Wellness Tourism in ASEAN Countries Among Aging Travelers Before and During the COVID-19 Era: A Case Study of Thailand
Keywords:
Aging Society, Wellness Tourism, COVID-19, ASEAN Tourism, Thailand TourismAbstract
This article discusses the worldwide aging phenomenon and the resulting aging tourists’ travel patterns with special emphasis on the factors influencing their travel decisions. Specifically, the decline in wellness tourists caused by the COVID-19 pandemic is investigated to determine the most effective strategy and best practices to re-start the tourism industry once the pandemic subsides. Thailand’s preparation activities to regain the tourism momentum post-COVID serve as a case study because of the country’s strong innate potential for wellness tourism and because the effort to rebrand the country from low-cost to high-value including food spa and sports tourism was underway and gaining traction prior to the COVID-19 setbacks. Such potential is not unique to Thailand, but common to many ASEAN countries. The perspectives from this work can hence be applicable to other ASEAN members aspiring to use wellness tourism as a vehicle for recovering, rebranding, and rejuvenating their tourism industry towards a post-COVID goal that combines high-value tourism and sustainability. This furthers the work that ASEAN countries have done to collaborate on accomplishing a gradual and progressive reopening of the region while increasing cooperation and partnership.
References
Asian Development Bank. (2021). Sustainable Tourism After COVID-19 Insights and Recommendation for Asia and the Pacific. Retrieved January 20, 2022, from https://shorturl.asia/nHEFA
Bangkok Bank SME. (2021). Wellness Tourism. Retrieved January 22, 2022, from https://shorturl.asia/KHUfD
Assarut, N. (2019). The Future Trend of Aging Society 2020-2021. Retrieved January 22, 2022, from https://shorturl.asia/KHUfD
Chusri, W., & Lalitsasivimol, W. (2020) Health Tourisms: Thailand’s Competitiveness. Princess of Naradhiwas University Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 7(2), 205-226.
Ellis, J. (2019). Generational Wealth Gap Is Greater Than 20 Years Ago. Retrieved January 25, 2022, from https://citly.me/FbHuZ
Foundation of Thai Gerontology Research and Development Institute. (2021). Situation of the Thai Older Adult 2019. Retrieved January 28, 2022, from https://citly.me/h2FBJ
Gibson, H. J. (2006). Sport Tourism. New York: Routledge.
Global Wellness Institute. (2018). 2018 Global Wellness Economy Monitor. Retrieved January 28, 2022, from https://citly.me/bPjW2
Global Wellness Institute. (2021). The Global Wellness Economy: Looking Beyond COVID.
Retrieved January 28, 2022, from https://citly.me/an2G6
Iberdrola. (2022). Silver Economy, Older People Will Be the Engine of The Economy of the Future. Retrieved April 14, 2022, from https://citly.me/PKb0C
Jamaluddin, M., & Marcus, L. (2021). Bali only Received 45 International Tourists in 2021 Despite Reopening. Retrieved April 14, 2022, from https://citly.me/jKPBr
Kasikorn Research Center. (2017). Healthy Product. Retrieved April 14, 2022, from https://citly.me/cIyXw
Klunklin, A. et al. (2021). Thai Lanna Spa Accreditation Criteria Development for Wellness Tourism. Dusit Thani College Journal, 15(1), 431-453.
Lin, J. (2022). Tourism in ASEAN: The Need to Turn Dreams into Reality. Retrieved April 14, 2022, from https://citly.me/8Z1Kw
Maifeay, V. (2021). Opportunity for Thai Entrepreneurs in the Super-Aged Society. Business Review, 13(2), 409-423.
Ross D. (2022). ASEAN Tourism Officially Reopens. Retrieved April 16, 2022, from https://citly.me/KGtfH
Scherbov, S., & Sanderson, W. (2019). New Measures of Population Ageing. Retrieved April 20, 2022, from https://shorturl.asia/hWfkU
Suanpang, P. (2016). Gastronomic Tourism. Tourism Economic Review, 4(2), 38-45.
Thai Health Promotion Foundation. (2010). The Health Promotion Fund (Thai Health) Join with Governor of Ratchaburi Province to Organize Chombueng Marathon. Retrieved February 10, 2022, from https://shorturl.asia/Z0cXd
Thai Post. (2017). Suggests “Healthy Running” Techniques Fit & Firm Helper-Look Younger. Retrieved April 16, 2022, from https://www.thaipost.net/main/detail/154
Thairath Online. (2021). Wellness Tourism: Future Business. Retrieved April 16, 2022, from
https://www.thairath.co.th/business/market/2054296
Thairath Online. (2021). Wellness Tourism: New Unicorn in the Thai Economic. Retrieved April 16, 2022, from https://www.thairath.co.th/business/feature/2245802
Times of India. (2012). 180 Elderly Foreigners Participate in 22 km Marathon, Redefine Sports Tourism in India. Retrieved April 16, 2022, from https://citly.me/Qnke1
Tourism Bureau, Republic of China (Taiwan). (2022). Taiwan Cycling Festival. Retrieved April 20, 2022, from https://eng.taiwan.net.tw/m1.aspx?sNo=0002019&lid=080905
Trumikaborworn, S., & Apinandacha, C. (2016). Development of Senior Health Promotion Tourism Mae Khong River Cultural Lifestyle Model (Sa-Som Village) Ubon Ratchathani Province. Journal of Nursing Science Chulalongkorn University, 28(1), 25-40.
United Nations. (n.d.). Trends in Population Ageing. Retrieved April 20, 2022, from
Vadakan, V. V. (2021). Tourism Struggles to See Its Future in Southeast Asia. http://th.boell. org/en/2021/08/24/tourism-covid-19
Wisnom, S. M., & Capozio, L. L. (2012). Spa Management: An Introduction. Boston: Prentice Hall.
World Health Organization. (n.d.). Global Health Observatory Data Repository. Retrieved April 24, 2022, from https://apps.who.int/gho/data/node.main
World Tourism Organization. (n.d.). COVID-19 and Tourism: Tourism in Pre-Pandemic Times. Retrieved April 20, 2022, from https://www.unwto.org/covid-19-and-tourism-2020
