Quality Evaluation of the Services Provided in Selected Sanatorium Facilities in the Podkarpackie Province

Abstract

Purpose. The article shows the importance of health tourism, including spa tourism, as well as current trends in the development of health resorts and sanatorium facilities. Method. The existing data from a survey carried out in health resorts in the years 2011-2013 were used, using standardized evaluation questionnaires. Findings. The data illustrates the level of visitors’ satisfaction with the quality of services and range of offers in selected sanatoriums. The visitors generally assessed the medical and nursing care, the range and quality of treatment services and rehabilitation as good, while in the assessment of local conditions and food as well as the tourist attractiveness of the destination, they reported varied opinions over the analyzed years. Research and conclusion limitations . Limitations of the research and analysis and the comparability of data between the sanatoriums primarily result from a diverse number of respondents in particular locations and differences in the construction of the research tool which was the questionnaire. Furthermore, the opinions of the visitors may be biased and some of them may not have comparison with conditions prevailing in other spa facilities in Poland. Practical implications. The opinions and comments of the respondents can provide additional information for the management of health resorts and local authorities in terms of taking care of the quality of services. Originality. The article presents the most important trends in health tourism, including spa tourism, which was observed in the studied health resorts and sanatoria facilities, as well as the visitors’ feelings about the quality of services and the attractiveness of the range of treatment, rehabilitation and prevention. Type of paper. The article is empirical.