The role of eco-tourism businesses in promoting health and well-being: A Case Study of Wild Swim Retreats at the Forge Glamping, Corwen, North Wales.

  This presentation offers an evaluation of wild swim retreat experiences and the benefits these bring to promote better physical, mental and social health from an eco-tourism perspective. The retreats are organised by The Forge off-grid glamping site in North Wales, UK, who in 2021 launched rewilding retreat packages. Wild swimming proved extremely popular with predominantly larger ladies, women in their 40s and 50s, who were non-athletic and experiencing significant life changes, including menopause, changing self-perceptions, divorce, and new career directions. We explore in this presentation the role of The Forge as a sustainable tourism business and its pursuit in focusing on the multi-faceted benefits to physical, mental and social health of women through wild swim retreats.