How to determine the tourism carrying capacity in a Thermal SPA?

Authors

Keywords:

Health and Wellness Tourism, Tourism Carrying Capacity, Spring SPA, Spring SPA Resort

Abstract

Thermalism (Spring SPA Industry), framed within health and well-being tourism, can contribute to the regeneration of certain tourist destinations and to reducing regional asymmetries in less developed locations. However, growth above a certain level can lead to a deterioration of available resources and a decrease in the quality of the visitor's experience. 

To help control the disproportionate growth of villages and to contribute to sustainability of tourism activity, the determination of tourist carrying capacity is used. However, most published studies analyse this topic in theoretical terms and few studies present and apply methodologies to calculate this indicator (Neves & Eusébio, 2021). Carrying capacity for the World Tourism Organization (UNTWO, 2018) represents the largest number of individuals who can visit a given tourist destination, simultaneously, without causing physical, sociocultural and/or economic damage, without decreasing, to the point of becomes unacceptable, the quality of visitor satisfaction in relation to the experience. Tourist carrying capacity is also the capacity that a certain environment can support without losing the characteristics of its originality or having its integrity threatened (Pires, 2005), which points in the same direction. If this level is exceeded, deterioration of resources, less visitor satisfaction and adverse impacts on local society, culture and economy may occur (Ceballos-Lascurain, 1996).

In this sense, the objective of this study is to achieve the tourist load capacity of a thermal resort, in an unprecedented approach and cantered on an active thermal resort.

Author Biography

  • Adriano Barreto Ramos, Polytechnic Institute of Viseu

    Currently Lecturer of Hotel & Restaurante Management at Instituto Politécnico de Viseu and Health and Wellbeeing Tourism at Instituto Politécnico de Coimbra (Master in Tourism)

    coordinator of PROVERE Termas Centro public funded project for the 20 Mineral Spring SPAS of the Center of Portugal.

    2007 – 2018 General manager of Companhia das Águas Medicinais da Felgueira SA,  managing Caldas da Felgueira SPA and Grande Hotel das Caldas da Felgueira.

    Managing Director of Intervir Consultores®, trademark for consultancy in marketing and management, with projects in Spain and Portugal for Hotels, SPAs and the tourism industry. Managing Director of Bellitia, Produtos e Serviços de Estética e Beleza, Lda., importer and wholesaler of aesthetic and beauty products.

    2002 - 2003 - General Manager of Companhia dos Banhos de Vizela SA, directly in charge Hotel Sul Americano and Spring SPA (Caldas de Vizela), with a team of over 60 therapists and 40 persons working in the Hotel.

    1999 – 2002- General Manager of Sociedade das Termas de Monchique Lda, during the renovation and reconversion of all the touristic units of the resort. STM is the company in charge of Vila Termal das Caldas de Monchique, with five hotels and the SPA.

    1993-1998 - Manager of Empresa das Caldas da Saúde SA, the first modern Mineral Spring SPA in Portugal, leading the process of refurbishment and repositioning of the SPA.

    Lecturer of marketing courses (MBA and BBA) within the degree program in Tourism at IPV, former teacher of Marketing Management at IPAM, and at the European University; author of several projects and scientific articles in SPA management. Instructor at Instituto Piaget.

    My studies:

    Attending the academic courses of the PhD in Tourism at the Universidad de Vigo.

    Master’s in management by Universidade Portucalense, EuropeSpa Expert (Quality in Medical SPAs & Wellness Management, Safety, Hygiene and Service), Post-graduation in Marketing from the Universidade Portucalense, Graduate Course in Hotel Management, Licentiate degree in Marketing at IPAM.

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Published

2024-12-18

Issue

2024

Section

Extended abstract