1. WelDest
Health and Well-Being in Tourism Destinations
The Research
The project “Health and Well-Being in Tourism Destination”
(WelDest) combines the expertise of 5 Higher Education In-
stitutes, 10 industry and 15 associate partners from Austria,
Czech Republic, Finland, Germany and the UK. These coun-
tries represent different stages of development in health and
well-being tourism.
Both primary and secondary research will be used
...to identify the current knowledge and competency needs
in managing and developing health and well-being destina-
tions.
...to outline the service supply, resources, staff competences
and elements of Health and Well-being at tourist destinations
appreciated by both tourists and locals.
...to compare existing destination management network
structures and destination development approaches and
tools, to develop a destination self-assessment tool that leads
to a more competitive and holistic Health and Well-being de-
stination.
...to identify the potential for business opportunities and po-
tential areas for innovation around Health and Well-being
based services in destinations
Outcomes
WelDest will outline the key
service supply, resources,
staff competencies and ele-
ments of H&WB at tourist
destinations. The project
identifies and strengthens
the potential for business
opportunities in tourism
and leisure, while also con-
tributing to lifelong learning
between disciplines and re-
lated industries.
The consortium will develop
a) an electronic handbook, including a self-assessment and
development tool, to be used by public and private bodies
developing their businesses and destinations.
b) a blog providing industry, academia and citizens with new
opportunities to improve and share their knowledge on
H&WB and tourism related issues.
The Benefits of WelDest
The WelDest e-Handbook provides you with current
knowledge of how to develop, manage and sustain a
H&WB- destination in your area. Furthermore, the Wel-
Dest blog, the e-handbook and the course design offer
teachers and students alike an interesting learning plat-
form and area of study. These outcomes can also be uti-
lized by destinations in their development process.
Visit Our WelDest Blog
http://weldest.
blogspot.com
Feel free to take a look and leave your comments.
Definition of a “Health & Well-being destination”
A Health and Well-being destination is an area chosen
by customers (guests, with either preventive or curative
motives) as a travel destination to improve their state
of health and/or well-being. The destination includes all
the necessary infrastructure such as accommodation,
restaurants, and other facilities, with a systematically
developed offer for health and well-being. The destina-
tion is managed and marketed professionally as a unit.
Aims
The aim of WelDest is to create a development frame-
work to be used by public bodies, destination manage-
ment organizations (DMOs) and private companies at
tourism destinations willing to strengthen the elements
influencing the well-being level of tourists and locals
alike. The framework, supported by educational mate-
rial, enables development of the tourism destination to-
wards a more holistic and sustainable Health and Well-
being (H&WB) destination.

2. University of sustainable development in Eberswalde, Germany
Contact: Steffen Lange | Steffen.Lange@hnee.de
Turku University of Applied Sciences, Finland
Contact: Susanna Saari | susanna.saari@turkuamk.fi
UCBUUCCBBUniversity College Birmingham
University College Birmingham, United Kingdom
Contact: Harprit Thacker | h.thacker@ucb.ac.uk
FH JOANNEUM – University of Applied Sciences, Austria
Contact: Daniel Binder | daniel.binder@fh-joanneum.at
Institute of Hospitality Management in Prague, Czech Republic
Contact: Donna Dvorak | dvorak@vsh.cz
CHC - Christian Husak Consulting, Austria
Contact: Christian Husak | ch.husak@inode.at
Industry Partners / Partner Destinations
Naantali Tourist Information Ltd., Finland
Kultaranta Resort Ltd., Finland
Malvern Hills District Council, United Kindgdom
Thermae Bath Spa, United Kindgdom
Tourismusverband Ferienregion Attergau, Austria
Orea Vital Hotel Sklá in Harrachov, Czech Republic
The Eastern Moravia Tourism Organization, Czech Republic
Tourismusverband Bad Saarow, Germany
European Institute for Economy and Environment (eibe e.V.), Germany
Project Coordination
Susanna Saari
Turku University of Applied Sciences
Faculty of Well-being services
Degree Programme in Hospitality Management
Lemminkäisenkatu 30, 20520 Turku, Finland
Mobile: +358 50 5985 343
susanna.saari(at)turkuamk.fi | www.tuas.fi
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This leaflet reflects the views only of the author,
and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.
http://weldest.blogspot.com
ProjectNr.:527775-LLP-1-2012-1-FI-ERASMUS-ECUE
Guideline for developing Health
and Well-Being in
Tourism Destinations
WelDest