| Author: | Insuwanno, Patthawee |
| Title: | Five senses as sources of escapism, immersion, and health perception in wellness spa experience |
| Advisors: | Hwang, Yoo Hee (SHTM) |
| Degree: | DHTM |
| Year: | 2024 |
| Subject: | Travel -- Health aspects Medical tourism Health resorts Tourists -- Psychology Hong Kong Polytechnic University -- Dissertations |
| Department: | School of Hotel and Tourism Management |
| Pages: | xii, 329 pages : color illustrations |
| Language: | English |
| Abstract: | Wellness tourism continues to grow as individuals seek respite from the environmental and economic challenges of modern life. This surge is driven by the escalating prevalence of mental health issues and stress, prompting a heightened awareness of public health and a surge in demand for healthcare tourism (Liu et al., 2023). Wellness spas have emerged as a highly popular wellness activity (Smith, 2021). Existing studies have examined various aspects of wellness spa tourism, such as patrons’ motivations (Mak et al., 2009), customer preferences (Kucukusta & Guillet, 2014), the subjective well-being of spa-goers (Voigt et al., 2010), and the impacts of wellness spa experiences on loyalty formation (Han et al., 2018). Moreover, wellness spas are frequently regarded as a means of escaping the stresses of daily life and immersing oneself in a more relaxing and rejuvenating environment (Luo et al., 2018). However, there is limited understanding regarding the relationship between multisensory experiences and tourists’ cognitive perceptions, as well as their influence on tourists’ subjective well-being. This study aims to address this gap by investigating the interplay between sensory experiences and key dimensions of wellness spa experience, namely escapism, immersion, and health perception, as well as their impact on subjective well-being. Employing an exploratory sequential mixed-method research design, the study first conducted a qualitative exploration of sensory experiences through field observations and in-depth interviews with 30 wellness spa-goers. Thematic analysis was then used to understand the influence of sensory encounters on spa experiences. Subsequently, a quantitative phase used Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) to explore relationships among sensory experiences, dimensional experiences, and subjective well-being. The quantitative study, which analysed 221 responses from wellness spa-goers in Phuket, Thailand, revealed statistically significant relationships between sensory experiences, three dimensional experiences, and subjective well-being. Specifically, positive correlations were confirmed between tactile and escapism, tactile and olfactory in relation to immersion, tactile, auditory, and gustatory in connection with health perception, and immersion and health perception in association with both positive affect and life satisfaction. Additionally, only one negative correlation was identified: escapism and life satisfaction. By uncovering the nuanced roles of the five senses in wellness spa experiences, this study carries significant implications for a deeper understanding of how sensory encounters shape affective and cognitive perceptions. This study also filled a gap by delving into the less-explored senses, enhancing understanding of their impact on concepts like escapism, immersion, and health perception. These insights are valuable for improving the spa experience and boosting subjective well-being. Furthermore, it offers practical insights for spa operators to enhance the overall wellness spa experience, potentially leading to improved well-being and satisfaction among wellness spa-goers. Overall, this study advances knowledge in the field of wellness tourism by elucidating the significance of sensory experiences and their impact on subjective well-being within the spa context. |
| Rights: | All rights reserved |
| Access: | restricted access |
Files in This Item:
| File | Description | Size | Format | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7864.pdf | For All Users (off-campus access for PolyU Staff & Students only) | 10.36 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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