The Motivations and Constraints in the Practice of Health and Wellness Tourism. The Case of Thermal Spa in Portugal

The health and wellness tourism, more specifically the thermal spa, assumed in the past a relevant position in the development of some regions. However, with the appearance of other tourist products and with the change in the motivations of an increasingly demanding demand, it lost relevance in the tourist sphere. Currently, through a more qualified and diversified offer and with new needs of tourists, this tourist product has regained a new lease of life. It is in this context that we intend to study thermal spa, trying to analyze the main motivations for the thermal practice, defining the profile of its regulars and also understanding what are the factors that lead to the non-frequency of spas. The methodology was based on an empirical study through an online questionnaire distributed through social networks. 1317 valid answers were obtained and the results allow us to conclude that the main motivations for the practice of thermal spa are related to the social life in the spas, the tourist experiences and the thermal benefits. The main constraints are related to the distorted image of the hot springs, the lack of knowledge of thermal spa and the costs associated with the thermal frequency. This study of the motivations and constraints in the practice of thermalism will allow thermal organizations to better adapt strategies and products to an increasingly demanding and diverse demand.