The global spa and wellness tourism has grown from a $68 billion (US$60b) industry in 2007 to a whopping $107 billion (US$94b) in 2014, up 12.5% from 2013 figures, according to the latest Global Spa and Wellness Summit research.
The spa travel market’s growth of 58% in the past six years has contributed to a 47% rise in spa locations, now topping over 100,000 worldwide according to SRI International – the body behind the research. Much of the leap has been attributed to the years post the global financial crisis.
The growth has been attributed to an increasing global middle class market, predominately in Asia, Middle East, Africa and Latin America.
However Europe continues to lead the region for the spa industry, pumping $34 billion (US$29.8b), up 62% into the segment, followed by Asia Pacific at $21.4 billion (US$18.8b), up 65% and North America closing in at $20.8 billion (US$18.3b), up 35%.
“It has been six long years since our first spa industry research report, and to see nearly 60% growth across years marked by global financial collapse was as impressive as it was unexpected. Also exceeding our expectations: the growth in the wellness tourism market last year and the sheer scope of the thermal/mineral springs industry,” SRI Center for Science, Technology & Economic Development, senior consultant, Ophelia Yeung said.
“And key economic and demographic trends, we predict, will continue to fuel growth for these three segments, including the rise of the global middle class (at two billion people now, but expected to skyrocket to five billion by 2030); ongoing, phenomenal momentum for tourism, generally; millions more people each year proactively seeking a ‘wellness lifestyle’; and the story of developing markets, and so many new properties, across Asia, Middle East/Africa and Latin America.”
source: http://www.travelweekly.com / Travel Weekly / Home> News / by Daisy Melwani / September 30th, 2014
