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The Impact of Health and Wellness Tourism in the Regional Economy of Estrela UNESCO Global Geopark, Portugal

Author

Listed:
  • Margarida Mota

    (University of Coimbra, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, 3004-530 Coimbra, Portugal)

  • Paulo Nossa

    (University of Coimbra, CEGOT—Centre of Studies in Geography and Spatial Planning, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, 3004-530 Coimbra, Portugal)

  • Claudete Oliveira Moreira

    (University of Coimbra, CEGOT—Centre of Studies in Geography and Spatial Planning, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, 3004-530 Coimbra, Portugal)

Abstract

Health and wellness tourism is currently an emerging tourist product in the Portuguese context, as it incorporates a great potential to adapt to the challenges that the present time imposes. Given the emergence of new strategies aimed at more sustainable tourism and community development, Serra da Estrela, a Portuguese mountain region classified as a UNESCO Global Geopark since 2020, has been the subject of studies about its tourism potential. Such studies aim to deconstruct the general perception, which prevailed for decades, of a tourist landscape closely related to snow as the main resource. At the same time, as Serra da Estrela represents a rural region in the interior of the national territory, it benefited from its attractiveness during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this sense, this research aims to study the importance that health and wellness tourism can have for the Estrela UNESCO Global Geopark in its impact on the regional economy. To this end, based on the study case, we analyze the thermal frequency in the resorts of the territory and indicators relating to tourist resorts with a spa component that exist in the region: accommodation capacity, the number of jobs, the number of overnight stays and the difference between TRevPAR and RevPAR. This research allows us to conclude that the thermal frequency has adapted to the challenges imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the analyzed tourist resorts show resilience in the face of external demand shocks.

Suggested Citation

  • Margarida Mota & Paulo Nossa & Claudete Oliveira Moreira, 2023. "The Impact of Health and Wellness Tourism in the Regional Economy of Estrela UNESCO Global Geopark, Portugal," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-29, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:20:p:15151-:d:1265182
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ana Tezak Damijanic & Zdravko Sergo, 2013. "Determining Travel Motivations Of Wellness Tourism," Economic Thought and Practice, Department of Economics and Business, University of Dubrovnik, vol. 22(1), pages 3-20, june.
    2. Jiang, Lei & Wu, Huazhang & Song, Yang, 2022. "Diversified demand for health tourism matters: From a perspective of the intra-industry trade," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 293(C).
    3. Ralf C. Buckley & Mary-Ann Cooper, 2022. "Tourism as a Tool in Nature-Based Mental Health: Progress and Prospects Post-Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-15, October.
    4. Ana Težak Damijanic, 2020. "Travel Motivations as Criteria in the Wellness Tourism Market Segmentation Process," Academica Turistica - Tourism and Innovation Journal, University of Primorska Press, vol. 13(2), pages 201-213.
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