Coastal destinations in the age of health and wellness tourism: challenges and oppor- tunities. The case of Torrevieja (Alicante, Spain)

For decades, coastal destinations have been facing the need to renew their traditional tourism models, marked by high seasonality and spatial exploitation, the latter justified by the development of accommodation for second homes. The current tourism scenario offers different challenges and opportunities, which can help to modify these tourism models. In this context, the increase in life expectancy and the generalization of the development of healthy lifestyles makes it possible for new tourism models, such as health and wellness tourism, to develop as potential drivers of change. The main objective of this paper is to understand the potential of health and wellness tourism to qualify and diversify coastal tourist destinations, as well as to analyse the recent evolution of coastal tourism and its current problems. Qualitative methods based on the review of related literature, analysis of the content of the plans and the SWOT matrix, as well as the case study of a specific destination are used for this purpose.