2008 Volume 12 Issue 2 Pages 117-122
The diverse recreational and health resorts of Europe include seaside and mountain resorts in metropolitan and rural areas. In particular, the health resorts, comprising climatic resorts, have grown dramatically since the 18th Century. Their landscape and environmental conditions with clean, clear air, along with moderate temperatures and humidity were regarded as favorable for health and relaxation, and visitors here spent most of their time outdoors. For example, Meran (Merano in Italian) located in northern Italy is one of the most famous and fashionable climatic resorts in Central Europe and has attracted many tourists throughout the years seeking recreation and enjoyment in a pleasant natural, where they take long walks along promenades especially designed for this purpose. Originally limited to higher classes, such activities have now become more popular with the improvement of socio-economic conditions in Europe in the second part of the 20th Century. Against this background, environmentally conscious tourism has been developing worldwide ever since.
