Isfahan University of Medical Sciences Health Information Management 1735-7853 14 3 2017 08 23 Identification and Ranking of Criteria Related to Location Decisions of Health Villages; A Case Study for Isfahan Province, Iran Identification and Ranking of Criteria Related to Location Decisions of Health Villages; A Case Study for Isfahan Province, Iran 96 102 11586 FA Seyed Alireza Loh-Mousavi MSc, Industrial Engineering, Department of Industrial Engineering, Lenjan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran Masoud Taghvaei Professor, Geography and Urban Planning, Department of Geography and Urban Planning, School of Geographical Sciences and Planning, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran Mohammad Reza Vasili Assistant Professor, Industrial Engineering and Systems, Department of Industrial Engraining, Lenjan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran Mohammadhossein Zare MSc Student, Industrial Engineering, Department of Industrial Engineering, Najafabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran Journal Article 2017 02 10 Introduction: Today, health tourism is one of the fastest-growing and most lucrative forms of tourism, which has turned attracting tourists into a crucial challenge for managers and decision makers. One of the most applicable methods for attracting health tourists is creating tourist villages owning various competitive advantages. This study aims to identify and rank the criteria affecting the locations decisions of health villages in Isfahan province, Iran.Methods: This was a descriptive-analytical study. First, all criteria and sub-criteria affecting the locations decisions of health villages were identified using field study, literature survey, and experts’ opinions. Then, the pairwise comparison questionnaire was designed and a panel of experts and practitioners in the field were invited to complete the questionnaire. Finally, using analytic hierarchy process method, the ranking of criteria was created.Results: Based on the experts’ opinions, 22 sub-criteria affecting the locations decisions of health villages were identified and categorized under 6 main criteria of natural, topographic, climatic, economic, health, and skeletal factors. Subsequently, based on the participants’ opinions, natural landscape factors with 28.65%, health factors with 23.86% and climate factors with 16.87% were identified as the most important factors related to the location decisions of health villages in Isfahan.Conclusion: In addition to the large share of Isfahan province in tourism fields, concentrating on location decisions and development of health villages based on the criteria identified in this study may provide a new competitive advantage for Isfahan within the tourism industry. Introduction: Today, health tourism is one of the fastest-growing and most lucrative forms of tourism, which has turned attracting tourists into a crucial challenge for managers and decision makers. One of the most applicable methods for attracting health tourists is creating tourist villages owning various competitive advantages. This study aims to identify and rank the criteria affecting the locations decisions of health villages in Isfahan province, Iran.Methods: This was a descriptive-analytical study. First, all criteria and sub-criteria affecting the locations decisions of health villages were identified using field study, literature survey, and experts’ opinions. Then, the pairwise comparison questionnaire was designed and a panel of experts and practitioners in the field were invited to complete the questionnaire. Finally, using analytic hierarchy process method, the ranking of criteria was created.Results: Based on the experts’ opinions, 22 sub-criteria affecting the locations decisions of health villages were identified and categorized under 6 main criteria of natural, topographic, climatic, economic, health, and skeletal factors. Subsequently, based on the participants’ opinions, natural landscape factors with 28.65%, health factors with 23.86% and climate factors with 16.87% were identified as the most important factors related to the location decisions of health villages in Isfahan.Conclusion: In addition to the large share of Isfahan province in tourism fields, concentrating on location decisions and development of health villages based on the criteria identified in this study may provide a new competitive advantage for Isfahan within the tourism industry. https://him.mui.ac.ir/article_11586_efb53b87d5f5286f29b7791ec36a34f8.pdf