Tourism Therapy for Vulnerable Populations:A Literature Review and Research Agenda
The intersection of tourism and health presents new opportunities and challenges for both academics and practitioners.While health tourism and medical tourism have garnered attention from academics,the mechanisms by which tourism can bring about health benefits,particularly for vulnerable populations,have received less focus.Tourism therapy,involving tourists improving their health status through tourism experiences and receiving preventive or alternative benefits at psychological,physical,and social levels,is a current topic of interest in the field of tourism and health.However,there is a lack of comprehensive review in China consolidating the theoretical foundations,research progress,and practice needs related to tourism therapy for vulnerable populations,as well as pointing out future research directions.This study focuses on vulnerable populations and reviews the sub-themes involved in tourism therapy.The integrative review takes a broader view from and beyond tourism,retrieving and screening articles from top journals in China and abroad.The content of these articles presents four sub-themes:People,purposes of tourism,places with therapeutic potential,and therapeutic performance.Important issues under these aspects are identified.First,tourists with vulnerability,stemming from inherent,situational,and pathogenic factors,were identified and analyzed based on their distinctive characteristics.Second,the unique purposes of this group were explored across three dimensions:seeking a temporary respite from and a sense of control over their circumstances,reevaluating and enhancing their capabilities,and nurturing social connections while reinforcing their identities.Third,places with therapeutic potential were delineated across four categories:physical,social,symbolic,and virtual.Finally,the multifaceted"physical-psychological-social"therapeutic outcomes have garnered attention,encompassing aspects such as disease remission or management,bolstering psychological well-being,and fostering the maintenance and growth of social relationships.The study also analyzes the applications of theories in existing therapy tourism research focusing on vulnerable populations,highlighting the need for further theoretical development in this area.Specifically,the study emphasizes the importance of focusing on segmented vulnerable groups based on the theory of vulnerability,deepening the understanding of health and vulnerability in tourism contexts,and establishment of theoretical framework for how vulnerable groups can achieve healing through tourism.Based on the concept of vulnerability and its manifestation,this study proposes a four-dimensional framework of tourism therapy for vulnerable populations,encompassing"people-purpose-place-performance".The framework provides a comprehensive structure for understanding and analyzing the various dimensions of tourism therapy for vulnerable populations,emphasizing the interplay between the characteristics of the people,their purpose for engaging in tourism,the places that facilitate therapeutic experiences,and the resulting performance in terms of health and well-being.Additionally,the study suggests future research directions,including attention to the inherent and dynamic features of vulnerable populations in both tourism and daily life contexts,interdisciplinary exploration of tourism as a vehicle for alternative therapies,and the potential for fundamental shifts in lifestyle,such as tourism,and its health benefits.By addressing these future research directions,scholars and practitioners can further explore the potential of tourism therapy for vulnerable populations,contributing to the development of interventions and strategies that promote health equity and justice for vulnerable groups.
tourismtourism therapyhealthtourism and well-beingvulnerable populations
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