Health spa development in the US: A burgeoning component of sport tourism

Abstract

Health spa tourism development in the US has shown rapid growth during the past two decades. Much of the development has been stimulated by a growing consumer interest for products that contribute to notions of fitness and wellness, including the type of vacations purchased. A demand-side model is presented for analysing the fit of health tourism to overall tourism, and in particular sport tourism. A supply-side model presents health tourism development in two branches: traditional medical institutions and health spas. A qualitative assessment of spa evolvement in the US is presented for the purpose of determining the implications this type of development may have for other countries desiring to diversify their own tourism product. Based on a review of guidebooks, interviews with spa owners and mallagers and inspections of the services and facilities of various types of spa segments, the article concludes that health tourism development may have many beneficial consequences, both economic and environmental, for a destination. The article points to a need for more quantitative research in terms of the number of people travelling for health reasons as well as the performances of different spa segments in order better to assess the future impact of this burgeoning tourism sector.