Wellness Tourism: A Growing Global Phenomenon

The wellness tourism industry has been experiencing an exponential growth rate of 8.7% during the forecast period, indicating a significant increase in the number of people seeking wellness-focused travel experiences. The primary segment driving this growth is the lodging sector, which accounted for 20.6% of the global wellness tourism industry in 2020.

Wellness tourism is a form of travel that focuses on preserving or improving one’s health and well-being. It is driven by a desire to live a healthy lifestyle, reduce stress, and have authentic experiences. This shift in consumer preference towards wellness has been influenced by factors such as the expanding global middle class, a growing inclination towards healthier lifestyles, and increased affordability of travel options.

Europe remains the preferred destination for wellness trips, while North America leads in expenditure on wellness tourism. The Asia-Pacific region has also witnessed notable growth in both the number of wellness trips and expenditure, thanks to robust economies and an expanding middle class.

In India, the Ministry of Tourism has taken several measures to promote the country as a destination for medical and wellness tourism. They have established a National Medical and Wellness Tourism Board to further this cause, highlighting the importance of wellness tourism and Ayurveda tourism.

The growth of wellness tourism has led to increased demand for wellness centers, resorts, and accommodations. Ayurveda institutes, hostels, and hospitality chains like Airbnb have seen a significant increase in bookings and inquiries. The rise in interest has also extended to rural destinations, with more people looking to explore domestic and regional attractions.

While international travel restrictions have limited the scope of the tourism industry, there is a growing trend of domestic travel in countries like the United States. Travelers are exploring exotic locations within their own countries, seeking cities, rural areas, mountains, lakes, and coastal destinations as alternative options.

In response to the growing demand, companies are investing in the development of wellness-focused infrastructure. Tavistock Development Company plans to build an innovative wellness campus in Lake Nona, Orlando, in collaboration with Signet LLC and Integrated Wellness Partners. This campus aims to offer a wide range of health and wellness programs and services to cater to the needs of the community.

As wellness tourism continues to thrive, it presents significant opportunities for various stakeholders, including the hospitality industry, wellness businesses, and governments. By embracing this growing trend, destinations can tap into the potential benefits of the wellness tourism market and provide unique and fulfilling experiences for travelers seeking to improve their well-being.

Industrija wellness turizma bilježi eksponencijalni rast od 8,7% tijekom predviđenog razdoblja, što ukazuje na značajan porast broja ljudi koji traže putovanja usmjerena na wellness iskustva. Glavni segment koji pokreće ovaj rast je sektor smještaja, koji je u 2020. godini činio 20,6% svjetske wellness turističke industrije.

Wellness turizam je oblik putovanja koji se fokusira na očuvanje ili poboljšanje zdravlja i blagostanja. Pokreće ga želja za životom zdravog načina života, smanjenjem stresa i autentičnim iskustvima. Promjena preferencija potrošača prema wellnessu utjecala je faktorima poput širenja globalne srednje klase, sve veće naklonosti prema zdravijem načinu života i povećane dostupnosti opcija putovanja.

Europa ostaje preferirana destinacija za wellness putovanja, dok Sjeverna Amerika prednjači po izdacima za wellness turizam. Azijsko-pacifička regija također je doživjela značajan rast kako u broju wellness putovanja, tako i u izdacima, zahvaljujući snažnim ekonomijama i širenju srednje klase.

U Indiji, Ministarstvo turizma poduzelo je nekoliko mjera kako bi promoviralo zemlju kao destinaciju za medicinski i wellness turizam. Ustanovili su Nacionalni odbor za medicinski i wellness turizam kako bi dodatno promovirali ovu inicijativu, ističući važnost wellness turizma i ayurvedskog turizma.

Rast wellness turizma doveo je do povećane potražnje za centrima wellnessa, odmaralištima i smještajem. Ayurvedski instituti, hosteli i hotelski lanci poput Airbnb-a zabilježili su značajan porast rezervacija i upita. Interes za wellness putovanjima proširio se i na ruralne destinacije, s više ljudi koji žele istražiti domaće i regionalne atrakcije.

Iako su međunarodna putovanja ograničena restrikcijama, raste trend domaćih putovanja u zemljama poput Sjedinjenih Američkih Država. Putnici istražuju egzotične lokacije u vlastitim zemljama, tražeći gradove, ruralna područja, planine, jezera i priobalne destinacije kao alternativne opcije.

Kao odgovor na rastuću potražnju, tvrtke ulažu u razvoj infrastrukture usmjerene na wellness. Tavistock Development Company planira izgraditi inovativni wellness kampus u Lake Noni, Orlandu, u suradnji sa Signet LLC i Integrated Wellness Partners. Ovaj kampus ima za cilj ponuditi širok spektar zdravstvenih i wellness programa i usluga kako bi zadovoljio potrebe zajednice.

Dok wellness turizam nastavlja napredovati, otvara značajne mogućnosti za različite dionike, uključujući hotelsku industriju, wellness tvrtke i vlade. Prihvaćanjem ovog rastućeg trenda, destinacije mogu iskoristiti potencijalne koristi wellness turističkog tržišta i pružiti jedinstvena i ispunjavajuća iskustva putnicima koji žele poboljšati svoje blagostanje.