Health and Wellness Tourism

Australian and New Zealand Association of Leisure Studies

Biennial Conference,

6 – 8th December 2011, Dunedin, New Zealand

Call for papers on: Health, Wellness and Recreational Tourism

Convenor: Patricia Erfurt-Cooper (James Cook University, Australia)

Health and wellness is a growing sector of the tourism industry worldwide and has been explored and analysed in a number of studies over recent years. Research in this field predominantly covers the growing phenomenon of travel for the purpose of health, wellness and recreation, destinations for surgical treatment, the motivations that drive tourists to the health and wellness sector, but also spa tourism concepts that include natural resources such as hot and mineral springs, climate and natural surroundings as significant attraction factors.

Suggested topics for the session covering Health and Wellness Tourism:

·        Health and wellness tourist destinations and their socio-cultural settings

·        Destination development: co-branding of health, wellness, culture and hot springs

·        Research approaches in health, wellness and recreational tourism

·        Marketing aspects of health and wellness tourism: What are the visitor expectations?

·        Health, wellness and medical travel in history

·        How important are natural resources and sustainable environments for health, wellness and recreational destinations?

·        E-marketing - the role of the Internet as a tool to promote health and wellness tourism

·        The role of natural hot and mineral springs in health, wellness and recreational tourism

·        Future trends and recommendations for the health, wellness and recreational tourism industry

This session aims to build on the research published by several authors (including Bushell & Sheldon, 2008; Cohen & Bodeker, 2008; Erfurt-Cooper & Cooper, 2009; Pratzel, 2001; Smith & Jenner, 2000; Smith and Puczkó 2008) about health and wellness spa tourism. To contribute updated research to the tourism literature abstracts for presentations are sought from researchers examining all aspects of health and wellness tourism.

Abstracts limited to 250 words should be sent to Patricia Erfurt-Cooper

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by 16th of May, 2011. Authors will be notified of acceptance of their abstract for presentation at the conference by 10th of June.