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

tourism sector for the state as these are tourism products which attract visitors all the year
round, it was also necessary to take steps to ensure the adequacy and reliability of the quality
messages of Estonian spas both in the domestic and foreign markets.
One important step in that direction was the process initiated by the Estonian Spa Association
for the creation of a system for the classification and categorisation of spas. The
categorisation criteria for medical spas, which have been implemented by now, were
developed based on the experience of several countries and organisations, thorough research
conducted in the course of the process, and results of several client satisfaction surveys
conducted among earlier spa guests. By the beginning of 2010 the second survey has reached
the final stage; categorisation criteria for spas and wellness spas are being prepared on the
basis of its results to hopefully implement them in the course of 2010.
Several shortcomings were found in the course of the surveys and pointed out in the report of
the research project and also at the training days for spa staffs and at team meetings in the
course of the project. Quality is no doubt one of the most important keywords and
requirements of tourism today, including health tourism. We can state that without quality we
cannot talk about healthy business and healthy tourists in the context of health, spa and
wellness tourism. The categorisation system of Estonian medical, spa and wellness spa hotels
is an important tool for the self-determination of Estonian spa hotels and in their efforts to be
among the best of their category.
References
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Categories of Spa hotels and classification. Estonian Spa Association.
www.estonianspas.eu/en/classification-requirements Accessed 10.01.2010.
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