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Tourist Health Responses to Therapeutic Landscapes in Urbanizing Contexts

Author

Listed:
  • Qing Feng

    (School of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, China)

  • Ruwen Tan

    (School of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, China)

  • Han Yang

    (School of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, China)

  • Bingqian Wei

    (School of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, China)

Abstract

Urbanization drives spatial restructuring that transforms landscapes to prioritize human health. Grounded in therapeutic landscape theory and tourism involvement theory, this study employs PLS-SEM and CMV to examine how landscapes affect individual health amid urbanization. Key findings reveal the following: (1) A model of urbanization for tourists’ perceived health confirms urbanization enhances health perceptions via therapeutic landscapes. (2) Therapeutic landscape perceptions exert an indirect effect on health perception through the mediating variable of tourism involvement, where tourism psychological involvement demonstrates a complete mediating effect, while tourism behavioral involvement exhibits a partial mediating role. (3) High urbanization exerts a more pronounced positive influence on natural and social landscapes compared to symbolic landscapes. Notably, elevated urbanization levels significantly strengthen the positive association between natural/social landscapes and perceived health benefits. Under low urbanization, health perception does not demonstrate significant enhancement with elevated landscape perception. This study fills a critical research gap by quantitatively investigating, from a micro-scale perspective, how therapeutic landscapes enhance tourists’ health within urbanization contexts in Eastern settings. Furthermore, it extends the theoretical framework of tourism involvement in health tourism contexts, advances tourism and leisure research, and provides scientific support for sustainable tourism development and tourists’ well-being enhancement.

Suggested Citation

  • Qing Feng & Ruwen Tan & Han Yang & Bingqian Wei, 2025. "Tourist Health Responses to Therapeutic Landscapes in Urbanizing Contexts," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-24, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:14:p:6456-:d:1701705
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Wang, Ke & Cui, Qingming & Xu, Honggang, 2024. "Sensory therapeutic assemblages in tourism: Qi and the health of snowbirds in China," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 105(C).
    2. Zaichkowsky, Judith Lynne, 1985. "Measuring the Involvement Construct," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 12(3), pages 341-352, December.
    3. Gesler, Wilbert M., 1992. "Therapeutic landscapes: Medical issues in light of the new cultural geography," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 34(7), pages 735-746, April.
    4. Dash, Ganesh & Paul, Justin, 2021. "CB-SEM vs PLS-SEM methods for research in social sciences and technology forecasting," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
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