Health and wellness tourism in Sicily: development and enhancement

• Published in: European journal of public health Vol. 30; no. Supplement_5
• Main Authors: Arnone, R, Bue, S L, Parenti, I
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Oxford Publishing Limited (England) 01-09-2020
• Subjects: Diet; Food; Health education; Health promotion; Medical tourism; People with disabilities; Prevention; Public health; Strategic management; Tourism; Tourists; Traditions; Wellness; Italy
• ISSN: 1101-1262; 1464-360X
• DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckaa165.982

Abstract
Background
The Health Counselor of Sicily in Italy, appointed the “Forum Meridiano Sanità” 2020 dedicated to Health Tourism (HT). Sicily is a member of the Italian network “Mattone internazionale salute” that focus the development of Health Tourism aiming at: Establish the state of art on HT;Defining a strategy to give visibility of the services targeting health tourists;Defining joint actions/projects to strengthen Italy's attractiveness and the action plan to promote/valorize health performances and the touristic services offered.
Sicily, making use of its cultural/environmental characteristics, landscapes, climate, food traditions and its Mediterranean diet, wants to be accounted for a destination on health/wellness tourism. Target groups are seniors, disabled people and people affected by particular pathologies Contribution of Sicilian Region (Sicilian Health Government and CEFPAS) and of the European program 2021-2027 are promoting in Sicily the implementation of such in the development of the “Health and Wellness Tourism”. In order for this to be integrated in a broader framework a discussion on the first European Charter on Health Tourism will be developed with participants.
Results
The “working table” has elaborated a document “Framework on health and tourism - the interregional point of view” containing the definitions of Health tourism, a state of art of the national/European legislative framework and a mapping of the touristic flow and the needs of seniors. The Regional Health Government is also starting articulations with other Regional Governments (e.g. Tourism/Environment). Strategic alliances/resources able to transform the tourism sector, should focus a strategic policy agenda for health prevention/promotion linked to a wider concept of general wellness.
Key message
Promote health/wellness tourism targeting seniors and people with disabilities/pathologic diseases is considered worth the investment.