For Immediate Release April 5, 2005

For More Information Contact: Rich Schneider, 317-278-4564 rcschnei@iupui.edu

New Certificate Program Focuses on Health Tourism

INDIANAPOLIS - IUPUI is offering a new certificate program to meet the needs of a growing economic sector: health tourism.

The interdisciplinary, 22-credit health tourism certificate will help bridge the interest in tourism and health professions, said Sotiris Avgoustis, Chair and Associate Professor of the Tourism, Conventions and Event Management Department.

In recent years, an increasing number of people have been employed in the health-related segments of the tourism industry, Avgoustis said. Health tourism includes businesses that promote and manage holiday packages bundled with everything from spas to cosmetic treatments and weight-loss camps to mental health treatments to herbal treatments, he added.

Courses included in the health tourism certificate include the development and management of attractions; hospitality and tourism marketing; the tourism system; tourism internship; fundamentals of nutrition; introduction to exercise science; drug use in American society; and personal health.

"The certificate seeks to develop introductory skills in management and operations analysis appropriate to the context of health tourism," Avgoustis said. Guest lecturers and private consultants will be involved and group activity will familiarize students with contemporary professional practice, he noted. ###