Survey Reveals Top Worldwide Wellness Destinations

If perception helps shape reality, then the results of the second annual survey of Worldwide Wellness Destinations could be a forecaster of things to come.

At the very least, the results send travel agents a clear-cut message about what regions of the world consumers want to travel to for a wellness-focused vacation.  

Conducted by Travel to Wellness (this writer’s online magazine and a wellness travel resource since 2004) and Well-Being Travel, the independent survey polled a combination of Travel to Wellness readers plus visitors to the Well-Being Travel booth at the 2015 New York Times Travel Show.  

The 10 top Worldwide Wellness Destinations for 2015 in order of votes received were:

#1.   Bali
#2.   Hawaii
#3.   Costa Rica
#4.   Italy
#5.   Arizona
#6.   New Zealand  
#7.   California
#8.   Thailand
#9.   India
#10. Australia

Beyond the above list, destinations that received more than one vote were Spain, Greece, Iceland, St. Lucia and Florida.

Last year’s survey found Hawaii, Italy, Arizona, Bali, Costa Rica, British Columbia, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, and California as the top ten geographic wellness destinations.

The nearly 400 respondents were primarily women between the ages of 30 and 65, residents of the U.S. and Canada, educated, with higher household incomes and with a specific interest in wellness and/or travel.

They were asked this two-part question:  

If you could travel anywhere in the world for a wellness vacation, what geographic destination would you choose?  And, why would you choose that destination?

Everyday wellness
Anne Marie Moebes executive vice president of Well-Being Travel and publisher of Travel Market Report, said she is pleased to partner with Travel to Wellness to provide travel agents who specialize in this growing market, important consumer information and trends.

“It is clear that consumers are looking for wellness in their everyday lives including while they are on vacation,” said Moebes.

“Rather than indulging in unhealthy habits while traveling, they want to go to destinations that provide them with enjoyable, memorable and healthy experiences.”

Last year’s results
Last year’s survey found Hawaii, Italy, Arizona, Bali, Costa Rica, British Columbia, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, and California as the top ten geographic wellness destinations.

In 2015, British Columbia was nudged off the list in favor of India, and Bali moved from #4 to #1 position.

Ingrained perceptions
The list of favored destinations, however, remains pretty much the same, possibly indicating that perceptions about certain destinations are deeply ingrained.    

The perceived wellness cultures of both Bali and India (India is the home of Ayurveda) plus the growing popularity of yoga retreats (available in both destinations) are two of the reasons behind the selection of both of these destinations.

As for Bali, the destination is perceived to have an authentic culture and numerous yoga and meditation options plus the peace and quiet that many people look for in a wellness vacation.

A number of Bali retreats are also actively pursuing the North American market.

The yoga-focused ONEWorld Retreats located in the Balinese hills of Ubud, for instance, is participating in the Well-Being-Travel Symposium taking place June 15 and 16 in Toronto.   

Combining self-improvement and culture
Cindy Chambers of Houston-based Beyond Group Travel has been working for years with clients who travel for activities such as ‘healing touch,’ yoga/Pilates retreats and general self-improvement.  

“Clients appreciate destinations that combine both cultural and self-improvement experiences,” she said. “Italy, for instance, offers a variety of healthy cooking retreats set against a backdrop of antiquities.

“Closer to home, Costa Rica offers healthy outdoor activities and retreats in a bio-diverse region that embraces eco tourism.”

Beyond the above list of ten, destinations that received more than one vote were Spain, Greece, Iceland, St. Lucia and Florida.

Why the top ten?
The top five reasons cited for the selection of  a destination were:

• Nature. This was the most popular answer to the second part of the question:  why a particular destination was selected.  Beautiful scenery, mountains, lakes, oceans, beaches, and good weather were mentioned.  
• Culture
• Yoga and Meditation
• Spas
• Outdoor Fitness Adventures

That “nature” topped the list again this year is no surprise to Jeri Donovan of Well Traveled, a Virtuoso travel agent based in Lincoln, California.

“Nature is both soothing and invigorating,” she said. “I see that clients are drawn to those areas that give them a connection with nature.

“Costa Rica is an excellent example of this and I find it to be one of the favored destinations for the wellness traveler seeking a yoga retreat and/or a fitness adventure.”  

When reviewing the results of the survey, it’s important to keep in mind that consumers are not saying what they want and need in a wellness vacation but what geographic destinations they perceive to be “wellness destinations.”

As wellness travel continues to grow and destinations around the world work to position themselves as wellness destinations, consumer perception will be key.

Perception will, indeed, help shape the reality.