Over the last couple of years many longtime travel experts have noted that wellness is the hottest travel trend, slightly inching out culinary vacations and more immersive travel as a main driver. And now a new study explains who is behind this trend. We have written about this trend and its impact before.
A new survey from Virtuosso revealed that the typical wellness traveler is a Generation-X woman who most frequently goes on trips with a small group of friends or solo. With today’s increasingly hectic lifestyles due to work, family and other obligations, travelers are looking to wellness trips to provide a relaxing escape that restores balance and transforms mind, spirit and body. They are also seeking skills while away to help maintain that calm and support their mental, spiritual and physical health once they return home.
There is a desire to make a vacation relaxing, enjoyable and in fact healthy.
Asian destinations emerged strongly as favorite wellness settings. Although the U.S. tops the list of wellness travel destinations, Bali and Thailand follow close behind. Two other Asian locales, Bhutan and Vietnam, appear high on the roster of wellness destinations on the rise. The prevalence of meditation, yoga, spirituality, fresh cuisine, spa treatments and outdoor activities makes Asia compelling for travelers focusing on wellbeing.
Virtuoso specialists report that wellness travel sales are pacing solidly for 2020. Fifty-three percent say sales will be steady from 2019, while 45 percent say they expect sales to increase. The future is even more positive: a powerful 98 percent say the trend will continue to build.
Top Wellness Travel Motivations
- Stress and anxiety reduction
- Rest and relaxation
- Body/mind/spirit transformation
- Getting away from it all
- Spiritual renewal
Top Wellness Travel Activities
- Meditation and mindfulness
- Spa treatments such as massages
- Yoga
- Healthy eating
- Outdoor adventures
Top Wellness Travel Destinations
- United States
- Bali
- Thailand
- Costa Rica
- Italy
Top Emerging Wellness Travel Trends
- Hotels with wellness amenities
- Spiritual retreats
- Mental wellness
- Travel with a purpose
- Developing skill in a wellness activity
Top Wellness Travel Destinations on the Rise
- Bhutan
- Croatia
- Vietnam
- Portugal
- South Africa
Right now wellness is the hottest travel trend and we don’t see that changing for the foreseeable future.. at least not as long as work and life stays hectic, stressful and hard to balance.
