Although it may seem a recent phenomenon, tourism has long been associated with improved health, resulting in a boom of spas, yoga and rejuvenation treatments. Medical tourism itself is a more recent example of niche tourism, with increasing numbers of people travelling abroad in search of cosmetic enhancement and solutions to various serious medical conditions, often by surgery. This book looks at the background and rise of both health and medical tourism, alongside its global expansion and growing complexity, and examines how medical tourism benefits but also challenges local health care providers, and contributes to regional economies and the tourism industry. It offers a unique overview of an emerging component of the tourist industry that is a distinct and controversial element of health provision. The book also provides insights into current topics such as global health and ethics, making this an essential resource for researchers and students of medical tourism and healthcare. (Publisher)