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Health and Wellness Tourism in Pandemic Times – Paradigms Shifts and Sustainability Challenges

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Health, Well-Being and Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2021) | Viewed by 20481

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Carlos Costa

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Guest Editor

Department (School) of Economics, Management, Industrial Engineering and Tourism (DEGEIT) of the University of Aveiro
Interests: tourism planning; tourism development; policy and strategies; tourism management; tourism innovation; gender in tourism; education and research in tourism

Dr. Joana Alegria Quintela

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Guest Editor

Portucalense University (Porto)
Interests: Tourism; Health and Wellness; Marketing; Consumer Behaviour; Quality of Life; Sustainability

Dr. Joaquim Gonçalves Antunes

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Guest Editor

Polytechnic Institute of Viseu
Interests: Relationship Marketing; Health and Wellness Tourism; Marketing Place

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The immediate consequences of coronavirus pandemic on tourism sector, triggered significant paradigm shifts on demand and also in the value of health and healthcare as synonymous of security in tourist destinations, conditioning its image, promotion and the economic development of the territories.

This special issue is focused on the challenges and opportunities prompted by this new reality in the specific field of Health and Wellness Tourism, concerning its impacts on related businesses and in worldwide destinations that has a solid tradition related with Thermal Baths, Spas and even with Medical services and facilities regarding tourist purposes.

The importance of this approach is due to the fact this kind of Tourism figures as an important factor for the sustainable management of local communities and for the promotion of tourist destinations, contributing to the preservation and conservation of natural and even cultural heritage at the regional level. The aim of this special issue is to present the management and marketing strategies, development opportunities, innovative solutions and good practices examples that may outcome from these challenging circumstances, presenting full papers, case studies and research reports, based on a sustainability perspective. These approaches are developed in literature, regarding different contexts and countries, constituting a solid body of research on the topic. Sheldon and Park (2009) and Voigt and Pforr (2014) made an approach to wellness in a destination perspective, considering different implications for destination development, management and competitiveness (Prideaux et al., 2014; Smith & Puczkó, 2014), the sustainable regional development (Pechlaner et al., 2014; Wray & Weiler, 2014) and introducing the concept of health region (Pforr et el., 2014). Also Peris-Ortiz & Álvarez-García (2015) analysed Health and Wellness Tourism as an important market segment, analysing it in different dimensions through several European case studies about regional development and innovative strategies on Thermalism (Araújo et al., 2015; Costa, Quintela & Mendes, 2015; Joukes & Costa, 2015). In what concerns to the actual context of coronavirus pandemic, Berini (2020) organized a sum of different studies regarding the impacts on Tourism and travel sector (Keller, 2020; Richards, 2020), focusing on marketing strategies during Covid-19 sanitary crisis (Andreini & Mangiò, 2020), on the sustainability dimension (Holden, 2020; Wells, 2020; Bougleux, 2020) and also forecasting behaviours and social impacts of this phenomenon (Peretta, 2020; Alberti & Perrotta, 2020; Heuwinkel, 2020).

Health and Wellness Tourism has been an important factor for the economic development of territories, for the sustainable management of local communities and for the promotion of tourist destinations, contributing to the preservation and conservation of natural and even cultural heritage. Considering the importance and ancient tradition of Health and Wellness Tourism in many European (Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Portugal, Turkey, Spain) and worldwide countries (Australia, Canada, Chile, India, Peru, Thailand, United States) mainly due to their richness and abundance of hot springs, it figures demanding to analyse the economic impacts of Coronavirus pandemic in this activity. Bearing in mind the shift on Health and Healthcare paradigms, figuring as synonymous of security in tourist destinations, conditioning its image, promotion and development, this special issue is focused on the sustainability challenges and opportunities this new reality is designing in the specific field of Health and Wellness Tourism.

This special issue aims to publish original full research papers, case studies and research reports on the field of Health and Wellness Tourism that reflect the challenging circumstances, analysing the pandemic effects, forecasting consumer behavioural trends and motivations, presenting innovative strategies to face the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic in this sector, in a sustainability perspective. Manuscripts that address conceptual and empirical work in this area are welcome. The suggested topics for this Special Issue comprise the following ones, among others that may be considered pertinent:

Impacts of the pandemic on Health and Wellness Tourism
Medical Tourism management and ethical issues
Paradigm shifts in Health
Health as synonymous of security in destinations
Influence of Coronavirus on tourist destinations image
Sustainable managerial solutions on Health and Wellness destinations
Competitive policies for the sustainability of Health and Wellness sector
Innovative products and services on Health and Wellness business
Quality control methodologies
Best practices on Thermal Baths and Spas
Shifts in attitudinal and behavioural demand paradigms
Forecasting Health and Wellness consumer profiles and trends
Marketing strategies for Health and Wellness destinations
Other suitable topics

Prof. Carlos Costa
Dr. Joana Alegria Quintela
Dr. Joaquim Gonçalves Antunes
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

Health and Wellness Tourism
Medical Tourism
Wellness experiences
Sustainability
Sustainable management
Destination Management
Regional development
Pandemic consequences
Paradigm shift
Best practices
Competitiveness
Innovative strategies
Marketing solutions
Consumer behaviour
Demand forecasting

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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23 pages, 345 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Motives for Thermal Tourism: An Application to North and Central Portugal

by Filipa Brandão, Dália Liberato, Ana Sofia Teixeira and Pedro Liberato

Sustainability 2021, 13(22), 12688; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132212688 - 16 Nov 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2291

Abstract

Health and wellness tourism should be particularly valued in the post-pandemic phase. It has the potential to be a strategic product that enhances the population’s well-being and quality of life, on social, physical, and environmental levels. Different proposals for specialized experiences that complement what the destination offers allow to position regions as health and wellness destinations. Thermal tourism should thus be encouraged as a specific product designed on the innovation and diversification observed in the related services and the benefits recognized for all ages. Considering the relevance of thermal springs and thermal tourists for the image, positioning, and development of touristic destinations, this research aims to identify the specific motivations of tourists that attract them to the practice of thermal tourism, to understand how the benefits for which thermal tourists search and their sociodemographic profile influence the motivations of tourists, and how those motivations determine the characteristics of travel. This research was developed on the North and Centre of Portugal for their relevance in the context of thermal springs and related touristic activities. To achieve the research objectives, a questionnaire survey was conducted among thermal tourists, through a non-probability by convenience sampling, using bivariate tests, such as Pearson’s chi-squared test, one-way ANOVA, and t-Student test. The results highlight that most respondents practiced thermal tourism due to leisure and relaxation benefits, such as the escape from daily stress, spend time with family, and being “pampered”; relaxation is the most valued motivation, followed by the search for psychological and physical well-being. The research found relations between the benefits expected by thermal tourists and their travel characteristics, such as the composition of the group, the general travel motivation, the chosen thermal destination, and the number of nights spent at the location. In thermal tourism, new challenges emerge, demanding the development of strategies, products, and services that respond to the needs of specific market sections. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health and Wellness Tourism in Pandemic Times – Paradigms Shifts and Sustainability Challenges)

16 pages, 1022 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainable Initiatives in Sports Organizations—Analysis of a Group of Stakeholders in Pandemic Times

by Ricardo Roseira Cayolla, Teresa Santos and Joana A. Quintela

Sustainability 2021, 13(16), 9122; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13169122 - 14 Aug 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3922

Abstract

This study explores the importance of environmentally sustainable initiatives in sport (ESIS) for stakeholders in pandemic times. Three topics—climate changes and energy consumption, environmental impact of sports events, and health and well-being—were considered and analysed under three sustainability forms: organisational, community, and individual. A total of 5917 stakeholders (sponsors, employees, and members) of a sports organization realised one online survey. The data gathering process occurred during pandemic times, when every kind of collective sport event was suspended to the general public. The descriptive analysis of the results is provided, and the findings reveal that health and well-being is the most valorised topic by members and employees, in a sustainable individual form. On the other hand, sponsors manifest their interest mainly in a sustainability organisational and community forms. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health and Wellness Tourism in Pandemic Times – Paradigms Shifts and Sustainability Challenges)

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13 pages, 760 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Wellness Tourism—New Challenges and Opportunities for Tourism in Salou

by Marta Gemma Nel-lo Andreu, Alba Font-Barnet and Marc Espasa Roca

Sustainability 2021, 13(15), 8246; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13158246 - 23 Jul 2021

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 8504

Abstract

Following a long history of using various strategies and policies for diversification and seasonal adjustment in the face of the challenges of achieving economic, social, and environmental sustainability, sun and beach destinations should also consider targeting the wellness tourism market as a post pandemic opportunity and long-term solution. Salou is a mature sun and beach destination in the Mediterranean, but one which, for some time, has had an increasing commitment to family and sports tourism as a result of a strategic renewal process. Now, with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, the destination management organization is considering the evolution of the model, the internalization of sustainability as a fundamental value, and the impact of different markets. In this study, we examined the challenges the Salou Tourist Board has faced during the development of a post pandemic model for sustainable tourism and what strategies it has adopted in response. We also considered the opportunities and competitive advantages that Salou has in the field of wellness tourism. The results obtained should encourage the continuation of work that promotes the environmental axis of sustainability and adds value to the natural resources on which it depends, including the sea and the landscape, while maintaining the environmental quality of the resources. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health and Wellness Tourism in Pandemic Times – Paradigms Shifts and Sustainability Challenges)

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Other

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12 pages, 649 KiB

Open AccessConcept Paper

The Benefits of Blockchain Technology for Medical Tourism

by Inessa Tyan, Antonio Guevara-Plaza and Mariemma I. Yagüe

Sustainability 2021, 13(22), 12448; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132212448 - 11 Nov 2021

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 2975

Abstract

The paper discusses the benefits of blockchain technology for medical tourism. The major focus is placed on pre-procedure and post-procedure of medical tourism. The authors argue that blockchain technology can facilitate several stages of medical tourism by enabling disintermediation, allowing cryptocurrency payments, ensuring secure data sharing and privacy, and empowering trusted review systems. With regard to COVID-19 pandemic, the paper outlines the current challenges of the medical tourism industry and prop oses the opportunities for blockchain technology use. The paper attempts to provide important insights regarding the positive implications of blockchain technology use within the medical tourism industry as well as to further advance the current knowledge about blockchain technology’s effects for medical tourism. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health and Wellness Tourism in Pandemic Times – Paradigms Shifts and Sustainability Challenges)

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