When it comes to wellness tourism and spas, the Middle East is the fastest growing market worldwide, according the Global Wellness Tourism Congress, presented by the Global Spa & Wellness Summit (GSWS). The MENA market, which is worth $5.3 billion annually, is growing at a rate of 16% and is expected to triple by 2017, with UAE as the region leader.
Every year, 4.8 million tourists head off to the Middle East in search for spas, healthy hotels, fitness, yoga or lifestyle retreats, natural reserves, and organic restaurants to give their vacations a healthy twist. “Wellness tourism is poised to reshape tourism as we know it. So many 21st century forces are fueling it, including the rise of chronic diseases and the unprecedented stress of modern life,” says Jean-Claude Baumgarten, GSWS keynote speaker at the launch of the report.
Luxury wellness tourism is already a $439 billion market – representing more than one in seven of all tourist dollars – and is set to grow to $678.5 billion by 2017. According to the report, the UAE is not only a top destination in the region, but also one of the top spenders for holistic treatments in India, the Saudi Gazette reports.
For more information: Visit the Global Wellness Tourism Congress website.
