PERCEPTION OF HEALTH TOURISM AMONG STUDENTS IN THE CONTEXT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

<ns3:p>study presents the process of assessing the preferences of students when choosing a health resortas a travel destination, taking into account the six criteria they identified as influencing theirdecision. The pairwise comparison method was applied, using matrix calculus to determine theweights of each criterion, such as costs, tourist attractions, popularity of the health resort,treatment offer, accessibility and specific climatic conditions. The research indicates that for therespondents, the most important factor in their choice is the climate of the health resort, whichpromotes active tourism. Another important element is the availability of treatment services,which plays a significant role in evaluating the attractiveness of health resorts. The study highlightsthe need to consider sustainable development principles in the context of infrastructure,environmental protection and access to services. The analysis of the results points to the importanceof adjusting the health resort offer to the needs of young people who prefer active tourism and seekto benefit from natural health and environmental resources, while also ensuring care for theenvironment and local communities.</ns3:p>