Mashhad metropolis with a population of 3.001.184 and attracting 29.297.946 domestic and international tourists in 2016, have taken advantage of the benefits and capacities of health tourism alongside its main attraction, which is holy shrine of Imam Reza (AS). The city has various capacities, facilities, services, and secondary elements of health tourism such as belief in material and spiritual functions of pilgrimage and healing among most of visitors, enough expert human resources in healthcare sector, having health facilities, etc.. The study aimed at exploring and presenting applicable strategies for developing health tourism in Mashhad as a religious metropolis. The qualitative and comparative study used a descriptive-analytical method and focused on documents and empirical data. The study used integrated SWOT- QSPM model. Using Delphi method and interviewing with some experts of health and tourism, 25 questionnaires were completed and analyzed. Findings of the study, using SWOT technique and evaluating WT/ST/WO/SO for developing health tourism in Mashhad, indicated that the score for strengths (2.828) such as expert human resources in healthcare sector, modern health facilities and services, low medical costs, etc. is higher than the score of weaknesses (1.105). In total, the final score for internal factors (SW) was 3.933. Moreover, the score for opportunities (2.735) such as central government’s support for attracting health tourists, political interactions with neighbor countries was higher than the score for threats (1.239) in this metropolis. In total, the final score for external factors (OT) was 3.974. Therefore, the development strategies of health tourism in Mashhad Metropolis should use existing strengths and opportunities with an Offensive Strategy, which would be a reactive solution.

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