From Amusement and Entertainment Tourism to Balneotherapy and Health Promotion Tourism

Abstract

Since the prehistoric era, balneotherapy has been important as a folk therapy in Japan, where the greatest number of hot springs (spas) have been developed, utilized for balneotherapy, and enjoyed by many citizens in the world. In the last centuries, however, hot spring areas chose the “economic rational behavior” to convert from balneotherapy resorts to commercialized amusement and entertainment resorts for the purpose of economic development. This chapter describes this history and then casts light on the blind spots thus far ignored in one-disciplinary approaches. Using a multidisciplinary approach, this chapter views the problems in the medical, behavioral, regional and national dimensions. Then, this chapter explores the sustainable systems of balneotherapy-centered region and the strategies to reconvert hot spring resorts to balneotherapeutic resorts in the sense of modern medicine and hygiene. This chapter proposes the utilization of medical electronic apparatuses and medical communication network systems to promote medical tourism in local areas. Finally, this chapter discusses the acceptability of the strategies to the medical and local communities.