Everyone knows that travelling has wellness benefits and now this Northern European country has introduced medical ‘travel prescriptions’ as a preventative health strategy to contribute to physical and mental wellbeing.
Sweden is the first country in the world to be prescribed by doctors, highlighting its identified holistic health benefits, such as nature, lifestyle and culture, and tapping into the wellness tourism trend.
The Swedish Prescription program allows doctors to prescribe travel as part of a wellbeing plan, recognising how wellness travel to the country contributes to physical and mental health.
Teaming up with Swedish Professor Yvonne Forsell, Visit Sweden has created a prescription document that outlines the health benefits of spending time in Sweden, back up by scientific research.
Visit Sweden’s research links time outdoors and cultural immersion with reduced stress, improved mood and stronger social connections.
The Visit Sweden global initiative, supported by healthcare professionals from the UK, US, Netherlands and Germany, includes wellness travel recommendations, such as walks and activities, that support cultural engagement.
These include experiences in nature, daily balance through the traditions of fika (enjoying coffee in good company) and lagom (everything in moderation), and cultural activities, such as art, museum visits and even Sweden’s 5,000-plus metal bands.
Patients worldwide can now download a medical referral via the Visit Sweden website to take to their doctor and start the conversation about how a visit to the country could support wellbeing.
Medical doctors can then generate a prescription and advise patients to spend time in Sweden.
For more info, head to visitsweden.com
