Travel providers require more information on wellness tourism

US travel services providers need more comprehensive market information to effectively tap into wellness travel opportunities, according to a new report. 

A survey carried out by Wellness Tourism Worldwide (WTW), which provides research, education and development services for travel sellers, found that while wellness focused holidays is a key US tourism trend, operators feel they need more information to successfully sell this type of travel.

The majority of the more than 200 travel agents and suppliers who completed the survey, 75%, felt they would benefit from an overall clearer understanding of wellness travel, products and services, while 63% stated that more detailed information about the factors that motivate wellness travellers would help them sell this type of holiday.

A significant proportion, 60%, expressed a need for a better understanding of the wellness consumer demographic, while 35% said they would like a better general understanding of health issues.

Camille Hoheb, founder and chief executive of WTW, said:" Over the last couple of years I’ve enjoyed meeting and connecting with hundreds of travel sellers who are excited about wellness travel. Yet, they told me they don't know where to start with selling wellness travel." WTW has published The Guide to Selling Wellness Travel in a move to rectify this situation.

Earlier this month The Global Wellness Tourism Economy report, presented at the Global Spa & Wellness Summit in Delhi, India, found that the global wellness tourism economy is currently worth US$439billion (£273bn). The report, by non-profit research organisation SRI International, also revealed that this figure is expected to rise to US$679bn (£423bn) by 2017.