Wellness & Spa: Avenue of Revenue
The first report on the wellness and spa industry was released at the recently-concluded Global Spa & Wellness Summit 2013 held in New Delhi.
Wellness travel, which now represents a sizable chunk of global tourism revenues, is growing at nearly twice the rate of total worldwide tourism, according to a study released at The Global Spa & Wellness Summit (GSWS) 2013 recently held in New Delhi. The three-day event was packed with discussions, deliberations, and sessions for better understanding the spa and wellness segment in the global travel industry.
Welcoming the delegates, Susie Ellis, CEO and Chairman, GSWS, said, "The Wellness Tourism can spark a revolution like no other, so let us come together and chart a course to make history for the people we serve and the industry we love.” According to Ellis, this segment has the potential to becoming an excellent alternative revenue source for travel agents. She said, “The Global Wellness
The Global Wellness Tourism Economy Report reveals new directions in tourism
Tourism Economy Report reveals new directions in tourism, including the kind of
The alert, educated and well-heeled traveller is looking for unique travel experiences
experiences tourists will seek and the countries where they will travel to find them.”
Wellness tourism is poised to reshape tourism as we know it
The research reflects a major shift from vacations associated with excess—too much eating, drinking and too little sleep—to those focussed on health and wellness. Clients who take wellness trips are also likely to take part in other niche activities like culinary, adventure, or eco-tourism pursuits, the study said. That broadens the options agents can sell.
Amitabh Kant, Former Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India said, “Travel and tourism, in general; and wellness tourism, in particular, are largely dominated by certain trends that have come to fore. These include the steady growth and development of BRIC countries, the rapidly aging population of Europe and America, and the rise of the urban middle class. This has led to the growth of the alert, independent, educated, well-heeled, traveller who is looking for experiences that enhance and develop well-being. This is where wellness tourism plays a key role.”
“Wellness tourism is poised to reshape tourism as we know it,” said Jean
Claude Baumgarten, Former President & CEO, World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).