This Year’s Biggest Wellness Tourism Trends To Watch

by Laurie Baratti
Last updated: 8:35 AM ET, Thu April 4, 2024

The Global Wellness Institute estimates that wellness tourism, expanding at an average growth rate of 16.6 percent over the next five years, will reach a record $1 trillion by the end of 2024 and 1.3 trillion by 2025. It is one of, if not the fastest-growing tourism segment, as travelers increasingly seek to mitigate the effects of today’s hustle culture and harried lifestyle.

Whereas wellness on vacation used to mean trying to maintain a semblance of your usual diet and getting yourself to the hotel’s fitness center, the term “wellness” has now become far more multidimensional. And, while wellness tourism may still incorporate the conventional spa experience and such traditional treatments as massage therapy, today’s wellness trips often encompass other, more outside-the-box experiences.

2024’s wellness tourism trends reflect a more holistic view of personal well-being, with mental and emotional, as well as physical, recuperation and optimization being the larger goal. The quest for better health is also expanding beyond the immediate moment, with a focus on longevity, a term which in this case has come to mean not just the number of years you live, but the quality of those years.

That’s why plenty of people are trading the immediate pleasures of a fun-time getaway for a more long-term results-oriented vacation. It’s also why more and more hotels and resorts are enhancing their wellness offerings to go beyond the spa, infusing wellness concerns into guests’ entire stay, from private fitness facilities and custom-tailored dietary plans to outdoor programming to reconnect with nature and biohacking using cutting-edge technologies.

Woman at a wellness retreat in Bali, Indonesia.

Biohacking

The buzzword “biohacking” refers to practices that might share some aspects with medical tourism, such as diagnostic screening, sleep tracking, and special diet plans or fasting. But, it also goes beyond that to encompass technological advancements, using tools like AI and wearable tech as tools to help guests optimize their health. It can also incorporate unconventional modalities and newer treatments, such as photobiomodulation, infrared PEMF, cryotherapy, compression tech, hyperbaric oxygen chambers and vitamin IV infusions. These days, you don’t have to go to a secluded retreat and isolate from the rest of the world to enjoy these benefits—you can even combine them with your beach vacation. For example, the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea has just introduced its Next|Health Longevity Protocol package, a multifaceted wellness approach that incorporates such cutting-edge therapies such as ozone, stem cells, exosomes and NAD+ (also called the “fountain of youth”).

Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea, Hawaii.

Sleep Tourism

The sleep tourism market is estimated to grow by nearly eight percent annually and by over $400 billion through 2028, according to an analysis by HTF Market Intelligence, with the market value currently sitting at $640.9 Billion. These figures illustrate the fact that sleep hygiene has become so important, and a good night’s sleep so elusive, that many hotels and resorts are focusing their efforts intensely on helping guests catch some quality zzz’s during their vacation, including introducing special rooms, suites and whole retreats that are uniquely designed for the purpose. And, that doesn’t just mean offering a soft mattress and cushy pillows, but leveraging cutting-edge technologies to tip the odds of achieving a satisfying snooze session in your favor.

According to Condé Nast Traveler, some of these special rooms, like those at California’s Mission Pacific Beach Resort, are even equipped with AI-powered smart beds that dynamically heat and cool the body while you’re sleeping. Meanwhile, at Carillon Miami Wellness Resort, guests who sign up for a four-night Sleep Well Retreat benefit from not only a Bryte Balance Smart Bed, but also complementary treatments like harmonic sound, vibroacoustic, electromagnetic, and infrared therapies to help de-stress and rebalance their minds and bodies.

Hilton recently introduced its first dedicated Sleep Retreats at Maui’s Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort and Conrad Orlando, and has plans to expand the program soon. These specialized escapes are part of a new partnership the hospitality giant has forged with sleep science expert Dr. Rebecca Robbins to infuse evidence-based research and scientific insights into sleep programming design at Hilton.

Wild Wellness

According to Hilton’s 2024 Trends Report, nearly half of travelers are looking to prioritize exploration and adventure, with Gen Z and Millennials (52 percent each) actively seeking out ways to connect with nature and scheduling off-the-beaten-path excursions. Sure, it may sound like simply going camping would fit the bill, but discerning travelers are seeking more luxurious “wild wellness” experiences. And this dovetails in with another emerging trend called bio-harmonizing—the pursuit of resetting one’s natural balance and rhythms, which often translates to nature immersion experiences, whether that be forest bathing, outdoor adventuring or sleep sessions under the stars.

Some fall under the category of extraordinary opportunities you only gain access to while traveling farther afield, like those at The Tryall Club in Montego Bay, Jamaica. There, guests can swim in the bioluminescent waters of the area’s glowing blue lagoon, one of the only places in the world where you can experience this natural phenomenon nearly all year long. Or, you might opt to go on a guided trek with the property’s own Environment and Conservation Manager, forest bathing on its private land while working your way down to a secret river.

Sandals Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, resort, caribbean, hotel,

Private Fitness

Apparently, it’s no longer enough to visit the communal fitness center during wellness-focused escapes and exclusivity is the name of the game. In-room exercise sessions are becoming the way to work out for wellness-seekers who aren’t feeling so social. Part of this trend can be attributed to the increased prevalence of equipment like Peloton bikes, which offer individualized fitness training on demand. The brand-new Sandals Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has debuted a brand-first with its new Lady Palm Club Suites, two-room suites that feature a separate, private exercise room that’s fully outfitted with state-of-the-art equipment by Technogym, including two exercise bikes, athletic programming, yoga mats, stretch kit and an assortment of free weights.

Wellness at Sea

While there have been spas aboard cruise ships for quite some time, these days, some cruise lines are taking their commitment to onboard wellness programs even further with dedicated programming that marries luxury with wellness. Aboard the Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ vessel Seven Seas Splendor, in the 4,443-square-foot, 11,000-dollar-per-night Regent Suite, you’ll find a $200,000 Hästens Vividus custom handmade mattress, complete with satiny smooth bed linens made from batiste makò cotton and 100-percent virgin Alaskan goose down, which helps guests maintain their ideal body temperature as they sleep. This palatial abode at sea also boasts an in-suite spa retreat with a personal sauna, steam room and treatment area, which comes complete with unlimited spa treatments.

On the other hand, aboard Uniworld Boutique River Cruises’ India sailings, all guests are invited to experience an exclusive wellness program, specifically focused on the destination’s ancient tradition and practice of yoga. While on board the Ganges Voyager II, travelers can benefit from the wisdom of a dedicated professional yogi who guides two yoga classes daily, one-on-one sessions, meditation practice and advice on holistic living throughout the trip.

Grief Travel

The past few years have been filled with fear, uncertainty and loss, so it really ought to come as no surprise that a whole new subsection of travel has sprung up around helping people process their grief and turn their emotional pain into positive momentum.

This type of tourism goes beyond the traditional realms of talk therapy to tackle bereavement in a more holistic way. And, death is not the only type of loss that can lead travelers to seek out these retreats—they may need to mourn the loss of a relationship or recover from a traumatic event. Everyone handles grief differently, so these getaways can take on various forms, and incorporate aspects ranging from counseling and group workshops to chakra realignment and acupuncture to the cathartic power of physical pursuits.

For those who are looking for powerful healing in a more private setting, there are programs like the one at Carillon Miami Wellness Resort, which employs a resident hypnotherapist to help guests tap directly into their subconscious to release emotional blockages. If you’re looking to leave your grief farther behind geographically speaking, you might head to The Place Retreat in beautiful Bali, a serene sanctuary for those in need of and psychological healing. There, guests get a minimum of three weekly private therapy sessions with renowned psychotherapist Jean-Claude Chalmet, and can take advantage of such holistic practices and treatments as clinical hypnosis, yoga, meditation, acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine on site.

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