Health Tourism Sector think and do tank).

Its objective is to further develop and expand the Industry so that it can address a broader Market.

 

Defining and delimiting the scope of each Segment

To read about the definition and scope of each Segment go to: The 8 Segments

The ht8 Approach

…to Segmentation, Integration, Development and Promotion

As we are constantly reminded:

"A single provider does not a destination make"

The ht8 Model is “comprehensive and complete”. It foresees and provides a roadmap and blueprint for every aspect of Destination-level Segmentation, Integration, Development and Promotion.

It is in tune with the “today and tomorrow” thinking.

And very importantly, it was designed to avoid the consequences of the “West’s Revenge” – which all Medical Tourism-focus Destinations are now experiencing.


Why the ht8 Approach?

...to Regional Integration and Industry Shaping

As we have now come to understand, “Health Tourism” is the collective (catch all) term for 8 categories of services related to health and involving some travel.

And experience and observation have shown that attempts to develop Health Tourism (on a local, national or regional level) based on only one or two of the Segments (i.e., categories of services) is not likely to result in sustainable success.

This is due to the fact that “survival and success” of Health Tourism Destinations – in view of the global, sophisticated and aggressive competition (which also has deep pockets) – relies not only on “scale” but also on the provision of a wide range of services (which by happy coincidence, are “complementary”).

Consequently, the rational approach to development – or further development – is one based on the development and offering of services in all 8 segments.

These destinations are now designated as “ht8 Destinations” and can display the corresponding logo.

The ht8 concept represents an inclusionary approach to industry sector development which permits organizations and individuals in other industry domains who have not in the past considered themselves also part of Health Tourism – to now do so.

And very importantly, the ht8 approach permits these organizations and individuals to retain their autonomy, independence and existing domain membership and affiliation – while at the same time benefiting by also being part of Health Tourism.


ht8 Alliance

Destinations developing within the context of ht8 also have the option of joining the recently established ht8 Alliance (collaboration, alliance formation, cross referrals - more business for all).

www.ht8alliance.com


What can be ht8?

ht8 Destinations can be:

  • Integrated Geographic Regions

  • Countries / Nations

  • Islands

  • National Regions / Provinces

  • Cities

  • Resorts

The Advantages

The ht8 approach creates a larger and more diverse industry to address a much broader market.

Industry size is very important in influencing perceptions and inspiring confidence amongst consumers.

The ht8 approach also acts as an insurance policy for a destination. Should the demand for one Segment diminish (even temporarily), you still have 7 others to keep you going.

Furthermore, the comprehensive approach allows destinations to exploit the “Long Tail” phenomenon (increased choice creates increased demand).

Finally, a broader industry encourages “cross referrals” between Segments (the providers of one service category can refer to and receive referrals from providers of the other segments – increasing business for all).


Who owns the ht8 "Brand"?

The ht8 approach to integration, development and promotion was conceived, designed and introduced by healthCare cybernetics (hCc).

Nevertheless, hCc clearly and unreservedly states that "ht8" - as a "brand" (with the corresponding Logo) is owned by the Health Tourism Domain Stakeholders (who adopt and implement it - according to its principles and guidelines).

Ultimately, though, the "ht8 Brand" is owned by the consumers who recognize, trust it, give it value - and elevate it to cachet status.


Serve all Stakeholders and Protect the Brand

...the principles and guidelines

healthCare cybernetics - hCc - (as a think and do tank) keeps reiterating that for Health Tourism to achieve long-term growth and prosperity, the Domain (ecosystem) must serve all stakeholders – hence our emphasis on Domain Integration.

ht8 must, likewise, serve all stakeholders.

hCc is well known for its role and efforts in protecting the "Health Tourism" brand - and guarding against Brand Discount and Highjacking.

ht8 is also a "brand" - which similarly needs to be protected against "Brand Discount and Highjacking".

We early on, decided against trade marking ht8.

Nevertheless, we will name and shame those who use it illegitimately or inappropriately - those who highjack (usurp) or discount it.


Adopting and Implementing ht8

ht8 is all about:

  • Destinations

  • Growth and Development

  • Alliances, between and amongst:

    • Health Tourism Segments

    • Destinations

  • Sharing and Exchanging of customers / clients

  • More business for all

The Success of ht8

...and of those who adopt and implement it

The success of ht8 - and of those who adopt it, rests with its implementation.

Its implementation, in turn, relies on the will, resources and ability of "Decision-makers and Purse-string-holders" who understand and use its "value" to develop or further develop a Health Tourism Destination.

And implementation and success do not happen simply by wishing them to happen.

They require "input" by engaged, committed and passionate Stakeholders - with the required moral authority, influence and resources (the real Domain Leadership Circle).


All things ht8

All things related to ht8 – including a listing of ht8 Destinations and Health Resorts - will be appearing at this site (www.healthtourism8.com).

Destinations joining the ht8 Alliance will also be mentioned and listed in the corresponding dedicated site (www.ht8alliance.com).

 

:: HOME :: CONTACT ::


►  The Approach to Definition and Scope

The Directly-related / Complementary Sites:

►  Destination Singular

►  Health Tourism Destination Excellence

►  Health Tourism Integration Conference

►  Health Tourism Domain Integration

►  Health Tourism Pentad

►  ht8 Alliance

►  Integrated Health Resorts

►  Health Tourism Perception Index

The Health Tourism "Pentad"

The "Health Tourism Pentad" refers to the 5 Modules of Health Tourism Development Projects:

Read About

►  Health Tourism

►  Ambient Assisted Living

►  Assisted Residential Tourism

►  Integrated Health Resorts

Our Corporate Site

www.healthcarecybernetics.com


Our Health Tourism Enterprise Practice Site

www.healthtourismenterprise.com

►  Our Web Strategy


Listing of all our Health Tourism Sites:

 

With ht8, every Tourist

...becomes a potential Health Tourist

It has taken time – but at last, the decision-makers are realizing that with the ht8 approach they will be expanding their industry and addressing a much larger market (with ht8 every Tourist becomes a potential Health Tourist).
Constantine Constantinides, M.D., Ph.D.
CEO, healthCare cybernetics

Why first "Segmentation"?

Unless you start with Segmentation (before proceeding to Integration - and then Clustering), you will end up with an amorphous (and anarchic) "hodge-podge" of Stakeholders without unique identities and domain role and purpose.
An Integrated Domain is not a "melting pot".
Constantine Constantinides. M.D., Ph.D.
CEO, healthCare cybernetics

Read here...


The ht8 Approach


Expanding the Industry
...to address a Broader Market


Defining and delimiting
...the scope of each Segment


Why the ht8 Approach?


The ht8 Alliance


What can be ht8?


The Advantages


Who owns the ht8 "Brand"?


Serve all Stakeholders
...and Protect the Brand


Adopting and Implementing ht8


The Success of ht8
...and of those who adopt and implement it


All things ht8


The Health Tourism Integration Conference


www.healthtourismintegrationconference.com

 

 

Emvio is Greek for “living”.
All our documents, publications and websites are EMVIO™ (living) Documents – meaning that they are evolving (probably containing errors) and never definitive - aiming for perfection but never likely to achieve it.

This approach (hopefully) helps make our writings timely and timeless.

 

...making things simple is anything but simple

A long career, which involved a lot of thinking and doing, taught me to take complex things and spend time and effort making them simple - but not simplistic (dumbed down).

And, besides, the more you know - the less you need.