Lietuvos kurortų sveikatinimo veiklos plėtra

LTNors kurortinis turizmas pastaruoju metu sparčiai aktyvėja, tačiau dar nepakanka tyrimų apie Lietuvos kurortus, įgalinančių suvokti vartotojų poreikius, įvertinti jų pasitenkinimą kurortais ir jų teikiamomis paslaugomis. LR Vyriausybė yra numačiusi tam tikrus kurortinio turizmo tikslus, rengiamos atskirų kurortų studijos, tyrimai, tačiau juose dažniausia vertinama pati kurortų situacija. Straipsnyje bandoma atsakyti į klausimą: kokiomis kryptimis vykdyti kurortų sveikatinimo paslaugų plėtrą? Straipsnyje analizuojama kurortų samprata, klasifikacija ir funkcijos, aptariami kurortų statuso reikalavimai, tiriama sveikatingumo paslaugų 2005-2008 m. kaita. Pateikta kurortų klasifikacija, išvardijant jų tipus pagal 8 požymius. Nustatyta, kad pagal teikiamų paslaugų specifiką dauguma Lietuvos kurortų (Druskininkai, Birštonas ir Palanga) yra priskiriami mišriam kurortų tipui ir tik vienas - Neringa - poilsio tipui. Straipsnyje išskirtos 3 kurorto funkcijų grupės: pagrindinės, svetingumo (antrinės) ir papildomos, taip pat 6 pagrindinės kurorto paslaugų ir jų teikimo infrastruktūros dalis. Atlikta Lietuvos kurortų sveikatinimo būklės statistinė ir ES fondų paramos, taip pat privačių investicijų kurortų sveikatinimo veiklos plėtrai analizė. Nustatyta, kad Lietuvos kurortų sveikatinimo veiklos plėtra būtų vykdoma kompleksiškai, t. y. panaudojant ES struktūrinių fondų ir privačias lėšas. Visos planuojamos investicijos turėtų itin padidinti konkurenciją tarp Lietuvos kurortų, tačiau tikėtina, kad vietinių ir užsienio turistų ir lankytojų srautai atei¬ tyje tik didės.Reikšminiai žodžiai: Kurortas; Sveikatinimas; Kurortų klasifikacija; Kurortų funkcijos; ES fondai.; Resort; Spas and wellness; Resort classification; Functions of resorts; The EU funds.; Taisyti: neįtrauktas objektas; Taisyti: neįtrauktas objektas.

ENThe article analyses the resort concept and requirements for its status, presents resort classification on the basis of their types according to eight characteristics. The research results show that most Lithuanian resorts (Druskininkai, Birštonas ir Palanga), according to service sector specifics, are of a mixed type; however, only one resort - Neringa - is of a recreation type. This article identifies three resort function groups as the main: hospitality (secondary), and supplementary as well as six main resort services and their supply infrastructure. Analysis of Lithuanian resort wellness statistics and the development of the ES resort wellness activity development funding are also included in this article. Innovation and topicality of the article is described as follows. Citizen health of every nation is the key social and economic value. The term „society health" is not limited to a lack of physical defects, it is more understood as physical, spiritual and social wealth of people. Good health of society is one of the conditions of state safety and development. Lithuanian resorts are important canters attracting not only foreign tourists, but Lithuanian citizens as well. Even though tourists become more and more interested in not only recreation, but medical treatment based resorts, offering their clients medical services, rehabilitation, still there is quite a shortage of scientific publications. The traditional national resorts such as Druskininkai, Birštonas, Palanga and Neringa become of vital importance as tourism, recreation and relaxation objects in the context of national development.Foreign tourists have impact on new economic relations, attract investments, and bring out the vision of national social and economic power. Lithuanian's image, social and economic prestige in global (worldwide) contexts is in the formation stage. Lithuanian resorts implementing national regulations of medical treatment and social health, offer real possibilities to take care of people as the main symbol of social and economic power and the creator of national material and spiritual values. The scientific problem lies in the fact that even though resort tourism has become extremely active nowadays, we lack Lithuanian resort research that would help to perceive customer needs, evaluate their level of satisfaction and supplied services. Lithuanian Government has set some resort tourism aims, some separate resort studies and research are being carried out. However, they evaluate quality indicators or a situation in resorts. Therefore, this article analyses an important problem and gives answers to the question - what should be done for successful wellness service development in Lithuanian resorts? The research object is wellness development in Lithuanian resorts. The aim of the research is to analyze wellness activities of Lithuanian resorts and development possibilities using the ES funding. The completed literature analysis of the resort concept and its types indicated that a common resort classification still does not exist.The authors claim that it is purposeful to classify the resorts according to 8 characteristics: season, service specifics, place, medical treatment method, water resources, functions, meaning, and the level of urbanization. However, resort functions can be purposefully classified into 3 groups: main, hospitality, and supplementary. After the implementation of 5 resort development projects in 2004-2006, 250 new workplaces were created, and the general value of implemented projects reached almost 100 mln. in national currency. In the period of 2007-2013 the general sum of ES funding should reach up to 911.8 mln. (national currency). The completed research identified that Lithuania does not have any single resort with medical treatment. Present Lithuanian resorts (Druskininkai, Birstonas ir Palanga) offer mixed type services such as recreation and wellness, while the resort of Neringa is oriented towards relaxation and recreation service supply. [From the publication]