The Role of Therapeutic Salt Resources in the Health Tourism in Transylvania

Polgári Szemle, 19. évf. 1–3. szám, 2023, 228–242., DOI: 10.24307/psz.2023.0915

Dr. Molnar Elisabeta Ilona PhD, associate professor, Partium Christian University, Oradea, Romania (Ez az e-mail-cím a szpemrobotok elleni védelem alatt áll. Megtekintéséhez engedélyeznie kell a JavaScript használatát.), Gulyas Greta, PhD student University of Szeged, Doctoral School in Economics, Szeged, Hungary (Ez az e-mail-cím a szpemrobotok elleni védelem alatt áll. Megtekintéséhez engedélyeznie kell a JavaScript használatát.), Dr. Printz-Markó Erzsébet PhD, associate professor, Széchenyi István University, Tourism Department, Hungary (Ez az e-mail-cím a szpemrobotok elleni védelem alatt áll. Megtekintéséhez engedélyeznie kell a JavaScript használatát.).

Summary

The paper aims to present the therapeutic salt resources in the region of Transylvania, as well as their health benefits and their role in health tourism. An important part of the tourism industry, health tourism, stands out for one particular reason, starting from balneary and climatic spas to the diversified forms of wellness. The importance of health tourism, developing this sector due to the existence of appropriate natural resources as well as the prospects in this domain are the theoretical framework of this paper. The primary research investigates the tourist destinations in Transylvania with salt therapy resources, in addition to the motivation and demand for these. The findings of the research highlight the availability for travel to destinations with salt resources, willingness to spend, travel motivation to benefit from the therapeutic effects of salt, or simply put, travel to prevent disease, strengthen immunity with the help of this ancient natural potential: Salt.

Journal of Economic Literature (JEL) codes: Z32, Q25, Q26, P46

Keywords: health tourism, natural healing resources, therapeutic salt resources, salt water