With the Global Wellness Institute estimating wellness tourism to reach US$1.4 trillion by 2027, the golden age of wellness tourism has arrived, according to a new report recently released at the recent Global Wellness Summit in St. Andrews, Scotland.
Complied by New York-based marketing and communication company, FINN Partners, ‘The Future of Wellness Tourism 2025,’ is 42-page downloadable report that provides a deep dive into trends that will define wellness tourism around the world in the years ahead.
The research includes data, expert insights, and on-the-ground examples of innovations conceived to satisfy the growing desire of travelers to experience wellness. Among them, changes in how wellness products will be made and marketed; wellness technology that is radically reshaping guest experiences at hotels and destinations; and emerging hot spots where wellness is taking centre stage in placemaking strategies for providers of hospitality.
Key trends cited in the report include:
- Age Benders: Blurring Generational Cohorts – At a time when chronological age matters less than biological age, 60-year-olds have the vitality of people half their age, and younger generations are adopting healthier lifestyles much earlier than the generations before them, generational demographics no longer apply.
- Nomadism: A New Segment for Wellness Tourism and Real Estate – A rising tide of new nomads is presenting opportunities for wellness resorts to rethink programming to encourage longer stays and residences.
- Women’s Health: A Mainstay of Wellness Programs – Women are going to extraordinary lengths to address issues from sexual wellbeing to fertility to menopause, opening the door for travel providers to offer wellness programming to meet their needs.
- Sky-High Wellness: Flying Will Enhance Your Wellbeing – By developing more human-centric experiences, the aviation industry is investing in cutting-edge technologies to transform passenger experiences into journeys of wellbeing on the ground and aloft.
- Nourishing Escapes: Wellness Influences Culinary Travel – The fastest-growing segment in tourism is feeding appetites for unique experiences as wellness inspires culinary meditations, dopamine dining, neural nutrition and more.
- Thermal Springs: Heat Up Future Wellness Destinations – Governments and developers are investing in thermal springs to satisfy a growing interest in nature-based experiences and combat overtourism by directing travellers to less-visited areas.
The Future of Wellness Tourism 2025 also identifies five countries rising to the forefront of global wellness tourism because of the scale of infrastructure investments and hotel development, as well as a blend of natural resources, cultural richness, and innovative practices.
A couple of examples: Japan has flipped the script on its hustle culture to become a global role model for longevity and mindful living; and Iceland is tapping its abundant geothermal resources to fuel a thriving wellness industry..
“There was a time was when all a hotel needed was a massage table, steam and sauna to tempt guests with spa services,” says Cathy Feliciano-Chon, Managing Partner of the Global Travel Practice of FINN Partners. “Now, the influence of wellness is everywhere in travel and hospitality, as travellers seek inventive ways to enhance their personal wellbeing.”
Download the report HERE.
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