Current state and peculiarities of health and wellness development tourism in Germany

Abstract

Health and wellness tourism is a rapidly growing area of the tourism industry, driven by the increasing demand for health and wellness services and a focus on healthy living. This type of tourism offers a wide range of activities that aim to restore and strengthen physical and mental health, making it attractive to diverse segments of the population. As a global leader in health tourism, Germany has a long-standing tradition of utilizing natural healing resources such as mineral waters and therapeutic mud. This article explores the current state and unique characteristics of health and wellness tourism in Germany. The text confidently analyses the main indicators of health tourism development in Germany, showcasing the country's impressive number of health resorts, beds, tourist arrivals, overnight stays, gross value added, and employment. It asserts that health tourism plays a significant role in the German economy, despite the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. Additionally, the text confidently identifies the key features and advantages of the German system of health and wellness tourism. Germany boasts a diverse range of resort types, each with their own unique specialisations. These include recreation resorts, balneological resorts, mineral and mud resorts, climatic medical and recreational resorts, Kneipp resorts and seaside resorts. These resorts are primarily located in federal states such as Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Saxony and Brandenburg. The resorts specialize in treating and preventing various diseases, including those affecting the musculoskeletal, respiratory, skin, digestive, and cardiovascular systems. An analysis of the number of health resorts and tourist arrivals in Germany between 2014 and 2023 reveals a gradual reduction in the number of health resorts. This reduction is likely due to economic factors or changes in demand for healthcare services. Balneological, seaside, and recreational resorts have the highest number of beds. The most popular resorts are balneological and mineral spas, with an average bed occupancy rate of 38 % in 2023. Tourist arrivals to German resorts have shown steady growth until 2019, with fluctuations thereafter. Despite a slow recovery in 2021–2023, the level of tourist arrivals has not yet reached the level of 2019. The research conducted on the dynamics of tourist arrivals in Germany main resort types from 2014–2023 revealed a significant decline in 2020 for mineral and mud resorts, balneological resorts, and Knype resorts. The analysis of overnight stays at resorts in Germany demonstrates a consistent upward trend from 2014 to 2019. Nevertheless, due to the Сovid-19 pandemic's impact on the tourism industry, there was a significant decline in the number of overnight stays, reaching the lowest values for the period under study in 2020–2021. It is worth noting that health and wellness tourism in Germany plays a significant role in the country's economy. The gross value added in this sector was approximately 3,2 billion euros in 2022. Specialised health and wellness services are provided by this sector, which requires highly qualified personnel. In 2022, the number of people employed in this sector was 151 000, the lowest since 2013. In 2023, over 24,5 million people in Germany were willing to spend significant funds on their health and well-being, indicating a significant potential for the development of health and wellness tourism in Germany. Germany boasts high-quality medical services, highly qualified medical personnel, and a wide range of medical procedures, making it an ideal destination for health and wellness tourism. To develop health and wellness tourism, we must focus on commercialisation, international cooperation, and improving the quality of services. Keywords: health and wellness tourism, spas, sanatoriums, health improvement, Germany.