Wellness tourism is becoming ever more appreciated 21 Sep 2015

In recent years wellness tourism suffer significant changes both in terms of demand and people's mentality. If in the past a small segment of people used this type of service, today it has become a real trend.

But it is necessary to first define the term wellness tourism and separate it from other similar term which often creates confusion: medical tourism. Medical Tourism is the phenomenon that the tourists who suffer from a certain disease want to make their medical intervention in another country. So, in this case we speak in most cases of people who want to treat sick. Unlike medical tourism, wellness tourism helps healthy people who use such services to maintain their health.

The results of this type of tourism is recognized both individuals, the professionals and the big companies, especially in Germany. In this country many managers have decided to send their employees in wellness stays to have a higher efficiency at work (Ex: Lufthansa).

If you were to make a profile tourist who prefer a destination for relaxation and treatments for maintaining health as well as a spa, it should be predominantly female, aged between 30 and 50 years, with higher education and income above average.

The importance of this type of tourism is increased also because in many developed countries the population is aging prepoderent or undergoes a high degree of job stress and the treatments made in modern spas come to meet these problems.

Also, you should not ignore the current trend that is from becoming more pronounced that many people with a high living standard to invest considerable sums in providing a stress free life living. Or, the main concerns of this segment are even curative vacations.

 Author: Daniel Avram

Bibliography:

  1. Tak-Kee, H., ” Who are the wellness travelers?”, Advances in Hospitality and Leisure, Volume 8, 3–20
  2. Voigt, C., ”Wellness tourists: in search of transformation”, TOURISM REVIEW, VOL. 66 NO. 1/2 2011, pp. 16-30,
  3. Esther von Harten & Stoelting, M., ” Wellness tourism: Current trends, challenges & opportunities”, Editura  A. Papathanassis, 2011