Wellness tourism is almost the same as a spiritual retreat travel itinerary -- except it focuses on personal physical and mental wellness and less on the spiritual aspects. In 2017, wellness tourism trends still stay focused on proper health, diet and exercise, with a penchant for health facilities in most accommodations.
According to Skift, modern travelers -- even if wellness tourism is not the focus -- would place physical and recreational activities as secondary. Skift cites the Global Wellness Institutes' findings, indicating that spa trips and even gym classes took up majority of leisure travelers' activities.
Skift also adds that hotels have improved their physical wellness facilities for their guests as health-based travel is currently trending -- a secondary pursuit for travelers in long-term vacations. Skift cites Hyatt's purchase of the spa resort company Miraval Group with industry rivals following suit.
Similar to the trends associated with luxury travel, it would make sense that wellness tourism is gaining ground by providing memorable, cherished experiences. According to Virtuoso's speculations of 2017's wellness tourism trends, luxury now focuses on offering unique and amazing experiences, such as strange yoga positions that -- according to the blog -- "unleash psychic energy," however that may feel like.
Cruise ships are also including plenty of wellness facilities on-board. Virtuoso's blog mentions the Regent Seven Seas Explorer providing a range of wellness facilities including a "thermal suite with hot and cold experiences" along with "exclusive body treatments." These factor effectively into "unique experiences," specifically if the body treatments focus on the methods used by the locations visited by the cruise ship.
Virtuoso cites Spafinder Wellness 365's expectations that the industry can grow about 86 percent in 2017 with more travelers expressing increasing interest in wellness travels to spas or physical improvement classes. It would mean a drive-down in the costs of using wellness facilities in the near future.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
