Zdravstveni turizam u kontekstu turističkog razvoja Varaždinske županije

Despite its long tradition as a health resort, the quality/abundance of thermo-mineral water in Varaždinske Toplice, and the increasing demand for health tourism on a global scale, Varaždin County is still not sufficiently internationally recognized for its health-tourism product. Namely, mostly due to the overall lack of investment not only in the health and accommodation facilities, but in the overall communal infrastructure in previous years, Varaždinske Toplice, today, give the impression of a ‘tired’, and insufficiently cared for spa destination oriented primarily on providing health services to people who cannot afford a anything better. Recognizing the growth potential of health tourism worldwide, this work highlights the need for a thorough market restructuring of the health tourism product of Varaždinske Toplice. Further, in accordance with international trends and good practice is spa tourism product development; the authors propose an integrated concept/model for health tourism development for the whole Varaždin County.