Healthy Parks Healthy People: Evaluating and Improving Park Service Efforts to Promote Tourists Health and Well-being Introduction

Both Parks Victoria, AUS and the United States National Park Service (USNPS) focus on promoting human health and well-being while sustaining environmental well-being. This has been fostered by the agencies through the “Healthy Parks Healthy People” program, in which Parks Victoria and the USNPS are global leaders as well as agency collaborators. Given global concerns regarding health and well-being (human and environmental) this movement is crucial. However, in order for parks and associated tourism providers to implement effective health strategies, we must understand what a “healthy park” is, how evidence is being promoted to existing and potential tourists, and what lessons can be learned from these agencies to facilitate these benefits globally in other settings. This research examines these questions across both agencies through content analyses, interviews, and assessments of tourism use trends. Results inform global park tourism planning and promotion efforts to improve social and ecological