Introduction: Aims of the study were to assess the health conditions of tourism facilities in winter, summer, thermal,religious and cultural tourism regions; and to identify the health problems of tourists.
Methods: The study had been conducted in tourism and health facilities located in Afyon, Antalya, Bolu, Bursa, Erzurum, İzmir, Muğla and Nevşehir that have been sampled and accepted to participate, between 15 May–15 October 2001 and January – March 2002. The study was conducted in 229 ourism facilities, 2743 tourists and health facilities (2803 patients records). In this descriptive study, three forms prepared by investigator have been used as data sources of the study.
Results: According to the evaluation of tourism facilities, the following conditions were found to be inadequate for the indicated tourism activity:
-Environment (57.7%), common areas (hamam 60.9%) and beaches (%50.0): Religion and culture tourism
-Kitchens: Religious and cultural tourism (74.5%) and thermal tourism (55.5%)
-Use and storage of water resources (59.7%), pools (53.7%), personnel working conditions and health qualifications (69.7%) and beach (83.7%): Summer tourism Evci ve Tezcan 100
-Health centers (71.4%), solid wastes (77.8%): Winter tourism
Other conditions have been found as adequate or acceptable. Out of 2 743 tourists who volunteered to reply questionnaires; 18.2% in summer tourism regions, 5.5% in winter tourism regions, 6.5% in thermal tourism regions and 17.9% in religion and cultural tourism regions did not experience any health problems. Discussion: Findings of this study might be used as a reference in future studies and regulations on tourism health. Different regulations will be appropriate to solve the problems systematically at the level of ministries, provinces and facilities.
Key Words: Tourism health, Tourist, Accommodation facilities, Health conditions.
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