Health and wellness tourism towards regional development and quality of life

In the European context of constant touristic development and growth, Health and wellness tourism is considered one of the most important strategic products for tourism in Portugal, with a significant role on economic... [ view full abstract ]

In the European context of constant touristic development and growth, Health and wellness tourism is considered one of the most important strategic products for tourism in Portugal, with a significant role on economic recovery. This kind of tourism is even more relevant when leverages other types of leisure and tourism, such as cultural, rural, nature, spiritual and gastronomic. In this sense, health and wellness tourism may become a booster element of these new forms of economic growth, socially sustained, promoting the sustainability of regional development creating a territorial balance and improving quality of life.
At the scientific level, health and wellness has become an important subject of research focused mainly on the marketing and management perspective. This study analyses it under a geographical and territorial perspective, evidencing the potential of health and wellness tourism in the appearance of a new paradigm based on the assertion of inner destinations, identifying the variables that contribute to the promotion of quality of life that induce to the settlement of population to the territory. It also intends to evaluate the interrelation between recreation, leisure and health and wellness tourism, contributing to the comprehension of its potential of health as an emboldened element to settlement the population on the inner regions of Portugal.
Methodologically, this research embraces the collection, analysis and treatment of data, originate by primary and secondary sources of information, combining qualitative and quantitative research methods, using both delphi and survey technique by the administration of a questionnaire to administrators and managers of health and wellness units of the central region of Portugal and its’ users, respectively.
Considering that nowadays these regions are closer to the littoral in its relative distances (cost and time), in virtue of the new net of accessibilities by road and by virtual and technological means, its’ development must occur steadily through the attraction of new economic activities and its’ qualification in terms of quality of life, we believe this research will contribute to advancing knowledge in the field of health and wellness tourism.