Development of a management model to integrate the health for wealth policy into wellness tourism routes Phetchaburi Province

Abstract

Health economic policy is an important issue linked to the support of preventive and restorative health care as well as the community economy, which will affect the development of the quality of life and well-being of the people. This research and development study aimed to develop a management model to integrate the health for wealth policy into wellness tourism routes in Phetchaburi Province. This study was conducted in three phases: Phase 1: Preliminary model development; Phase 2: Model testing and refinement; and Phase 3: Implementation and evaluation. The research instruments consisted of questionnaires and semi-structured interviews and analyzed the quantitative data using inferential statistics, the paired t-test, and content analysis. The results showed that the management model was DIAMOND, which consisted of D: Diamond referred to Phetchaburi city; I: Integration referred to the integration of health economy policies; A: Anti-aging Long Living referred to promoting a lifestyle through the science of anti-aging; M: Meaningful Wellness Phetchaburi referred to meaningful health and wellness in Phetchaburi; O: Operation referred to continuous operation with clear policies; N: Network referred to building a network of health business partnerships; D: Database referred to wellness centers in Phetchaburi Province. After the model was developed, the number of certified wellness centers accredited by the Phetchaburi Provincial Public Health Office increased by 56.67%. Additionally, it was found that after the model’s implementation, the number of customers per establishment per year, as well as the average annual income related to the wellness centers, significantly increased (p<.05). Therefore, relevant stakeholders from the public, private, and civil sectors should prioritize establishing strong and continuous collaborations in developing high-quality wellness centers that meet international standards. This would positively impact the local economy, society, and quality of life for the people in the area.