HEALTH AND WELLNESS TOURISM：健康旅游__精品.doc

Niko Koncul, Ph.D. Adjunct Assistant Professor of Economics at the University of Dubrovnik and CEO of Babin Kuk d.d., Dubrovnik (Croatia) Phone: +385 20 448 200 E-mail address: niko.koncul@ WELLNESS: A NEW MODE OF TOURISM IN THE WORLD IN TURMOIL Abstract: Like all other sectors of the world economy, tourism is also feeling the pinch of the crisis that has resulted from the global economic turmoil. World economic situation since 2007-2008 has put extra pressure on peoples psycho-physical state of health. People are increasingly looking forward for new ways of relaxation and re-energizing themselves. Some modes of tourism, globally, due to the economic downturn, have slowed down, but the tourism sector has remarkably done well during the last two-three years by offering a new facility i.e. Wellness. Within tourism, wellness is relatively a new trend that has registered an impressive growth rate. World wide more and more people are traveling to destinations that provide wellness facilities. The rise of Wellness concept can be attributed to two factors. Firstly, the WHO has pushed forward the integrated concept of ?well-being? and ?fitness? into its global health policy. Secondly, the overall education of people has increased the human awareness of personal health. Tourism service providers, especially the luxury hotels were quick to cash upon these facts and created a palette of wellness services such as spa and health treatments, occupational health therapy, beauty treatments, sports facilities, spiritual activities, massages, and rehabilitation programs etc. The paper will discuss some conceptual aspects of wellness tourism. Key Words: happiness, meditation, recreation, therapy, wellness, well-being, welfare Introduction Over the last decade the world is in a turmoil undergoing far-reaching changes in attitudes, behaviour and economic life of the people. Frequent natural disasters and global economic crisis has resulted in economic miseries of the peo