Abstract:
In Zimbabwe, health tourism for the sake of gaining access to herbal
substances for sexual and fertility enhancement remains both undocumented and
shrouded in myths. The significance of indigenous herbal medicine practice in stim
ulating medical tourism growth has remained understudied, undervalued and unap
preciated. Seemingly, research has paid very little attention to this branch of health
tourism based on traditional medical practice. The pharmacological properties of
the various indigenous herbal medicine prescribed, dispensed and consumed under
health tourism remains scientifically unassessed and not much is known about the
nature of the tourist traffic whose main purpose of travel is the consumption of
these indigenous herbal substances for sexual stimulation and/or fertility enhance
ment. As a result the commercial potential of indigenous sexual stimulants and fer
tility enhancement herbs remains uncharted both for health tourism and the health
sector in general in Zimbabwe. This situational analysis paper sought to clarify the
knowledge on the medical tourism market place concerning indigenous herbal
medicine for sexual stimulants and/or fertility enhancers. The paper also maps out
what has been achieved within the herbal medical tourism industry. Specifically the paper explores the medical tourism entrepreneurial potential and highlights the
knowledge gap concerning herbal medicine and health tourism development based
on these traditional herbal medicines and highlight areas for further research.
