Travel therapy for vulnerable populations with health conditions: A competence-environmental press model framework illustrated with dementia

Abstract

Despite growing interest in vulnerable tourists, the tourism engagement of individuals with health conditions remains under-investigated. To address this gap, this paper presents an interdisciplinary systematic review focusing on three topics: (1) vulnerable populations with health conditions in tourism and hospitality, (2) health benefits of tourism, and (3) dementia intervention and tourism. Drawing on SSCI- and SCI-listed English-language articles published between 1975 and 2025, the database searches yielded 36, 31, and 2 articles for the respective topics. Key gaps are identified, particularly the limited attention to populations with health conditions such as dementia and the insufficient understanding of tourism's potential health benefits. To address these gaps, this study adopts a theory adaptation and model building strategy to develop a conceptual framework grounded in the competence-environmental press model. The model is reinterpreted and extended to the tourism and dementia context to elucidate the interdisciplinary concept of travel therapy and its underlying mechanisms. Travel therapy shows promise as a non-pharmacological intervention for disease prevention and treatment by leveraging environmental modifications, novel cognitive and sensory stimulation, physical activities, social interactions, therapeutic landscapes, positive emotions, and vulnerability-friendly facilities and services. Future empirical research is recommended to adopt multidisciplinary approaches to investigate the travel behaviours of this vulnerable population and the therapeutic potential of tourism and its alternatives, such as virtual tourism. Implications for key stakeholders, including academics, practitioners, policymakers, and broader society, are also discussed, particularly in the context of promoting the Sustainable Development Goals and Healthy Ageing Initiatives.