Going on vacation would have the effect of therapy for people with fragile mental health. This concept of “Travel Therapy” is supported by recent Australian research linking the experiences of travel with certain therapies recommended by specialists for people with mental health problems, such as dementia.
What if tourism brings real benefits to our mental health? The “travel therapy”, literally “travel therapy” is increasingly convincing health specialists. A study from Edith Cowan University (ECU), Australia, conducted by tourism and health experts, explains that while holidays are a time of leisure, they can also have a therapeutic aspect.
“Medical experts can recommend dementia treatments, such as music therapy, exercise, cognitive stimulation, reminiscence therapy, sensory stimulation, and meal adjustments and a patient’s environment,” explains Dr. Jun Wen, principal investigator, in a press release. “All these elements are often present on holidays”†
When you go on vacation, you can change your environment and experience new things. This results in cognitive and sensory stimulation. In addition, vacationers spend more time outdoors, thus getting vitamin D and serotonin, in a cold or warm country.
On vacation we do more physical activities, symbolized by walking. Meals are associated with moments of conviviality with other people, who positively influences the eating behavior of patients with dementiasays dr. Jun Wen.
So many experiences brought together to create a “holistic tourist experience”† After two years marked by the Covid pandemic, “Now is a good time to identify the place of tourism in public health – and not only for healthy tourists, but also for vulnerable groups”the specialist decides.
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