Health and Wellness Tourism

Patricia Erfurt-Cooper lectures in tourism resource management at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University in Japan. Her research interests include geothermal resources for human use and geotourism in volcanic and geothermal environments with a focus on risk management.Malcolm Cooper is Vice President (Research) at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University in Japan and lectures in tourism law and tourism development and planning. His research interests include tourism development and planning, sustainable development and management of environmental resources.

• 1 Introduction: The Development of the Health and Wellness Spa Industry2 The Health and Wellness Concept: A Global Overview3 The Use of Natural Hot and Mineral Springs throughout History4 The Cultural and Religious Use of Water5 The Geological Background of Natural Hot and Mineral Springs6 The Health and Wellness Spa Tourism Industry Environment7 The Technology and Economics of Health and Wellness Spa Tourism8 Aspects of Management and Marketing in Health and Wellness Spa Tourism9 Case Studies from the Contemporary World10 Conclusions: Retrospect, Challenges and the Future

Hot springs are a global phenomenon but until now there has been no account of the global nature of hot spring tourism. This book fulfils the need for a comprehensive account of the significance and nature of hot spring tourism and how hot springs impact on the global spa and wellness industry.