Seven Wellness Travel Insights for 2015

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Wellness travel has continually appeared on the spa trend reports for the last few years, and for good reason. Yesterday, Spafinder Wellness 365 released part one of its eighth annual State of Wellness Travel Report, which revealed record-high expectations for 2015.

Eighty-six percent of survey respondents—North American and European travel agents—expect growth in the wellness travel sector, a global market estimated at $494 billion by the Global Wellness Institute.

1. Wellness Travel Awareness

Awareness of the wellness travel industry is high on everyone's radar: Between 71–80% of agents report significant annual growth in awareness with consumers, travel agents, the tourism industry and hospitality industry.

2. Wellness Elements Matter

Sixteen wellness elements were rated by travel agents in how important they were for an average client. From healthy cuisine to alternative medical services, each element was rated as "important," scoring least 5.9 out of 10. (Click below image for a larger view.)

Wellness Elements

3. Wellness Travel Reaches Beyond Spa

Fifty-two percent of travel agents report that 20% or less of the wellness-focused travel they book is primarily spa-focused. Only 19% say that more than half of the wellness travel booked is primarily focused on spa experiences.

4. The Wellness Premium Wellness Experiences

Consumers are willing to pay a premium price for access to high quality wellness travel, and healthy products and services while traveling.

5. Demand for Healthy Business Meetings

A high numer of travel agents—79%– reported that demand for healthier business meetings is on the rise.

6. Warm Wellness Travel Destinations Getting Even Hotter

For the first time, Asia saw the biggest growth in wellness travel bookings in the last year.

Within Asia, Thailand ranked first for wellness travel, followed by Bali/Indonesia and India.

Costa Rica led in the Americas, followed by the Caribbean Islands, Nicaragua and Brazil.

Europe, Hungary, Croatia, Turkey, Italy and Greece were standouts in Europe.

And across the Middle East/Africa, the leaders were Israel, Dubai and Morocco.

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