Psychological Health: A critique on wellness tourism and the association with mental health
Author: Melanie Marshall
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Keywords: Wellness tourism, social tourism and mental health
Abstract: Throughout writing this report a global pandemic was taking place with thousands of people unable to see loved ones at the most important time of their lives. Social interaction with society was stolen and this has had a detrimental effect on people’s mental health. Thus, making the need for wellness tourism more important. More and more people are putting themselves first and focusing on improving their physical and mental health which of course is what wellness tourism does it improve peoples physical and mental health.
Discussion: It is forecasted that 34% of people within the United Kingdom take part in a form of wellness tourism and will be willing to spend up to four hours a day to improve their wellbeing (ABTA, 2020). In the United Kingdom, 1 in 4 people suffer from a mental health problem (Mind, 2017a). 1 in 6 people will also suffer from anxiety within the UK (Mind, 2017b). Between 2007 and 2014 there was an increase in mental health issues this also shows the importance that tackling mental health. Wellness tourism allows its users to improve an aspect of their physical or mental wellbeing with professional help to guide them through it all (Muller and Kaufmann, 2007). In recent years the growth of wellness tourism has grown phenomenally this is down the change in society. Society now recognises that it is important to put yourself first and therefore, this form of tourism become accepted in modern society (Smith and Kelly, 2006a). With society changing it is now accepted for people to go to a retreat to lose weight or to even improve their mental health. There is a gender gap within the UK when it comes to mental health cases with more women having confirmed cases than men. This then raises a question of if the stereotype of ‘men don’t cry’ is disestablished then would more men could come forward with their mental health issues.
A lot of research into wellness tourism has taken place throughout the years with most pointing out flaws and the benefits of wellness tourism. Upon examining these it was clear to see there was a consensus on wellness tourism and that is that researchers see wellness tourism as a positive trend for the tourism industry. One important flaw of wellness tourism is that it is an expensive activity to take part in. The general target market of people wanting to take part in this form of tourism is a baby boomer who is at the peak of their income earnings (Smith and Kelly, 2006b). Thus, meaning there are a lot of people who are unable to take part in this form of tourism, therefore, being at a disadvantage. A positive on wellness tourism is that hiking a wellness tourism activity improves tourist’s relationship with the surrounding environment this promotes sustainability (Rodrigues, Kastenholz and Rodrigues, 2010). This could mean that sustainability within the tourism industry can be encouraged more. With wellness tourism being a new trend within the tourism industry it means that a lot of the companies that focus on wellness tourism activities are small-scale businesses (Smith and Kelly, 2006c). With small-scale businesses becoming more involved within the tourist industry it allows the industry to become more competitive and it grows the market.
Social tourism is about allowing disadvantaged people to take part in tourism. Tourism is said to be amazing for personal development (Su and Swanson, 2020). For people who are disadvantaged for example not being able to afford to take a holiday could have an effect on their mental health. Wellness tourism is expensive, and it would not be possible for people with a poor income to take part in this form of tourism. This is where the government step in to make sure that just because they are unable to participate in wellness tourism it does not mean their mental health issues cannot be treated. As well as investing £1 billion to mental health services the government promote several schemes one including MindEd (GOV.UK, 2020). Charities such as Mind fund holidays for people who need to a holiday the most. This is not taking people are wellness retreat, but it is bridging the gap for the benefits that wellness tourism provides. Charities within the UK also help provide online and phone support for people with mental health issues.
All parties within the tourism industry must focus on making sure that wellness tourism remains a positive trend for the tourism industry and they all work together to improve the inclusivity of wellness tourism. Finally, lower the figures of disadvantaged people.
Muller, H. and Kaufmann, E.L. (2000) Wellness tourism: Market analysis of a special health tourism segment and implications for the hotel industry. Journal of Vacation Marketing. 7(1). Available from https://journals-sagepub-com.proxy.library.lincoln.ac.uk/doi/pdf/10.1177/135676670100700101 [Accessed 1st May 2020]
Smith M., and Kelly, C (2006) Holistic Tourism: Journeys of the self? Tourism Recreation Research. 31 (1) Available from https://www-tandfonline-com.proxy.library.lincoln.ac.uk/doi/pdf/10.1080/02508281.2006.11081243?needAccess=true [Accessed 5th May 2020]
Minnaert, L., Diekmann, A. and McCabe, S. (2012) Defining Social Tourism and its Historical Context. In: McCabe, S., Minnaert, L. and Diekmann, A (eds.) Social Tourism in Europe. Bristol: United Kingdom: Channel View Publications, 18-34.
Abstract: Throughout writing this report a global pandemic was taking place with thousands of people unable to see loved ones at the most important time of their lives. Social interaction with society was stolen and this has had a detrimental effect on people’s mental health. Thus, making the need for wellness tourism more important. More and more people are putting themselves first and focusing on improving their physical and mental health which of course is what wellness tourism does it improve peoples physical and mental health.
Discussion: It is forecasted that 34% of people within the United Kingdom take part in a form of wellness tourism and will be willing to spend up to four hours a day to improve their wellbeing (ABTA, 2020). In the United Kingdom, 1 in 4 people suffer from a mental health problem (Mind, 2017a). 1 in 6 people will also suffer from anxiety within the UK (Mind, 2017b). Between 2007 and 2014 there was an increase in mental health issues this also shows the importance that tackling mental health. Wellness tourism allows its users to improve an aspect of their physical or mental wellbeing with professional help to guide them through it all (Muller and Kaufmann, 2007). In recent years the growth of wellness tourism has grown phenomenally this is down the change in society. Society now recognises that it is important to put yourself first and therefore, this form of tourism become accepted in modern society (Smith and Kelly, 2006a). With society changing it is now accepted for people to go to a retreat to lose weight or to even improve their mental health. There is a gender gap within the UK when it comes to mental health cases with more women having confirmed cases than men. This then raises a question of if the stereotype of ‘men don’t cry’ is disestablished then would more men could come forward with their mental health issues.
A lot of research into wellness tourism has taken place throughout the years with most pointing out flaws and the benefits of wellness tourism. Upon examining these it was clear to see there was a consensus on wellness tourism and that is that researchers see wellness tourism as a positive trend for the tourism industry. One important flaw of wellness tourism is that it is an expensive activity to take part in. The general target market of people wanting to take part in this form of tourism is a baby boomer who is at the peak of their income earnings (Smith and Kelly, 2006b). Thus, meaning there are a lot of people who are unable to take part in this form of tourism, therefore, being at a disadvantage. A positive on wellness tourism is that hiking a wellness tourism activity improves tourist’s relationship with the surrounding environment this promotes sustainability (Rodrigues, Kastenholz and Rodrigues, 2010). This could mean that sustainability within the tourism industry can be encouraged more. With wellness tourism being a new trend within the tourism industry it means that a lot of the companies that focus on wellness tourism activities are small-scale businesses (Smith and Kelly, 2006c). With small-scale businesses becoming more involved within the tourist industry it allows the industry to become more competitive and it grows the market.
Social tourism is about allowing disadvantaged people to take part in tourism. Tourism is said to be amazing for personal development (Su and Swanson, 2020). For people who are disadvantaged for example not being able to afford to take a holiday could have an effect on their mental health. Wellness tourism is expensive, and it would not be possible for people with a poor income to take part in this form of tourism. This is where the government step in to make sure that just because they are unable to participate in wellness tourism it does not mean their mental health issues cannot be treated. As well as investing £1 billion to mental health services the government promote several schemes one including MindEd (GOV.UK, 2020). Charities such as Mind fund holidays for people who need to a holiday the most. This is not taking people are wellness retreat, but it is bridging the gap for the benefits that wellness tourism provides. Charities within the UK also help provide online and phone support for people with mental health issues.
All parties within the tourism industry must focus on making sure that wellness tourism remains a positive trend for the tourism industry and they all work together to improve the inclusivity of wellness tourism. Finally, lower the figures of disadvantaged people.
Muller, H. and Kaufmann, E.L. (2000) Wellness tourism: Market analysis of a special health tourism segment and implications for the hotel industry. Journal of Vacation Marketing. 7(1). Available from https://journals-sagepub-com.proxy.library.lincoln.ac.uk/doi/pdf/10.1177/135676670100700101 [Accessed 1st May 2020]
Smith M., and Kelly, C (2006) Holistic Tourism: Journeys of the self? Tourism Recreation Research. 31 (1) Available from https://www-tandfonline-com.proxy.library.lincoln.ac.uk/doi/pdf/10.1080/02508281.2006.11081243?needAccess=true [Accessed 5th May 2020]
Minnaert, L., Diekmann, A. and McCabe, S. (2012) Defining Social Tourism and its Historical Context. In: McCabe, S., Minnaert, L. and Diekmann, A (eds.) Social Tourism in Europe. Bristol: United Kingdom: Channel View Publications, 18-34.