Life these days is incredibly stressful. Whether you’re behind a computer all day or attempting to fit in quiet time for yourself, most people are looking to decompress. That’s why it’s no surprise that people are actively seeking out vacations that prioritize their holistic wellbeing. 

The global wellness tourism sector, which seeks to enhance physical, mental and spiritual well-being, was valued at $814.6 billion in 2022, and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.42% from 2023 to 2030, according to Grand View Research. 

With destinations like Sweden, Norway and the Middle East becoming wellness travel hotspots, it’s clear that travelers are willing to go the distance to find authentic experiences that address the desire to live well. 

In this post, we’ll explore some of the latest trends that are parlaying wellness tourism into one of the biggest phenomena out there right now. 

 

Travel as Medicine 

One of the unique features of wellness travel’s growth is its ability to go hand-in-hand with both modern and non-traditional medicine in the pursuit of a longer, healthier life. 

Canyon Ranch, one of the most famous wellness destinations in America, now has multiple resorts across the country. Earlier this year, they introduced a five-night “Longevity Life” program, which starts at $6,750, and includes health-span coaching, bone-density scans and longevity-focused sessions on spirituality and nutrition, a recent WSJ piece reported. 

At the Four Seasons Resort Maui in Hawaii  offerings include ozone therapy, stem-cell therapy and a fountain of youth infusion, which costs $44,000. 

“You’re making investments in your wellness, your health, your body,” one travel agent told the WSJ. 

One particularly unique component of wellness travel is the new pursuit of psychedelics. As discussed in Vogue, many people see psychedelics as the future of wellness travel, because it provides a peaceful setting for an untraditional experience. 

“It’s safe to say there are hundreds and hundreds of psilocybin and psychedelic retreats opening each year, and operators report growth,” Beth McGroarty, VP of Research for the Global Wellness Institute, told Forbes. 

 

Executives Looking to Relax

Businesspeople looking to take a break from hectic work schedules are a huge driving force behind the popularity of wellness travel. 

“Busy business owners and CEOs prefer to partake in wellness when they’re relaxed and rejuvenated, rather than rushed and stressed from the hustle, bustle and responsibility of daily life,” CEO Magazine wrote. 

The statistics behind this trend are also quite telling. A survey of 800 high-value Chinese women conducted found that 54 percent intend to increase their leisure travel over the next three years, while over 60 per cent plan to spend more on travel, including hotels and accommodation, Spa Business reported. Clearly, as the work environment continues to be all-encompassing, people who work in high-stress atmospheres are relying on the wellness travel world as a way to seek out work/life balance. 

 

Wellness for the Family 

Wellness travel is often thought of as something people do alone, or with small groups of girlfriends. Instead, it’s really expanding into a family dynamic. 

“We are finding that the passion for wellness extends across every age group and is more often at the center of family structures and strategies,” Canyon Ranch CEO Mark Rivers told Conde Nast Traveler. 

This phenomenon is seen across the world. In Dubai, Jumeirah Al Qasr offers visits to a turtle rehabilitation sanctuary where kids can release turtles back into the wild. Across the globe in Massachusetts, Miraval, which is normally adults-only, offers a Family Connection Week timed to spring break. Other popular venues, including Club Med and the Intercontinental Dominica, are introducing wellness programming for the family at all different price points.

“We are excited to provide a destination where families can create lasting memories together, while prioritizing their health and wellbeing,” Rivers continued.

Older families are also looking to delve into wellness on a more permanent basis. Baby Boomers are drifting to wellness-focused residences instead of the traditional senior living communities, lured in by attractive amenities like spas, on-staff doctors, and acupuncture. They view this as “not only an investment in real estate, but also in ourselves.”

 

The world of wellness travel will only continue to grow. Last year, Forbes reported 94% of travelers incorporate self-care into their journeys. But the experience of wellness travel is one that’s tremendously multi-faceted. 

From families looking for healthy activities to exhausted business people looking to disconnect, there’s no singular type of guest that’s pursuing a healthy experience. Some guests are even looking for vacations that provide offerings to expand their lifespan, or take them out of themselves by using psychedelics. No matter the type of journey that travelers are pursuing, it’s safe to say that wellness travel is here to stay, and will only become more popular.