Health tourism - a notional and conceptual framework

Abstract

The paper, an intraductory and conceptual one, summarizes Croatian and foreign experiences, viz. notions and conclusions based on relevant literature. First of all, health functions of tourism are elaborated, particularly causal links between health and tourism. The history of tourism is, to a large extent, identical with the use of natural health factors, mainly water and climate, although this use is older than modem tourism. Spas and climatic resorts had a strong influence on the overall development of tourism as meeting places of higher-class clients. Consequently, those destinations were adequately equiped and in function of traditional thermalism with long average stays of guests, predominately patients. The paper will then present examples of some older and recent definitions of health tourism as well as other similar notions, always stressing the tourist, rather than medical, aspect of the subject treated. Founded upon diversified natural resources, the market of modern health tourism shows manifold features, including various consumer segments etc. Of particular importance here are market trends in Europe abandoning the classical thermalism in favour of a contemporary concept of health tourism and emphasizing recreational and other components of that kind but not neglecting medical ones. This new approach is being implemented in a number of developed countries and advocated by international medical, balneological and tourism associations and congresses. Today, this concept is largely supported by a strong trend of an active and healthy life-style with tourism playing a particular role in that sense.