Tourism and Mental Well-being: PREIT-Tour participates in the 1st Meeting "RECETAS para la Soledad"

The research team PREIT-Tour participated in the 1st Meeting of "RECETAS para la Soledad", which took place on October 3rd and 4th at the Central Campus of the University of Cuenca. This event, part of the project "Re-imagining Environments for Connection and Engagement: Testing Actions for Social Prescribing in Natural Spaces" (RECETAS), focuses on researching and addressing loneliness, a modifiable health issue that impacts the lives of millions of people worldwide.

PREIT-Tour distinguished itself at this event by presenting its lecture on the "Mental Well-being Based on Nature Tourism" project, emphasizing the significance of tourism and leisure as means to enhance mental well-being, particularly among vulnerable students. To achieve this goal, the team designed nature-based tourism experiences for students who were experiencing stress, anxiety, and depression due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. This initiative successfully integrated the Psychology and Tourism departments, demonstrating that outdoor activities in natural settings can contribute to reducing negative psychological factors. Additionally, this project facilitated collaboration with local community stakeholders to generate new products that invigorate the tourism offerings in their regions.

The 1st Meeting of "RECETAS para la Soledad" brought together national and international experts in an interdisciplinary dialogue, where they shared their research and reflections related to older adults, nature, and its impact on social reconnection. During the event, several key themes were addressed, including:

1. Public Space, Nature, and Their Role as Health Assets in Urban Areas

2. Older Adults and Their Involvement in Decision-Making

3. Loneliness: A Public Health Issue?

4. Nature-Based Solutions for Mental Health

The 1st Meeting of "RECETAS para la Soledad" provided a valuable platform for collaboration and the exchange of knowledge among experts, opening new perspectives in the fight against loneliness and promoting the significance of nature as a therapeutic resource. The PREIT-Tour research team is proud to have contributed to this event and looks forward to continued collaboration with the scientific community to address this public health issue.

Photo Credits: PREIT-tour