Creative Commons

Wellness has become a paramount aspect of modern life, evolving into a global phenomenon closely intertwined with the tourism industry, giving birth to the niche field of Wellness Tourism. This study, conducted as part of the MSc in Hospitality and Tourism Management program at the International Hellenic University, explores the attitudes and perceptions of residents living in the Municipality of Thermi in Greece towards special interest tourism, with a specific focus on wellness tourism. It investigates the potential contributions of wellness tourism to economic, social, and environmental sustainability in the region, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of Good Health and Well-being (Goal 3), Decent Work and Economic Growth (Goal 8), Responsible Consumption and Production (Goal 12), and Partnerships for the Goals (Goal 17). The above issues were approached both by literature review and primary quantitative research. The literature review focuses on the conceptual approach of special interest tourism, the review wellness tourism and sustainable development. Employing the short version of the Sustainable Tourism Attitude Scale (SUS-TAS), a well-established and reliable quantitative tool, this research employs a descriptive research design and a quantitative approach to gather data via an online survey distributed through Google Forms to residents of the Municipality of Thermi, Greece, utilizing random sampling. The questionnaire assesses sustainable factors within the context of wellness tourism. The SUS-TAS instrument examines seven dimensions, including social costs, economic benefits, environmental sustainability, maximizing community participation, long-term planning, community-centered economy, and ensuring visitor satisfaction. The study demonstrates the reliability and validity of 20-item SUS-TAS as a tool to measure residents' attitudes and perceptions regarding tourism sustainable development (Zhang et al., 2014). This dissertation includes chapters outlining the methodology, research aims, data gathering methods, survey tool design, research sample, and limitations. Subsequent chapters present the analysis and interpretation of findings, leading to conclusions that emphasize the necessity of developing a sustainable strategic plan for the promotion of wellness tourism in the Municipality of Thermi. This plan aims to engage stakeholders and foster sustainable growth and balanced development in the region.