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Health Tourism Niche and Visitors’ Particular Interests of Needs as a Factor of Rural Destination Development Cover

Health Tourism Niche and Visitors’ Particular Interests of Needs as a Factor of Rural Destination Development

Open Access
|Dec 2025

Figures & Tables

Figure 1:

Structural equation model diagram with standardised estimates
Structural equation model diagram with standardised estimates

Scale details

00.250.50.751
VSE1CommonRegionalNationalInternationalCompletely unique
VSE2NoneLowModerateHighUtmost
VSE3NoneLocal publicationsRegional publicationsNational publicationsInternational publications
VSE4NoneModerate level of processes but hard to explain to non-experts),Good example of processes but hard to explain to non-expertsModerate level of processes but easy to explain to common visitorGood example of processes and easy to explain to common visitor
VSA1None12 to 34 to 6More than 6
VSA2Small-Medium-Large
VSA3-LowMediumHighUtmost
VSA4Unfitting-Neutral-Fitting
VPr1NoneLocalRegionalNationalInternational
VPr2Irreversible (with possibility of total loss)High (could be easily damaged)Medium (could be damaged by natural processes or human activities)Low (could be damaged only by human activities)None
VPr300 to 1010 to 2020 to 50More than 50
VPr4InaccessibleLow (on foot with special equipment and expert guide tours)Medium (by bicycle and other means of man-powered transport)High (by car)Utmost (by bus)
VFn1None12 to 34 to 6More than 6
VFn2None12 to 34 to 6More than 6
VFn3More than 100km100 to 50km50 to 25km25 to 5kmLess than 5km
VFn4NoneLocalRegionalNationalInternational
VFn5NoneLowMediumHighUtmost
VTr1NoneLocalRegionalNationalInternational
VTr2NoneLess than 12 per year12 to 24 per year24 to 48 per yearMore than 48 per year
VTr3More than 50km50 to 20km20 to 5km5 to 1kmLess than 1km
VTr4NoneLow qualityMedium qualityHigh qualityUtmost quality
VTr5NoneLow (less than 5000)Medium (5001 to 10.000)High (10.001 to 100.000)Utmost (more than 100.000)
VTr6NoneLowMediumHighUtmost
VTr7NoneLowMediumHighUtmost
VTr8More than 50 km25-50 km10-25 km5-10 kmLess than 5km
VTr9More than 25 km10-25 km10-5 km1-5 kmLess than 1 km
VHt1NoneLowModerateHighUtmost
VHt2NoneLowModerateHighUtmost
VHt3NoneLowModerateHighUtmost
VHt4NoneLowModerateHighUtmost
VHt5NoneLowModerateHighUtmost

Model fitting indicators

RMSEA (df corrected): 0.076
RMSEA (Kulback Leibler): 0.076
RMSEA (classic): 0.076
SRMR (covariances only): 0.04
CFI (to independent model): 0.978
TLI (to independent model): 0.967

The Modified GAM factors

Indicators/Sub indicators nameDescription
Main values (MV)
Scientific/Educational value (VSE)
VSE1: RarityNumber of highly similar/comparable sites in proximity
VSE2: RepresentativenessDidactic and exemplary site characteristics due to its own quality and general configuration
VSE3: Knowledge on geo-scientific issuesNumber of written papers in acknowledged journals, thesis, presentations and other publications
VSE4: Level of interpretationLevel of interpretive possibilities on geological and geomorphologic processes, phenomena and shapes and level of scientific knowledge
Scenic/Aesthetic values (VSA)
VSA1: ViewpointsNumber of viewpoints accessible by a pedestrian pathway. Each must present a particular angle of view and be situated less than 1 km from the site.
VSA2: SurfaceWhole surface of the site. Each site is considered in quantitative relation to other sites
VSA3: Surrounding landscape and naturePanoramic view quality, presence of water and vegetation, absence of human induced deterioration, vicinity of urban area, etc.
VSA4: Environmental fittingLevel of contrast to the nature, contrast of colours, appearance of shapes, etc.
Protection (VPr)
VPr1: Current conditionCurrent state of geo-site
VPr2: Protection levelProtection by local, regional groups, national government, international organizations, etc.
VPr3: VulnerabilityVulnerability level of geo-site
VPr4: Suitable number of visitorsProposed number of visitors on the site at the same time, according to surface area, vulnerability and current state of geo-site
Additional values (AV)
Functional values (VFn)
VFn1: AccessibilityPossibilities of approaching to the site
VFn2: Additional natural valuesNumber of additional natural values in the in radius of 5 km
VFn3: Additional anthropogenic valuesNumber of additional anthropogenic values in the in radius of 5 km
VFn4: Vicinity of emissive centresCloseness of emissive centres (big cities)
VFn5: Vicinity of important road networkCloseness of important road networks in the in radius of 20 km
Additional functional valuesParking lots, gas stations, mechanics, etc.
Touristic values (VTr)
VTr1: PromotionLevel and number of promotional resources
VTr2: Organised visitsAnnual number of organised visits to the geo-site
VTr3: Vicinity of visitors’ centreCloseness of visitors’ centre to the geo-site
VTr4: Interpretative panelsText and graphics, material quality, size, fitting to surroundings, etc.
VTr5: Number of visitorsAnnual number of visitors
VTr6: Tourism infrastructurePedestrian ways, resting places, garbage cans, toilets, wellsprings etc.
VTr7: Tour guide serviceExpertise level, knowledge of foreign language(s), interpretative skills, etc.
VTr8: Hostelry serviceHostelry service close to geo-site
VTr9: Restaurant serviceRestaurant service close to geo-site
Health values (VHt)
VHt1: RehabilitationRehabilitation of various injuries
VHt2: Place of powerPlace where the power of faith is felt
VHt3: Peace and quietnessMotive for which visitors choose the geo-site
VHt4: HealingPlace where the visitors can feel the healing energy
VHt5: Illness recoveryRecovery from many conditions including Covid-19

Modified GAM Estimates

MainAdditional
VSE + VSA +VPrVFn + VTr+VHt
G12.83+3.41+2.03 8.273.81+2.95+4.85 11.61 Z33
Mean3.612.73

Descriptive statistics

Country of originFrequency
 Croatia60
 Austria224
 Germany235
 Switzerland72
 Slovenia42
 Hungary54
 Total687
GenderFrequency
 Male292
 Female395
 Total687
AgeFrequency
 Under 1513
 16-30282
 31-45326
 46-6043
 61-7516
 Over 767
 Total687
First time or more than once?Frequency
 First time466
 More than once221
 Total687
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ejthr-2025-0015 | Journal eISSN: 2182-4924 | Journal ISSN: 2182-4916
Language: English
Page range: 208 - 222
Submitted on: Jun 2, 2024
|
Accepted on: Oct 27, 2025
|
Published on: Dec 31, 2025
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 2 issues per year

© 2025 Aleksandra Vujko, Nemanja Stanišić, Tijana Radojević, published by Polytechnic Institute of Leiria
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.