NATIONAL REPORT—Wellness is a broadly used term to encompass the state of being well and the related activities, products and services that contribute to this feeling. However, it’s much more than that.
It’s also a business. From personalized in-room workouts to authentic journeys of the mind, body and spirit, the industry is growing at a rapid clip. The Global Wellness Institute predicts the wellness tourism industry will reach nearly $1 trillion on a global scale by the year 2020.
“Primarily, it comes down to demand,” said Anne Dimon, president of the Wellness Tourism Association (WTA). “More traveling consumers are mindfully making healthier decisions in their day-to-day lives, and they want to take these new practices and habits with them when they travel, so they look for hotels or resorts that can accommodate their needs and wants. Additionally, in smaller but growing numbers, consumers are looking to use their vacation or holiday time to plan quick or extended getaways with a specific wellness focus in mind.”
WTA polled its members to find out the top wellness travel trends and narrowed it down to five growth areas: solo travel; a rise in newcomers to healthy living; greater flexibility with length of stays; mental health matters; and demand for specific solutions and increasing awareness of the value proposition.
