A communication robot for operating a massage providing apparatus by executing an artificial intelligence algorithm (AI) and/or machine learning algorithm in a 5G environment connected for the Internet of things and a method for operating the communication robot are provided. The method for operating the communication robot may include acquiring a spoken utterance of a user positioned within a prescribed range from the massage providing apparatus, tracking a spoken utterance direction of the user from the spoken utterance of the user, orienting the communication robot towards the spoken utterance direction of the user, acquiring a voice command included in the spoken utterance in relation to operation of the massage providing apparatus, and operating the massage providing apparatus according to the voice command.