When visiting other cities as tourists or for short-term employment, people usually consider factors like ease of access, entertainment options, food culture, visiting spots, and so on. Younger generations have started taking into account a city’s “health” factor as well, as they become more conscious about their physical and mental wellbeing.
“Providing facilities such as gyms, fitness classes in hotels, a range of healthy meal options in restaurants that also cater for specific dietary requirements, and spas around their cities are all great ways to increase the chance of health-conscious travelers visiting,” Emma Coulthurst, travel commentator at TravelSupermarket, said to the Daily Mail.
Paris
Paris is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the world. Known for iconic landmarks, grand museums, and excellent cuisine, the French city also gives high importance to health. It has about 139 parks that provide the necessary green cover for the city. An estimated 155 health food shops and over 1,300 vegan restaurants operate in Paris. People working in the city get around 30 vacation days per annum. According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), citizens of the country spend about 16.4 hours on personal care, which is higher than the OECD average of 15 hours.
Munich
The Bavarian capital has well-maintained streets with public transportation that is clean and comfortable. It maintains good air and water quality. Munich has a green cover that is adequate enough to provide the city with clean, breathable air while also offering shade from sunlight. Obesity is low when compared to cities with similar income levels in the Western hemisphere. People working in Munich enjoy around 28 vacation days every year. Only about 4 percent of the employees work for very long hours in the country, far less than the OECD average of 11 percent. In 2018, Monocle, a lifestyle magazine, ranked Munich as the top destination in its Quality of Life survey.
Chiang Mai
When thinking of taking a short vacation in Southeast Asia, many travelers think first about exotic Thailand. Chiang Mai is the city to visit as it has some of the best spas in the country, which number around 273. There are more than 300 vegan restaurants in Chiang Mai. The city receives over 2,500 hours of sunlight on average, which makes it ideal for beach visits.
Vienna
Viennese citizens enjoy a high life expectancy of around 81 years. The obesity rates are on the lower end. The city boasts high water and air quality, which contribute to the health of its citizens. Green cover is widespread. In 2018, research firm Mercer positioned the city higher than Melbourne in their quality of life rankings. “Vienna and Melbourne scored maximum points in the healthcare, education, and infrastructure categories. But while Melbourne extended its lead in the culture and environment component, that was outweighed by Vienna’s improved stability ranking,” according to The Guardian.
Barcelona
The city is known for its healthy food and offers over 1,300 vegan restaurants. You can choose from about 39 parks for a stroll in the gentle sunshine. Employees get an average of 32 vacation days in a year, which is one of the highest in the world. The work-life balance is pretty good as people in the country usually get close to 16 hours per day to take care of personal affairs.
