THE NEW PARADIGM OF THERMAL TOURISM DESTINATIONS

Abstract

Thermalism is presently associated with a comprised concept that surpasses classical thermal treatment and is fundamental to consolidate attractive and sustainable tourism projects. Thus, recognizing the problem of the Portuguese thermal inadequacy, it was considered necessary to analyze the adjusted type of development to thermal supply, making it possible to identify intervention strategies supported by reference models applied to the Portuguese case. For the effect, three case studies were analyzed - Portuguese, French and German - that reflect different realities, so that it was possible to identify intervention strategies supported on referenced models to be applied to the Portuguese case. The results of the analyses of an empirical study of the thermal offer, based on the excellence model of the German case and on the results of the exploratory study to a board of tourism/thermalism experts, allowed us to conclude the urgency of the restructuring of the Portuguese thermal resorts through the articulation and complementarity between healing, preventive and entertaining thermalism as well as its regional/local complementarity.