Thermal Tourism: Study of the Profile and Motivations of the Practitioner in Portugal
Health and wellness tourism had a growing interest in the Portuguese population until 2019. However, with the appearance of Covid-19, several establishments had to close over these two years, this segment being one of the most affected areas. Many water users looked forward to the opening of the spa...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Research Centre for Tourism, Sustainability and Well-being (CinTurs)
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Journal of Tourism, Sustainability and Well-being |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.cieo.pt/journal/J_1_2023/article4.pdf |
| _version_ | 1797845243335278592 |
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| author | Isabel Sofia Loureiro Helena Gomes Vânia Costa Fernanda A. Ferreira Raquel Pereira Alcina Nunes |
| author_facet | Isabel Sofia Loureiro Helena Gomes Vânia Costa Fernanda A. Ferreira Raquel Pereira Alcina Nunes |
| author_sort | Isabel Sofia Loureiro |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Health and wellness tourism had a growing interest in the Portuguese population until 2019. However, with the appearance of Covid-19, several establishments had to close over these two years, this segment being one of the most affected areas. Many water users looked forward to the opening of the spa resorts to continue their treatments. Given the importance of this theme, this work has as its main goal the definition of a consumer profile and to identify the determinants of satisfaction of the thermal tourists, as well as to gauge the degree of knowledge of thermal tourism and specifically of spas in the Portuguese context. In methodological terms, a questionnaire survey was conducted among the tourists to achieve the research objectives. The results show a younger, healthier and diversified thermal tourism practitioner. It also reveals similarities with other profile and motivations studies. However, it is possible to notice a few differences. Practitioners are seeking a combination of a leisure and health dimension and valorise factors such as location and access of the establishments, quality of the services provided and rest and tranquillity. An issue regarding their length of stay has been identified. As they are locals and live in the same country as the thermal spa, most respondents do not stay overnight at the destination. In the future, it would be interesting to research product development and market strategies for diversified thermal practitioners. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T17:35:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-121ad70daea04ec79cdaf627e262a49d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2795-5044 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T17:35:38Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | Research Centre for Tourism, Sustainability and Well-being (CinTurs) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Tourism, Sustainability and Well-being |
| spelling | doaj.art-121ad70daea04ec79cdaf627e262a49d2023-04-17T15:32:38ZengResearch Centre for Tourism, Sustainability and Well-being (CinTurs)Journal of Tourism, Sustainability and Well-being2795-50442023-03-01111405110.34623/5cdd-eg26Thermal Tourism: Study of the Profile and Motivations of the Practitioner in PortugalIsabel Sofia Loureiro0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1291-569XHelena Gomes1Vânia Costa2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4202-8779Fernanda A. Ferreira3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1335-7821Raquel Pereira4https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0990-4746Alcina Nunes5https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4056-9747School of Hospitality and Tourism, Polytechnic Institute of Cávado and Ave, Barcelos, PortugalSchool of Hospitality and Tourism, Polytechnic Institute of Cávado and Ave, Barcelos, PortugalSchool of Hospitality and Tourism, Polytechnic Institute of Cávado and Ave, Barcelos; CiTUR, GOVCOPP, and UNIAG, PortugalUNIAG; CiTUR; ESHT, Polytechnic of Porto, PortugalSchool of Hospitality and Tourism, Polytechnic Institute of Cávado and Ave, Barcelos; CiTUR, PortugalUNIAG, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Bragança, PortugalHealth and wellness tourism had a growing interest in the Portuguese population until 2019. However, with the appearance of Covid-19, several establishments had to close over these two years, this segment being one of the most affected areas. Many water users looked forward to the opening of the spa resorts to continue their treatments. Given the importance of this theme, this work has as its main goal the definition of a consumer profile and to identify the determinants of satisfaction of the thermal tourists, as well as to gauge the degree of knowledge of thermal tourism and specifically of spas in the Portuguese context. In methodological terms, a questionnaire survey was conducted among the tourists to achieve the research objectives. The results show a younger, healthier and diversified thermal tourism practitioner. It also reveals similarities with other profile and motivations studies. However, it is possible to notice a few differences. Practitioners are seeking a combination of a leisure and health dimension and valorise factors such as location and access of the establishments, quality of the services provided and rest and tranquillity. An issue regarding their length of stay has been identified. As they are locals and live in the same country as the thermal spa, most respondents do not stay overnight at the destination. In the future, it would be interesting to research product development and market strategies for diversified thermal practitioners.http://www.cieo.pt/journal/J_1_2023/article4.pdfhealth and wellness tourismthermal user’s profilethermal spatourism |
| spellingShingle | Isabel Sofia Loureiro Helena Gomes Vânia Costa Fernanda A. Ferreira Raquel Pereira Alcina Nunes Thermal Tourism: Study of the Profile and Motivations of the Practitioner in Portugal Journal of Tourism, Sustainability and Well-being health and wellness tourism thermal user’s profile thermal spa tourism |
| title | Thermal Tourism: Study of the Profile and Motivations of the Practitioner in Portugal |
| title_full | Thermal Tourism: Study of the Profile and Motivations of the Practitioner in Portugal |
| title_fullStr | Thermal Tourism: Study of the Profile and Motivations of the Practitioner in Portugal |
| title_full_unstemmed | Thermal Tourism: Study of the Profile and Motivations of the Practitioner in Portugal |
| title_short | Thermal Tourism: Study of the Profile and Motivations of the Practitioner in Portugal |
| title_sort | thermal tourism study of the profile and motivations of the practitioner in portugal |
| topic | health and wellness tourism thermal user’s profile thermal spa tourism |
| url | http://www.cieo.pt/journal/J_1_2023/article4.pdf |
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