Forest-Based Health Tourism as a Tool for Promoting Sustainability: A Stakeholder-Based Analysis of Supply-Side Factors in Tourism Product Development

Abstract

Increasing sustainability in tourism is one of the most important challenges in the light of the steady growth of international tourism arrivals. In this context, forest-based tourism products have gained growing attention. Forest-based tourism products relate to all three dimensions of sustainability: they reconnect human beings to nature and they promote generation of sustainable income. Furthermore the social dimension is addressed by the health effects of nature on humans. However, very little research has been published concerning forest-based tourism. Most publications in the field of health-related forest research concentrate on biomedical evidence. In the field of nature-based tourism, most research focusses around water-based products like spas. Furthermore, the majority of publications are driven by the customer’s point of view. Little research concerns the supply side and the question of what supply factors may further the development of nature-based tourism. The paper cites empirical research based on a set of qualitative interviews of public and private authorities and businesses in the region of the Northern Black Forest. It provides insight on natural and human resources and competencies which are crucial for an increase in sustainability by producing forest-based tourism products.