What role geoparks play improving the health and well-being of senior tourists?

Abstract

In recent years geoparks, helped by governmental policies, have become tourist destinations especially among senior visitors. The paper aimed to analyse whether geoparks contribute to improving the health of tourists older than 65 years and what were their main motives to visit geoparks. The data were collected from 398 senior tourists who visited the Villuerca- Ibores-Jara Geopark (Spain) in 2023, presenting our results using SmartPLS version 4. The results showed that senior tourists are very interested in visiting this geopark for psychotherapeutic reasons, given its high environmental and geological interest. In addition, they consider geoparks as spaces where they can socialise, which is beneficial considering the isolation that many often experience during the year. These findings are highly relevant for public authorities to protect, maintain and promote geoparks among senior tourists.

Keywords

• Senior tourism
• Health and well-being
• environmental and geological motivation
• Psycho-therapeutic motivation
• Geoparks