Wellness tourism: a systematic literature review

Wellness tourism is a proactive process where people travel to maintain or enhance their well-being. The main goal of this study is to analyse the publications on wellness tourism as a subcategory of health tourism over the last five years and contribute to a better understanding of this field. Specifically, the objectives are: (a) to identify the theoretical models and methodological frameworks involving wellness tourism, (b) to identify prominent and emerging themes, and (c) to provide directions for future investigations. A systematic literature review based on the PRISMA guidelines was carried out through Web Science and Scopus databases in December 2023. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 72 peer-reviewed empirical articles published between 2019 and 2023 in English-language academic journals were selected. The review identified and assessed the selected studies’ theoretical and methodological frameworks. Additionally, the thematic analysis revealed 66 distinct variables related to wellness tourism, highlighting emerging research trends. Finally, the study outlines potential avenues for future research. This systematic review provides theoretical insights and practical contributions to the growing field of wellness tourism.