Title: Speleotherapy in the scope of health tourism: case of Çankırı salt cave in Turkey

Authors: Hakkı Çılgınoğlu; Iryna Yazgan

Addresses: Faculty of Tourism, Department of Gastronomy and Culinary Arts, Kastamonu University, Kuzeykent Campus 15/ A, 37150, Kastamonu, Turkey ' Institute of Social Sciences, Kastamonu University, 37150, Kastamonu, Turkey

Abstract: Cave therapy, also called speleotherapy, is in high demand among health tourism consumers. This study aims to shed light on how Çankırı Salt Cave (Turkey) can contribute to health tourism in the Çankırı region. Semi-structured interviews are conducted with 35 respondents working in tourism and health in the Çankırı region. The results show that the main challenges to the contribution of the Çankırı salt cave to health tourism are the lack of promotion in social media, the poor infrastructure around the salt cave and the lack of scientific reports on the effectiveness of salt therapy. If these challenges are overcome, the Çankırı Salt Cave has the potential to contribute to regional health tourism.

Keywords: health tourism; medical tourism; wellness tourism; speleotherapy; salt caves; respiratory diseases; Turkey.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTP.2022.126647

International Journal of Tourism Policy, 2022 Vol.12 No.3, pp.333 - 350

Received: 03 Jan 2022
Received in revised form: 28 Apr 2022
Accepted: 05 May 2022
Published online: 31 Oct 2022 *

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