Psychology, tourism, health and wealth

Australians work longer hours than most other OECD employees (Callus, 2002; Pocock, 2001), and are not effectively using their recreation leave. According to National Occupational Health and Safety Commission (NOHSC) figures, workplace accidents and diseases will cost the Australian economy over $50 billion in 2003. However, even this figure may understate matters (Mandryk, 2001). Organisations that don’t overwork their employees, offer more sociable hours and better than average leave periods tend to be more productive (Buchannan & Van Wanneroy, 2001). Illness brought about by workplace stress has resulted in legislation in countries such as Sweden, the UK and the Netherlands (Dollard, 2001) which has shown an improvement in cardiovascular risk, level of sleep disturbances and gastrointestinal complaints of employees. This paper provides a framework for future enquiry to increase our understanding of tourism and its relationship to psychology. This interface will have an increasing impact within health economics and the emerging field of Employment Relations.