BUSINESS
TRENDS
WELLNESS IS THE WORD The wellness tourism market is expected to reach USD 1.02 trillion by 2030, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Soraya Jouzy, founder of Pearl Tree, examines the trends defining this key industry, which is on track to expand globally at a CAGR of 9.93 percent from 2022 to 2030.
The rising number of health-conscious people is contributing to heightened demand for wellness activities at popular travel destinations. According to Colliers, the Middle East’s wellness tourism sector has been growing in popularity in recent years. Indeed, recent findings by the Global Wellness Institute reveal that wellness tourism represents approximately 6 percent of the wellness economy in the Middle East and North Africa. Greater demand for wellness tourism in the Middle East is driven by Gen Y and millennials’ interest in more wellnessfocused experiences. Other segments, such as families and single travelers, have also demonstrated a need for wellnessthemed recreational and leisure facilities — ranging from spas to all-inclusive retreats. This has led to increased activity in the industry in recent years.
Government initiatives The Dubai Fitness Challenge is an annual celebration of fitness and wellness. Now
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HOSPITALITY NEWS ME | DEC 2022-JAN 2023
in its sixth year, the event’s goal is simple: complete 30 minutes of activity each day for 30 days. The aim is to inspire a fitnessfocused mindset and encourage people to lead active lifestyles. With a monthlong calendar of free workouts, exciting fitness events and wellness-centric entertainment, there’s plenty of motivation to kick-start a healthier way of life.
Trends in the region According to Colliers Middle East, there are some key trends in the region’s tourism offering, including concept-driven wellness resorts, such as the Six Senses Zighy Bay, standalone spas and holistic destination retreats like Hatta, UAE. Between 2019 and 2022, the number of wellness-oriented hospitality developments grew. Recent openings include Chivasom Zulal Doha and the Banyan Tree in Al Ula. While conceptually different, these two properties offer customized itineraries for guests. However, there are still gaps in the
hospitality market that can be addressed by future wellness-oriented hospitality developments in the future. Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways and new Saudi airlines will dominate air travel and facilitate stopovers to regional wellness centers, bridging the gap between East and West. The region will thus continue to build wellness facilities to be a leading region for health-conscious travelers. To meet the need for green spaces that engender wellbeing, city landscapes will evolve to feature vertical green walls and spas and hotels with farm areas. Indeed, travelers are seeking a greater sense of purpose, especially when it comes to their holiday choices. With this in mind, farms and wellness resorts where people can learn to grow and harvest fruits and vegetables are gaining popularity.
Spa treatments and mental health It is clear that microbiome facial and body treatments will be in demand as time
