PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
toward an integrated approach to health and wellness product development
Holistic Tourism
tourism that provides the visitor with a range of activities of treatments which are aimed at developing, maintaining and improving the body-mind spirit.
categorization of holistic retreat products
physical
therapeutic
medicional
mental
spiritual
healing
creative
expressing
new age
personal development
spa are becoming more multi functional, holistic retreat attempt to provide visitors with the whole spectrum of wellness activities
Western Europe
focus traditionally been on physical and medical wellness
Asia
they often had more spiritual dimension
Eg: Yoga , Tai Chi
offer beauty and fitness facilities and caters for visitors
Austria & Germany
offer the whole range of facilities
The globalization of health and wellness tourism products.
what it means ?
the proliferation of spa and wellness hotel development around the world
product can include national & regional assets and resources
mineral waters
mountain chains
seas
indigenous and local traditions & treatments
medidal / surgical tourism
takes place in countries which are perceived as being as being cheaper than the tourists own country
eg: India , Thailand
spas offer cosmetic and beauty treatments
suggestion for globalization
there needs to be same differentiation of destinations on a national level, especially if they are trying to market themselves specifically as health, spa or wellness
eg : promoting unique physical resources
problem ?
difficult to compete with similar historic spas elsewhere
architecture different, but the facilities and services levels are similar
effect ?
hard to them to compete in the international market for wellness visitors
for dedicated health tourists
refer health resort @ destination that can offer extremely diverse range of products