research partners

Peninsula Hot Springs partnered with RMIT University’s School of Health and Biomedical Sciences for an innovative Victorian study exploring the characteristics, motivations and experiences of people bathing at Peninsula Hot Springs.

The ‘Indulgence or Therapy’ research is a first for Victoria. RMIT received more than 4000 responses to an online survey with results published in the Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research in March 2017.

RMIT University performed a cross-sectional observational study through an online Qualtrics survey to assess the characteristics, motivations and experiences of visitors to Australia’s largest commercial hot spring.

Primary analysis of data from 4,265 mostly female respondents involved descriptive statistics, which aimed to describe trends around respondents’ characteristics, motivations and experiences. The data on respondents’ medical conditions was further analysed to determine the perceived benefit/harm for each condition.

Analysis revealed that “relaxation,” “peace and tranquility,” “indulgence” and “escape” were the most important motivators for bathing.

Most respondents reported general health benefits (98%) and better sleep (82%) from bathing. One third of respondents also had medical conditions. Significant benefits were reported for back pain, arthritis, stress and anxiety, depression and insomnia.

These results suggest that while relaxation is currently the major driver of hot spring visitation, balneotherapy warrants consideration from Australian health practitioners and insurers as a complementary therapy.

Our team continues to explore and expand on our knowledge of the lasting benefits of our waters.