Health, Wellness and Tourism: healthy tourists, healthy business ...

Push factors
Internal motives – physiological, social and
psychological needs
(Needs that activate and direct behaviour)
Petri and Govern (2004)
Intrinsic Factors
(Unique personal needs that stimulate or arouse
them to pursue tourism)
Page (2009)
Push Factors – Psychological Factors
(Oh et. al., 1995; Yoon and Uysal, 2005; Cooper
et al. 1993: 36; Knowles, Diamantis and El-
Mourhabi, 2004)
Health-related attitudes
Health, spa and wellness perceptions & learning
Health-related motivations
Pull factors
External motives – the motivating effects of
either various goal objects or social relationship
(Motivation can be activated by changes in the
external environment)
Petri and Govern (2004)
Extrinsic Factors
(The broader conditioning factors that shape
individuals’ attitudes, preferences and
perceptions, but are more externally determined)
Page (2009)
Pull Factors – Destination Attributes
(Oh et. al., 1995; Yoon and Uysal, 2005)
Spa as a tangible resource
Unique spa treatments and experiences
(marketing image)
Health and Spa Tourists
Motivation Factors
Figure 1: The Framework for Health and Spa Tourist Motivation Factors
Health-related Tourist Motivation
Though health tourism has longevity in historical terms, health and spa tourism can be
considered at its infant stage, at which health and spa tourists’ motivation remains a
substantive interest for researches. There is generally lack of empirical studies on health and
spa tourism motivation in understanding the fundamental needs of the health and spa goers
during holiday, as there is a growing concern on health among the population at present. It is
suggested that research investigating health, spa and wellness from demand perspective is
needed as many of the available literatures (as presented above) are basically focusing on the
development, marketing and positioning studies of the health, spa and wellness
services/facilities.