Tourism as a Way to Reduce Stress – Opinions of Professionally Active Persons

The intensity of stress in life is treated as the main factor differentiating mental wellbeing. The aim of the paper is to analyse opinions and behaviours concerning the choice of place and form of holiday trips in the context of stress reduction. The research was conducted in 2016 among 100 working adults. The method applied was the one of a diagnostic survey, with an authorial questionnaire. The results show that the desire of health improvement and a reduction of the negative influence of tension both have a significant influence on the choice of holiday destination. Over half of the respondents experience stress several times a week, or even every day. The main reason for nervous tension, pointed out by both men and women, is their work. The respondents confirmed experiencing numerous somatic symptoms of stress. The majority of the interlocutors perceive positive influence of a vacation on their mental condition. Expanding tourism offers towards improvement of the mental dimension of health may constitute an important element in promotion of pro-health lifestyle.