Search Travel Market Report

cruise planners
rental
renta
mainlogo
www.travelmarketreport.com
  • News
  • Tours & Packages
  • Cruise
  • Hotels & Resorts
  • Destinations
  • Retail Strategies
  • Niche & Luxury
  • Well-Being Travel
  • Training & Events
  • Who We Are
    • Anne Marie Moebes
    • Brian Israel
    • Dan McCarthy
    • Denise Caiazzo
    • Marilee Crocker
    • Paul M. Ruden
    • Dori Saltzman

Wellness Tourism: Four Trends To Expect in the Coming Years

by Jessica Montevago / November 12, 2018
Wellness Tourism: Four Trends To Expect in the Coming Years

Ayurveda, one of the world’s oldest holistic therapies, has its roots in the Indian subcontinent, one of the emerging markets for wellness travel. Photo: Shutterstock.com.


The burgeoning wellness market has ballooned into more than a $4-trillion-dollar industry, a new report found.

The global wellness industry grew 12.8 percent in the last two years, from a $3.7 trillion market in 2015 to $4.2 trillion in 2017, according to the 2018 Global Wellness Economy Monitor, released by the nonprofit Global Wellness Institute (GWI).

Within that, the $639 billion wellness travel market’s annual growth rate of 6.5 percent from 2015-2017 is more than double the 3.2 percent growth rate for tourism overall.

In 2017, travelers took 830 million wellness trips, which is 139 million more than in 2015. As one of the fastest-growing travel segments, wellness travel currently represents 17 percent of total tourism expenditures.

At the root of this historic growth is a major shift in what consumers value. Wellness and health are more top-of-mind for people than ever before, and rather than going on vacations seeking out wellness, they are already leading a healthy and active lifestyle and wish to continue that while traveling.

“There’s also a big economic shift that’s allowing this, between the growing middle class and growing disposable income. This economic shift enables more and more shifting focus on wellness,” said Katherine Johnston, GWI senior research fellow.

As an increasing number of both business and leisure travelers value healthy food, fitness, and a mind-body balance, the wellness tourism industry is only going to develop further. Here’s what to expect in 2019 and beyond.

1. Hospitality hybrids
“If you go back five, ten-plus years ago, when wellness started ramping up, first, every hotel needed a nice gym; then it was having a spa that became standard; and now, we’ve gotten very far beyond that. It’s not just an amenity, but wellness is integrated throughout the hotels.” Johnston said.

Brands have leaned on outside players to capitalize on their expertise and tap into their brand value, she continued. One of the most recent and aggressive in this trend is Hyatt, which acquired boutique fitness and wellness brand, Exhale; as well as wellness resort and spa operator, Miraval.

Exhale's fitness studio.Photo: Hyatt Hotels
Exhale's fitness studio.Photo: Hyatt Hotels.

Other hospitality brands have partnered with companies in the fitness space, such as Westin Hotels with Peloton; Fairmont Hotels and Technogym; Shangri-La and Lululemon; and Mandarin Oriental Hotels and the Mayo Clinic. Equinox, which runs 82 fitness clubs, will be entering the luxury hotel sector with plans to open 50 locations worldwide.

Ophelia Yeung, GWI senior research fellow, noted that while having an in-room Peloton is aimed at a very specific demographic group, “different brands are trying to capture different demographics.”

It’s safe to say that we’ll see more intersection of the hospitality industry with other aspects of wellness, including fitness, sleep, and nutrition.

2. Emerging destinations
Wellness travel can draw travelers to under-visited regions, giving new destinations the opportunity to tap into the growing business.

According to the report, “Wellness tourism growth is very much a tale of developing markets, with Asia-Pacific, Latin America-Caribbean, Middle East-North Africa, and sub-Saharan Africa all clocking robust gains, and accounting for 57 percent of the increase in wellness trips since 2015. Over the past five years, Asia is the number one growth sector in both wellness tourism trips and revenues, where trips grew 33 percent in two years, to 258 million annually.”

Many countries have only recently begun thinking about how they can position themselves to attract wellness tourism. They have developed strategies by determining how they will impact local communities, Johnston said, rather just sending tourists to a spa. This lends itself to a more sustainable model for communities. “The thinking of wellness is evolving to not just what’s good for me, but what is this bringing to the country and region.”

Yeung pointed out Sri Lanka as an example, where the country can be underdeveloped but provides pristine assets in conjunction with traditional Ayurvedic health practices. The country has seen a tremendous rise in investment and arrivals since promoting it as such.

“We see a lot of potential [for new destinations] in wellness tourism, and there’s a boarder appeal,” Yeung said.

3. Evolving the transportation sector
The shift over the last five years with airlines has been just as big as the hospitality sector, Johnston and Yeung explained. Airports have been rethinking infrastructure to include green spaces and natural light. Additional airport wellness offerings on the rise include: “silent airports,” yoga rooms, in-transit fitness clubs, therapy dogs, napping pods and suites, treadmill desks, and designated terminal walking circuits.

Yoga room at Miami International Airport.
The yoga room at Miami International Airport. Photo: Miami International.

In lounges, business and first-class travelers have access to spa and mediation sessions and space for yoga. Meanwhile, on the plane, menus are changing to include healthier options. Some airlines are also experimenting with circadian lighting to prevent jet lag.

Yeung predicts that, in the future, there will be a lot more attention on the air system, because recycled air is the main culprit causing many travelers to return home with a cold.

4. Localizing treatments and experiences
For a more holistic wellness journey, travelers are increasingly looking to connect with destinations through nature and local traditions.

Many travelers are interested in what a specific place has to offer. “When you have local healing or medical traditions, spiritual and other practices, it makes the whole experience more authentic,” Yeung said.

Parts of Asia offer ancient healing practices, such as Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese medicine. In Europe, “some look to their bathing traditions; for example, Finnish saunas, Austrian sauna aufguss, and Russia banya … There is also surging interest in Nordic lifestyle concepts such as hygge (“cozy” for the Danish and Norwegians) and lagom (“balanced” or “just right” for the Swedish), which can be incorporated into facility design, guest experiences, wellness offerings, and marketing/promotion,” the report said.

There is also more demand to combine activities in nature with wellness modalities, such as hiking to a scenic location for meditation, or doing yoga or tai chi in an outdoor setting.

  4
  0
Riviera
Related Articles
MSC Reveals Wellness Experiences Onboard MSC Seascape
Tips for Understanding and Selling Wellness Travel
One Successful Travel Advisors’ Insights into Wellness Travel
Is Japan the World’s Next Wellness Destination?
Bookings Open for Equinox Hotel at Hudson Yards
Travel Advisors Missing Out on $638 Billion Wellness Travel Market
Should Resorts Incent Travel Agents to Sell Spa and Wellness Treatments?
Hyatt’s Laser-Sharp Focus on Luxury and Wellness
Wellness Travelers Seek Agent Guidance as Market Continues to Expand
AmaWaterways’ Wellness Program to Go Fleetwide

MOST VIEWED

Brought To You By
  1. European Union Will Drop Its Mask Mandate for Travel Next Week
  2. CDC Moves Four Destinations Into “High” Risk COVID-19 Level
  3. 5 Client Types You Can Immediately Disqualify for a Virgin Voyages Cruise
  4. Trivago Hit With Massive Fine from Australian Federal Court Because of “Misleading” Conduct
  5. How Is the War in Ukraine Affecting the European River Cruise 2022 Season?
  6. American Express Confirms End to its Franchise Program

MOST EMAILED

Brought To You By
  1. European Union Will Drop Its Mask Mandate for Travel Next Week
  2. Japan Could Reopen to North Americans Next Month
  3. Japan Confirms Plan to Start Its Travel Reopening This Month
  4. 5 Client Types You Can Immediately Disqualify for a Virgin Voyages Cruise
  5. CDC Moves Four Destinations Into “High” Risk COVID-19 Level
  6. Greece’s Vaccination Requirement for Inbound Travelers Ends Next Week
Riviera Box
TMR Subscription

Subscribe today to receive daily in-depth coverage, analysis of industry news, trends and issues that affect how you do business. Subscribe now for free.

Subscribe to TMR

Top Stories
European Sumer Travel Returns to Pre-Pandemic Levels
European Sumer Travel Returns to Pre-Pandemic Levels

U.S. travelers are heading back to Europe in numbers not seen since 2019.

Read...
Changing Times Mean Tour Operators Need Advisors as Much as Ever
Changing Times Mean Tour Operators Need Advisors as Much as Ever

If the COVID-19 pandemic taught the travel industry anything, it’s that advisors are needed, and not only by travelers. 

Read...
Nat Geo Expeditions Unveils 2023 Signature Land Trips
Nat Geo Expeditions Unveils 2023 Signature Land Trips

National Geographic Expeditions will offer more than 30 in-depth land journeys including a reimagined Southeast Asia tour. 

Read...
Journese Is Offering Advisors Bonus TRIP Points for Spa and Wellness Bookings
Journese Is Offering Advisors Bonus TRIP Points for Spa and Wellness Bookings

Journese is giving advisors the opportunity to earn 500 Bonus TRIP Points for every booking at select spa and wellness resorts. 

Read...
Insight and Trafalgar Add Small Group Domestic Itineraries
Insight and Trafalgar Add Small Group Domestic Itineraries

The two TTC brands have added new sprinter van small group tours. 

Read...
Authentic Vacations Resigns USTOA Active Membership
Authentic Vacations Resigns USTOA Active Membership

Going forward, client bookings are no longer covered by the USTOA $1 Million Travelers Assistance Program. 

Read...
TMR Outlooks
Multi-Gen Outlook
Distribution Outlook (1)
New to Cruise Outlook
Expedition 2020
Wellness Outlook
River Cruise Outlook 2019
View All
Advertiser's Voice
https://img.youtube.com/vi/87ira8MA_b8/0.jpg
MasterAdvisor: What's Trending in the Cruise Industry?
About Travel Market Report Mission Editorial Staff Advisory Board Advertise
TMR Resources Webinars Calendar of Events
Subscribe to TMR
Select Language
Do You Have an Idea Email
editor@travelmarketreport.com
Give Us a Call
1-(516) 730-3097
Drop Us a Note
Travel Market Report
71 Audrey Ave, Oyster Bay, NY 11771
News|Leisure Travel|Land Vacations|Cruise|Canada Retail Strategies|Well-Being|Luxury|Training
© 2005 - 2022 Travel Market Report, an American Marketing Group Inc. Company All Rights Reserved | 243 South Street, Oyster Bay, NY, 11771 USA | Telephone (516) 730-3097| Terms and Conditions
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy