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Motives for thermal tourism: an application to North and Central Portugal

2021Journal article Open access
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dc.contributor.authorBrandão, Filipa
dc.contributor.authorLiberato, Dália
dc.contributor.authorTeixeira, Ana Sofia
dc.contributor.authorLiberato, Pedro
dc.date.accessioned2021-11-16T17:29:38Z
dc.date.available2021-11-16T17:29:38Z
dc.date.issued2021
dc.description.abstractHealth and wellness tourism should be particularly valued in the post-pandemic phase. It has the potential to be a strategic product that enhances the population’s well-being and quality of life, on social, physical, and environmental levels. Different proposals for specialized experiences that complement what the destination offers allow to position regions as health and wellness destinations. Thermal tourism should thus be encouraged as a specific product designed on the innovation and diversification observed in the related services and the benefits recognized for all ages. Considering the relevance of thermal springs and thermal tourists for the image, positioning, and development of touristic destinations, this research aims to identify the specific motivations of tourists that attract them to the practice of thermal tourism, to understand how the benefits for which thermal tourists search and their sociodemographic profile influence the motivations of tourists, and how those motivations determine the characteristics of travel. This research was developed on the North and Centre of Portugal for their relevance in the context of thermal springs and related touristic activities. To achieve the research objectives, a questionnaire survey was conducted among thermal tourists, through a non-probability by convenience sampling, using bivariate tests, such as Pearson’s chi-squared test, one-way ANOVA, and t-Student test. The results highlight that most respondents practiced thermal tourism due to leisure and relaxation benefits, such as the escape from daily stress, spend time with family, and being “pampered”; relaxation is the most valued motivation, followed by the search for psychological and physical well-being. The research found relations between the benefits expected by thermal tourists and their travel characteristics, such as the composition of the group, the general travel motivation, the chosen thermal destination, and the number of nights spent at the location. In thermal tourism, new challenges emerge, demanding the development of strategies, products, and services that respond to the needs of specific market sections.pt_PT
dc.description.sponsorshipThis work was financially supported by the research unit on Governance, Competitive‐ ness, and Public Policy (UIDB/04058/2020), funded by national funds through the FCT—Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, and CiTUR, R&D unit funded by the FCT—Portuguese Foundation for the Development of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Edu‐ cation, under the scope of the project UID/BP/04470/2020.
dc.description.versioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionpt_PT
dc.identifier.doi10.3390/su132212688pt_PT
dc.identifier.issn2071-1050
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10400.22/18876
dc.language.isoengpt_PT
dc.publisherMDPIpt_PT
dc.relationUID/BP/04470/2020
dc.relation.publisherversionhttps://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/22/12688pt_PT
dc.subjectThermal tourismpt_PT
dc.subjectHealth and wellness tourismpt_PT
dc.subjectMotivationspt_PT
dc.subjectConsumers’ profilept_PT
dc.subjectCOVID-19pt_PT
dc.titleMotives for thermal tourism: an application to North and Central Portugalpt_PT
dc.typejournal article
dspace.entity.typePublication
oaire.citation.titleSustainanilitypt_PT
oaire.citation.volume13, 22, 1268pt_PT
person.familyNameLiberato
person.familyNameLiberato
person.givenNameDália
person.givenNamePedro
person.identifier.ciencia-idF610-22F9-C504
person.identifier.ciencia-id0E18-9B6A-FE45
person.identifier.orcid0000-0003-0513-6444
person.identifier.orcid0000-0003-2908-1599
person.identifier.scopus-author-id57200377509
person.identifier.scopus-author-id57200381200
rcaap.rightsopenAccesspt_PT
rcaap.typearticlept_PT
relation.isAuthorOfPublication8af17803-7f2e-4819-bfd8-8ce657eff119
relation.isAuthorOfPublication5cb18f24-fc60-43a7-9b13-a54edc06d66e
relation.isAuthorOfPublication.latestForDiscovery5cb18f24-fc60-43a7-9b13-a54edc06d66e

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