Abstract
Health tourism focusing on maintaining and promoting health has been drawing recent attention. Nutritional information is rarely provided for meals at tourist accommodations and there were no studies to date have investigated whether these meals are suitable for health tourism. The present study investigated the meals provided at four tourist accommodations in Katashina Village, Gumma Prefecture, regarding their suitability for health tourists. Based on a hypothetical man in his 50s, the energy and nutrient contents of the evening meals and breakfasts provided at each accommodation were compared with the tentative dietary goal for preventing life-style related diseases or recommended dietary allowance of energy and nutrients in the Dietary Reference Intakes for Japanese 2015 for men in their 50s. The nutritional contents of the meals were also compared with the national averages reported in the National Health and Nutrition Survey 2013 in order to investigate the findings in the context of the current dietary status of Japanese people. The meals provided by accommodations in Katashina Village contained plenty of minerals, vitamins and fiber, and provided sufficient energy and nutrients. However, the fat, protein and salt content were high. By reducing the fat, protein and salt content, these meals may contribute to the maintenance and promotion of health in tourists. Accordingly, taking steps to reduce fat, protein, and salt content would enable the tourist accommodations in Katashina Village to provide meals consistent with the goals of health tourism.
