Health tourism within the contemporary hospitality industry

Viac o knihe

In 2010, the Global Status Report on Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) by the World Health Organization revealed that nearly two-thirds of the 57 million global deaths in 2008 were due to NCDs, primarily cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes, and chronic lung diseases. These conditions stem from four behavioral risk factors linked to economic transition, urbanization, and modern lifestyles: tobacco use, unhealthy diets, insufficient physical activity, and harmful alcohol consumption. As medical costs rise, the concept of wellness emerges as a solution to health deterioration. While the medical field has been structured over time, health preservation has largely remained a personal responsibility. The wellness and spa industry faces challenges due to information overload, and health tourism, the main focus of this work, is even more complex due to its multifaceted nature. This work provides practical insights, including an overview of the current spa and wellness industry, alignment of customer demand with spa offerings, and the attractiveness of various countries to health tourists. It emphasizes the need for secure freedom for entrepreneurs and consumers regarding investments and personal health care. Ultimately, this work aims to unify diverse perspectives into a structured understanding of contemporary health tourism.