A TOWARDS A MEASUREMENT FRAMEWORK FOR SERIOUS LEISURE IN WELLNESS TOURISM: INSIGHTS FROM VIETNAM
Vol. 135 No. 5S-1 (2026), Special Issue: SAST 2025
Vol. 135 No. 5S-1 (2026)

A TOWARDS A MEASUREMENT FRAMEWORK FOR SERIOUS LEISURE IN WELLNESS TOURISM: INSIGHTS FROM VIETNAM

Special Issue: SAST 2025
https://doi.org/10.26459/hueunijed.v135i5S-1.8077
Published 2026-06-01
Thi Phuong Nga Nguyen
Trường Du lịch - Đại học Huế
Huu Tuan Tran
Trường Du lịch - Đại học Huế
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Keywords

Serious Leisure; Wellness Tourism; Well-being; Measurement Criteria; Destination Loyalty

Abstract

This study develops evaluation criteria for Serious Leisure (SL) in Wellness Tourism (WT), a rapidly growing yet under-measured sector in Vietnam. Employing a systematic review combined with bibliometric analysis (VOSviewer) on 287 publications retrieved from Scopus and Web of Science, of which 50 were selected for in-depth analysis following the PRISMA protocol, the study identified five major research clusters: (1) measurement and validation of SL scales, (2) effects of SL on hedonic and eudaimonic well-being, (3) conceptualization of WT experiences, (4) relationships among SL, satisfaction, and destination loyalty, and (5) integrated theoretical frameworks. Drawing on these clusters and Vietnam's WT development context, the study proposes a 15-item evaluation framework organized into five domains: serious leisure attributes, wellness experiences, well-being outcomes, environmental and service conditions, and post-experience behavioral intentions. Theoretically, the framework extends SL theory into the WT domain and clarifies the reflective–formative measurement distinction. Practically, it offers destination managers in Vietnam actionable criteria for designing and assessing serious leisure-oriented wellness tourism products.

https://doi.org/10.26459/hueunijed.v135i5S-1.8077
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