We believe that the development of health tourism can be fostered by academic research and publications. We aim to become the missing link between industry and academia. Both parties can learn from the other. Academic research and publications can be useful for industry advancement. Industry intelligence can provide the essential input for academic research. We are proud to be advocating the cooperation between academia and industry.
Puczkó, L. and I. Stackpole (2021)
Handbook of Health Tourism Marketing, Amazon
A practical guide to successful health, wellness & medical tourism
Summary
Global healthcare markets are in upheaval with the novel coronavirus & COVID-19 pandemic. The challenges and opportunities for destinations, and providers of wellness, evidence-based therapeutic and healthcare services have never been more complicated!
Established places and businesses are looking for ways to remain competitive, and new entrants to these markets are looking for paths to success. The Marketing Handbook for Health Tourism offers practical, applicable insights for all these audiences.
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Articles in Industry Publications
We are often invited by leading industry journals and magazines to contribute. We have been authoring articles based on our very own industry intelligence and also have been contributing with thought provoking think-pieces. Topics and themes we have covered include the relationship between hospitality, leisure and wellbeing, the role of associations and clusters in medical tourism or product development in wellness, healthcare, hospitality, leisure and spa.

- Is This It for Hotel Spas as We Know It?
- Goodbye Hotel Spa, Hello Hotel Health Hub!
- Flexibility of Your Hotel Spa Brand – It Is Time to Meet TOBI Again
- What do your hotel spa guests want?
- 4 Key Points to Identify if Your Hotels Need a Spa
- Lifestyle Medicine: Friend or Foe of Hotel Development?
- Owners Demand More Accountability in Wellness/Spa Investments and Operations
- Spa. Wellness. What is the Next Big Trend for Hotels?

New report predicts a bright future for wellness tourism (24 February 2021)
European Spa Magazine Issue 65 (pp.64-65)
Academic Publications
Academic research and publications are often labelled by industry as being too general, too high level and not practical enough. We believe that the research, analysis and synthesis of the relationships between healthcare, wellbeing , wellness, spa and travel is considered to be a form of applied science. Academic publications represent a rigorous approach and systematic assessment of the past, present as well as likely future development directions. Brows our academic publications and share your opinions with us!
Books
Book chapters
Journal Articles
Smith, M.K., Puczkó, L. & Jancsik. A. (2021) ‘Customer satisfaction in post-socialist spas: a case study of Budapest, City of Spas’, International Journal of Spa and Wellness, Vol. 4., Issue 1, pp. 1-22.
Smith, M. K. (2018) ‘Wellness in the ’U-bend’ of Life: why the core market is middle-aged and female’,International Journal of Spa and Wellness, Vol. 1., Issue 1, pp. 4-19.
Smith, M. K. & Diekmann, A. (2017) ‘Tourism and Wellbeing’, Annals of Tourism Research,66, pp. 1-13.
Smith, M.K. and Puczkó, L. (2015) ‘More than a special interest: Defining and determining the demand for health tourism’,Tourism Recreation Research, 40 (2), pp. 205-219.
Smith, M. K. (2015) ‘Baltic Health Tourism: Uniqueness and Commonalities’, Scandinavian Journal of Tourism and Hospitality, 15(4), pp.357-379.
Smith, M. K. and Puczkó, L. (2010) ‘Taking your Life into your own Hands? Embracing New Trends in European Health Tourism’, Tourism Recreation Research, Vol. 35, No. 2, pp. 161-172.
Smith, M. K. and Kelly, C. (2006) ‘Journeys of the Self: The Rise of Holistic Tourism’, Journal of Tourism Recreation Research, Vol. 31, No. 1, pp. 15-24.
Smith, M.K. (2003) ‘Holistic Holidays: Tourism and the Reconciliation of Body, Mind, Spirit’, Journal of Tourism Recreation Research, Vol. 28, No. 1, pp. 103-108.
Edited Journals
Smith, M. K. and Kelly, C. (2006) (eds) ‘Wellness Tourism’, Tourism Recreation Research, Special Edition, Vol. 31, No. 1.
Smith, M. K., Deery, M. and Puczkó, L. (2010) (eds) ‘The Role of Health, Wellness and Tourism for Destination Development’, Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Special Edition, Vol. 17, Issue 1.