The Innovative Health Tourism’s Environmental Management Sustainable Design Facilities Assessment Capability

Abstract

One important domain has been evolving along parallel pathways in tourism studies which is community-based tourism (CBT). This poses significant challenges to those interested in community health tourism and their building infrastructures, research and practice in the sustainable development design and environmental management facilities in the sector of health tourism. An assessment capability is taking place for project management, monitoring schemes and actions that promote innovation at Health Tourism’s construction infrastructures to minimize outdoor pollution threats next to community health centers from brownfields (i.e. waste water units and associated sanitary units, landfills etc.). This paper is presenting an integrated framework based on a comprehensive and analysis of the community health centers and sustainable design facilities in health tourism related facilities. The study reveals not just common ground and differences that might be anticipated, but also important sustainability dimensions that are lagging or require much greater attention, such as environmental management, sustainable designs, monitoring and public health protection of tourists. A preliminary framework of “sustainable community-based tourism” (SCBT) is forwarded that attempts to provide innovative operational solutions in Health Tourism’s facilities. Critical directions are presented making useful conclusions to progress research and development in sustainability-oriented practices towards more effective sustainable designs and operational management of tourism facilities in Greece and the surrounded Mediterranean region.