Tourism's Vitality After COVID-19 Pandemic: Embracing Healing as a Significant Concept

Abstract

During the pandemic, people have been experiencing the effects of the VUCA era, which has led to changes in lifestyle, including the way we approach tourism. In the past, tourism focused on enjoying nature and cultural heritage, but now there are many different forms, such as sports adventure, edu-tourism, and Sustainable Tourism. Recently, there has been a new trend in tourism called ‘healing’, which emphasises activities that promote relaxation and wellness, such as meditation, yoga, herbal therapy, and forest healing. In Indonesia, there have been over 100 promotional activities for healing tourist attractions, and the term has become increasingly popular in tweets and online searches. This trend reflects the growing need for people to restore their fitness and energy, not just seek pleasure. Studies have shown that travel can help reduce stress and improve mental health, making healing tourism an attractive option for many. By analysing digital data, this article seeks to explain this phenomenon and how it relates to the demands and stresses of modern life. The COVID-19 pandemic has only heightened the need for healing tourism as people seek to fulfil their basic human needs for relaxation and rejuvenation.

Citation

Adnan, R.S. (2024), "Tourism's Vitality After COVID-19 Pandemic: Embracing Healing as a Significant Concept", Islam, N.U., Chaudhary, M. and Vukadin, I.M. (Ed.) Tourism in a VUCA World: Managing the Future of Tourism, Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 145-156. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-83753-674-020241010