Review article
WELLNESS: A NEW MODE OF TOURISM
NIKO KONCUL
Abstract
Like all other sectors of the world economy,
tourism is also feeling the pinch of the crisis that
has resulted from the global economic turmoil.
World economic situation since 2007/2008 has
put an extra pressure on people’s psycho-physical state
of health. People are increasingly looking forward to
new ways of relaxation and re-energizing themselves.
Some modes of tourism, globally, due to the economic
downturn, have slowed down, but the tourism sector itself
has done remarkably well during the last two-three years
by offering the new model i.e. facility generally called
Wellness. Within tourism, wellness is relatively a new trend
that has registered an impressive growth rate. World-wide
more and more people are traveling to destinations that
provide wellness facilities. The rise of ‘wellness’ concept
can be attributed to two factors. First, the WHO has now
long been pushing forward an integrated concept of «wellbeing
» and «fitness» into its global health policy. Second,
the overall education of people has increased the human
awareness of personal health. Tourism service providers,
especially the luxury hotels were quick to cash upon these
facts and created a palette of wellness services such as spa
and health treatments, occupational health therapy, beauty
treatments, sports’ facilities, spiritual activities, massages,
and rehabilitation programs, etc.
Since sufficient data on the subject have not yet
emerged, the paper basically discusses some conceptual
aspects of wellness tourism only.
Keywords
happiness; meditation; recreation; therapy; well-being; welfare
Hrčak ID:
86650
URI
Publication date:
15.6.2012.
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