Self-care and wellness tourism: A revolution in healthcare

Posted on: Jul 9, 2024 | 3 mins | Written by: HDFC ERGO Team

Self-care and wellness tourism: A revolution in healthcare

In today's world, stress and anxiety have become a mandatory part of everyone's life. Considering this change, the travel industry has seen a remarkable shift towards health and wellness tourism. This kind of tourism aids people in relaxing and reducing their stress while travelling to recreational places. The pressure in people's work and personal life eventually erases the appreciation of having a life. Individuals are observing this and have started to take mental and physical health seriously. Now, people are not travelling just for sightseeing but also to nourish their well-being, leading to the booming popularity of self-care and wellness tourism.

Wellness tourism is beyond travel

Mental well-being is as important as physical well-being for the holistic development of the body. To achieve success in managing stress, wellness tourism is booming and opted for by travellers. According to 2022 Travel Trends research, about 21% of global travellers travel to health and wellness-driven destinations. The positive growth of the travel industry in this section has persuaded travellers to buy international travel insurance for peace of mind while travelling. One-fifth of global travellers book hotels and resorts for more than just nice cuisine or scenery. They are looking for more and beyond the regular idea of tourism.

Tourists are interested in health-oriented destinations where they can find spa getaways, yoga, meditation retreats and fitness programs. These wellness elements are a therapy for job workers and business owners who are fed up with the work pressure. It is also a good escape for people trying to find a purpose and make their lives more meaningful. Statista research reports that more than fifty per cent of Europeans are on the verge of burnout. Burnout is caused by a lot of stress and a lack of stress management. Leaders of respected hospitality and hotel institutions are including wellness programs for their guests.

Health and wellness tourism has become a trend because it encompasses mental health and keeps you sane. Activities like psychotherapy, food boot camps, chakra sessions, puppy yoga and laughter therapy are more famous than spas and a walk on the beach. The founder of Health and Fitness Travel, Paul Joseph, says that wellness travel offers life-changing experiences to travellers that boost their mental and physical health. This has become a trend that has spiked hotel bookings despite the cost-of-living crisis. Expedia calls it the 'no-normal' era of wellness travel.

Some key elements of wellness tourism are:

• Spa and detox retreats: Experience pampering massages, rejuvenating body treatments, and detoxifying programs. These body retreats are common in wellness centres and are very effective for relaxation.

• Adventure wellness travel: Active travellers can rejuvenate themselves by attending hiking and yoga retreats, surfing and meditation camps, or cycling tours with mindfulness sessions.

• Healthy delights: Health-oriented destinations source organic ingredients for preparing healthy and delicious cuisine. They also offer cooking classes to encourage the tourists to follow a healthy lifestyle.

• Healing retreats: Ayurveda, acupuncture, and aromatherapy are other authentic options to relieve stress.

The economic impact of wellness tourism

The Global Wellness Institute has projected a 9.9% average annual growth in the wellness industry. This includes fitness holidays, adventure travels, and body retreats. The report also suggests that in 2025 the wellness economy will reach 7 trillion dollars. The travel brands have observed a 30% increase in wellness breaks. Reports also show that 46% of global travellers prioritise a wellness tour. After the pandemic, there has been a 27 to 65 per cent increase in prioritising wellness in every market. To sum it up, the focus on mental well-being has risen profusely in the last five years.

Some of the largest manufacturers of wellness tourism market are:

• Accor Hotels

• Wyndham Hotels & Resorts

• Intercontinental Hotels Group

• Hilton Worldwide

• Choice Hotels International

• Marriott International

• Home Inns Group

• Hyatt Hotels

• Radisson Hospitality

• Red Carnation Hotels

Future of wellness tourism

In the present year, the industry is expanding steadily and has seen positive growth. The growth has established a competitive environment in the market. To overcome the competition, distributors and manufacturers have implemented new tactics. However, the market adapts to these tactical developments and is expected to maintain an upward trajectory. Furthermore, global wellness tourism is expected to expand at a CAGR of 7.02%.

Factors influencing the growth of wellness tourism

• Increased focus on preventive healthcare: Wellness travel offers an experience where individuals are encouraged to pursue healthy habits and stress reduction.

• Growth of the wellness industry: The wellness industry is a multi-trillion-dollar industry that promotes transformative experiences. The market capitalises on activities like spa treatments and rejuvenation activities.

• Travel priorities: Prioritising mental well-being has shifted the attention of travellers. They want to visit places that promote personal growth and self-discovery.

• Social media: Content related to wellness tourism has over 33 million views on TikTok and 5,84,000 posts on Instagram. The contents have fuelled the wanderlust side of the viewers.

Places to visit for wellness tourism

The awareness of stress management has spread worldwide. Now, every country has started to include body retreat activities for locals and visitors. Recent updates show that the Asia-Pacific region is fertile for health and wellness. The reason lies in its rich culture and healthy environment. Here's a list of the best places for health and wellness tourism:

• Bali, Indonesia

• Phuket, Thailand

• Glenorchy, New Zealand

• Sedona, Arizona, USA

The places mentioned above have multiple wellness centres focused on mental well-being. You can also get a good deal on international travel insurance while travelling to these health-oriented places. The destinations offer a vast range of body retreats like spas, yoga, sleep therapy, detox, etc. India also has a rich wellness history and has practised traditional mental healing techniques. Some of the places in India for wellness are:

• Ananda, Rishikesh

• Six Senses Vana, Dehradun

• Shreyas Yoga Retreat, Bangalore

• Kovalam, Kerala

• Nimba Nature Cure, Gujarat

Conclusion

People have started to consider their mental health and are making efforts to keep themselves sane. Self-care is important in anyone's life because a pressurised mind cannot function optimally. Wellness tourism offers a refreshing escape from work life. This approach towards wellness has persuaded people to lead a healthy lifestyle. Effective results have been observed, which has turned it into a gold mine industry. Since stress and anxiety have become common, wellness tourism is expected to grow and offer rejuvenating body retreats. Travel insurance is must to be taken.

Disclaimer The above information is for illustrative purposes only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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