ABSTRACT
The popular media image of health or spa tourism-that of overweight or unhealthy people being pampered at some sort of “health farm” or “fat farm”—may appear to bear little relation to the popular image of sports tourism. Such popular images can be deceiving. For many involved with sport as a recreational and tourism pursuit, the improvement or maintenance of one’s heath is a major motivation for participation and travel. Indeed, as Hall (1992) noted in an earlier review of health, adventure, and sports tourism, all three types of tourism are functionally related in terms of travel motivations and social values, which emphasize improving an individual’s quality of life and which all involve relatively active participation, often in outdoor settings.
