Wellness tourism, by definition, is traveling in pursuit of better health or wellbeing. Research from the Global Wellness Institute expects the industry to reach over $900 billion by 2022. Wellness tourists make up 15% of global travelers, and more people are joining the trend every year.
Wellness tourism is different from medical tourism. Wellness tourists proactively travel to seek treatment and therapies that enable or maintain a healthy lifestyle. This sometimes includes routine items like dental and vision care, but it can also include mental health treatments.
Top Wellness Tourism Trends
Wellness tourism is a vast ecosystem made up of different industries. For example, you have group fitness, counseling, massages, cuisine, meditation, and even drug rehabilitation. In the past, going on a vacation was about letting go and spoiling yourself to feel better. Wellness tourism is a more take-charge way to improve your health and wellbeing while on vacation.
Nature Retreats
Mental health is a major component of wellness tourism. With the rise of depression and anxiety around the globe, companies are finding ways to battle them effectively. Some scientific studies have shown that being outdoors and immersed in nature can reduce cortisol levels, the hormone involved with stress and anxiety.
Nature retreats help you improve your mental health, but they also give you a chance to explore the great outdoors. Countries like Thailand have beautiful tropical resorts that allow you to escape from the hustle and bustle city life and recharge your batteries.
Preventative Wellness
Let’s face it – life is stressful. Many people indulge in harmful activities such as drinking, smoking, and binge eating to help them escape from their problems. These activities are responsible for killing millions of people every year.
Preventative wellness retreats remove you from a destructive environment and teach you how to reduce the urge to consume these life-threatening substances. Once you’ve learned that you don’t need a drink or a cigarette to feel better, you will have a healthier, more fulfilling life.
Divorce Retreats
For some people, it seems impossible to let go of the past. Divorce is never easy, and moving on is easier said than done. A lot of people going through a broken relationship find peace at a divorce retreat.
These retreats are designed for emotional reparation and boosting self-confidence. Though you may not recover your marriage, you can still save your spirit from despair. Retreat leaders teach attendees how to cope with loss, manage stress, and shift their focus towards the future.
Group Fitness Retreats
Working out while on vacation? This is supposed to be the time to skip the gym and hit the buffet like there’s no tomorrow, right? Surprisingly, tons of people travel around the world to exercise and adventure at the same time. But it’s more than just lifting weights and counting calories.
Group fitness retreats teach students how to make changes in their habits to live a healthy lifestyle. Some of the programs include nutritional courses, cooking classes, workouts, and habit-forming guides.
Back in the “real-world,” many of us live inactive, sedentary lifestyles. A group fitness retreat is a great way to learn how to live a healthy lifestyle and enjoy a lovely little holiday. Group fitness retreats are usually made on the beach or in a tropical climate.
Painmoons
Pop culture makes us believe that traveling is a form of celebrating a happy life. Travel companies market holidays as if the whole world are newlyweds looking for a honeymoon. The truth is, travel can be a powerful form of therapy for people going through tough times.
Painmoons help those going through stressful breaking points in their lives. Whether it’s grieving for a lost loved one, heartbreak, anxiety, or illness, traveling can help you cope with your internal struggle.
At a Painmoon, you’ll be alongside specialists who are mental health professionals. They give you guidance on how to heal and look forward to the future.
Fertility Trips
Staying healthy and in the right mindset is crucial when you’re trying to conceive a baby. When you think it’s time to start a family, a fertility trip can help in optimal health when trying to conceive.
Getting pregnant isn’t easy for everyone. Poor health and harmful habits can inhibit your chances of conceiving and cause a lot of stress. Fertility trips help naturally boost your fertility through nutrition, exercise, better sleep, and being stress-free.
Silent Retreats
The world is noisy. We are continually listening to cars, planes, trains, construction, people, television, and many other distractions that can dull our minds and make us go wild. If you live in the city, you’re more exposed to noise pollution, which is harmful to your wellbeing. A small amount of silence can go a long way.
Silent retreats are nothing new. Buddhist monks have been practicing the art of silence for hundreds of years. It’s been claimed that long periods of silence can help boost mental clarity and focus, as well as cleanse the mind of negative thoughts.
Silent retreats can get your mind back on track and help you deal with dark thoughts that might be ruining your life.
Sugar Detox
Unfortunately, sugar and other sweeteners are in almost everything we eat. In the Western world, there’s an abundance of sugary drinks and snack foods horrible for our health. But quitting the cane crystals is easier said than done.
A sugar detox is similar to a preventative retreat. When you temporarily remove sugar from the picture, your body can cleanse. Many people report having better skin, more energy, and better sleep after doing a sugar detox.
Conclusion
Wellness tourism is a booming industry. With all the new trends popping up, you’re sure to find one specifically for your needs. Next time you’ve got the time to travel, have a shot at being a wellness tourist. You could come back with more than just memories and photographs.
Also, you don’t need to go alone. There are tons of escort services that set you up with a companion during your holistic journey. It’s a fun way to have someone by your side as you experience new things. Learn more about that here.
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