The role of health in the motivation to visit mineral spa resorts in the Western Cape
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Date
2001
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
University of the Western Cape
Abstract
This research sets out to examine the role of health in the motivation to visit the mineral spa resorts of the Western Cape. It also examines motivation not related to health, and the extent to which these resorts are being used as bases for visiting surrounding attractions.
Internationally, especially in Europe and North America, the mineral spa market is undergoing rapid and significant changes. Traditional forms of mineral spa tourism, where the emphasis was on medical treatments, is changing to 'health tourism', with a growing demand for health and beauty treatments, as well as fitness and wellness programmes, in relaxing leisure environments. Using a combination of factor analysis and cluster analysis, the respondents are divided into five segments, each of which consists of spa visitors with similar motivations. These segments form the basis for ascertaining the motivations and preferences of visitors to mineral spa resorts in the Western Cape, including the role of health as a motivation. It is established that health does indeed play a major part in the motivation to visit the mineral spa resorts of the Western Cape, and that other important motivations include swimming in hot water, good accommodation and clean surroundings, and a safe and secure environment. Being able to use mineral spa resorts as bases for visiting surrounding attractions is not particularly important to visitors. Finally, recommendations are made for the development of a Western Cape mineral spa tourism product that would build upon the health-consciousness of the domestic market, while also catering for the growing international 'health tourism' market.
Description
Magister Artium - MA
Keywords
Mineral spa tourism, Western Cape has five mineral spa resorts, Western Cape, Visiting surrounding tourist attractions