Can health be a lever for a transformation to virtuous tourism? Initial answers based on an exploratory study in Playa del Carmen (Mexico)

For several years now, the direct and indirect effects of tourism on host regions have fuelled interest in a transition towards more virtuous tourism development. However, one component is rarely addressed: health. With the notable exception of medical tourism, health and its corollaries are hardly ever discussed in the context of tourism, or merely as a postscript to environmental concerns or the well-being of local populations. Yet health can be an interesting lever for sustainable tourism development, with potentially powerful impacts. Based on two exploratory surveys in Riviera Maya (Mexico), one with tourism professionals and the other with tourists, this article examines a number of methods (including the possibility of accreditation) for transforming tourism to make it health-friendly.