Engaging with a healthy tourism “offer”: strategies to improve place perceptions.

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to explore how engagement with a healthy tourism “offer” could improve place perceptions through the development of collaborative strategies to promote a wellbeing destination. Design/methodology/approach – This paper takes a constructivist grounded theory approach drawing on semi-structured interviews conducted with local members of council from public health and tourism teams, in a seaside town in the South of England. Findings – Study findings indicate that the historical roots of the town’s creation have a bearing on current planning challenges and strategies. Findings confirm that collaborative strategies to engage with a healthy tourism “offer” will improve place perceptions and promote a wellbeing destination. Implications The paper concludes that strategies to engage with a healthy tourism offer include interventions to curb alcohol consumption, regenerate areas, and promote eudaimonic wellbeing – which could ultimately improve place perceptions. Originality/value - This paper proposes that the development of a strategic alliances bridged through the construct of wellbeing could improve place perceptions and promote a wellbeing destination. Keywords Public health, tourism, wellbeing, grounded theory, place, south of England