Home-destination spillover effects in health-related spa activities: the case of thermal baths

Abstract

The spillover effects of tourists’ behavior from home to destination are relevant to understanding market preferences and to designing targeted promotion actions intended to improve tourists’ wellbeing. Thermal tourism is an important segment of health tourism. The present study addresses the extent to which people who make use of thermal baths at home continue to indulge in the same activity at tourism destinations. The theoretical framework is based on self-efficacy theory and the health belief model. This work provides evidence on home-destination spillover in thermal tourism. The findings show that health self-efficacy and the perceived health benefits of thermal baths influence this choice of activity at destinations, and suggest that these variables have an effect on home-destination spillover in health tourism. The implications for the management of health tourism destinations and the promotion of tourists’ health and well-being, as well as for the management of the pandemic crisis, are discussed.