Effects of Therapeutic Quality of the Recreational Belt Around Metropolis on Perceived Health Benefits: A Case Study of Hangzhou Xixi Wetland Park

Abstract

To explore the internal mechanism among the therapeutic quality of Recreational Belt Around Metropolis (ReBAM), tourist satisfaction and perceived health benefits, this study takes Hangzhou Xixi National Wetland Park as the research case, constructs a theoretical model of Recreational Belt Around Metropolis (ReBAM) therapeutic quality-satisfaction-perceived health benefits, and conducts empirical analysis by adopting the structural equation model.

The results indicate that: (1) Among the dimensional attributes of ReBAM therapeutic quality, only the built attribute exerts a significant positive effect on tourist satisfaction, while the effects of natural, social and symbolic attributes are insignificant; (2) Tourist satisfaction has a significant positive effect on perceived health benefits; (3) The natural attribute presents a significant direct positive impact on perceived health benefits, whereas the direct effects of built, social and symbolic attributes are not statistically significant; (4) Satisfaction plays a significant mediating role only between the built attribute and perceived health benefits.

Based on the above conclusions, practical implications are proposed from four aspects: optimizing the built environment, highlighting the natural therapeutic value, improving the comprehensive recreational experience, and perfecting the transmission mechanism. This study aims to provide theoretical basis and practical references for the healthy development and quality improvement of ReBAM.