Perceived Destination Restorative Qualities in Wellness Tourism: The Role of Ontological Security and Psychological Resilience

Abstract

Scholarship on wellness tourism has experienced exponential growth. Despite this, limited studies have explicitly examined how the perceived destination restorative qualities of a wellness tourism destination facilitate psychological recovery. Findings from a survey with 942 Chinese wellness tourists revealed perceived destination restorative qualities positively influenced psychological recovery, increasing ontological security, with the effect diminishing as individual resilience increased. This research provides conceptual clarity on the intricate relationship between perceived destination restorative qualities and psychological recovery, highlighting the critical role of wellness tourism for alleviating stress, and threats experienced in everyday life. Future studies should conduct longitudinal studies focused on the psychological recovery of wellness tourists.