Tourism management studies of the smart era

Tourism management studies of the smart era

Prioritizing Emotional Design Components in Children's Health Tourism: A Three-Phase Journey Model

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article- original research

Authors
Paria sadat Razavi manesh 1
Mohammad Mirehei 2
Amin Faraji 3
Ebrahim Bagheri Taleghani 4
Davood Hoomanian 5
1 Faculty of Tourism,, faculty of Management,University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
2 Faculty of World Studies, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran,
3 Associate Professor, University of Tehran and Director of Iran Smart City Research Center, Tehran, Iran
4 Industrial Design Department, Faculty of Applied Arts, Iran University of Art, Tehran, Iran
5 Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
10.22072/tmsse.2026.2075770.1079
Abstract
The objective of this study was to design a conceptual model for prioritizing emotional design components in children's medical tourism journeys. In response to the neglect of children's emotional needs within this domain, the present research was conducted using a scoping review method and an analysis of 16 validated models.
The findings led to the development of a three-phase model (pre-trip, during-trip, and post-trip), which specifies the priority of emotional design components in each stage. In the pre-trip phase, reflective and hedonomic (personalization) components are prioritized to reduce initial anxiety. During the trip, in environments such as hospitals, instinctive (visual appeal) and behavioral (service efficiency) components are essential for creating a sense of security and facilitating treatment. This model serves as an operational roadmap, assisting policymakers and service providers in organizing children's medical experiences in a positive and therapeutic manner by focusing on the most effective emotional design components at each stage. It is suggested that this model forms the basis for developing national standards and future research.
Keywords
Children's health tourism
emotional design
tourism development model
design of therapeutic environments

Subjects

Tourism management studies of the smart era

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 20 February 2026