Are you familiar with wellness travel?
You’ve probably already been to one but just don’t know it. When people hear “wellness travel” they may immediately think of yoga retreats or outdoor spas. These are all included in what we call wellness trips, but there are so much more.
Due to the pandemic, health and prevention of sicknesses are everyone’s focus and top priority when traveling. It is also at the heart of consumers’ decision-making. This means, even when away from home, people want to continue their healthy lifestyle. Moreso, they want to increase their health and wellbeing after going on a wellness trip.
What is Wellness Travel?
Wellness travel is one that promotes your health and wellbeing both physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
The goal of going on a wellness travel or trip is to feel better, healthier and more rejuvenated than when you left.
A wellness trip can be anything from a day hike up the mountains, a beach trip, surfing, having a massage, spa trips, eating and satisfying your taste buds, or even just a day at the park. Immersing yourself in a wellness retreat and taking part in physical activities helps you incorporate more of it into your day-to-day life.
A wellness travel is a pause inn your normal routine. It’s that beak that helps you relax and enjoy while at the same time won’t have you feeling exhausted after.
Wellness travelers can be categorized into two types:
- The primary wellness traveler whose main agenda in their trip is to relax, rejuvenate, and prioritize their health and wellbeing.
- The secondary wellness traveler may not have wellness at the top of their agenda but seeks to maintain health and wellness while traveling. They may do so by taking part in wellness experiences while on a business trip.
Wellness Travel Trends
Of course, just like any other type of travel, wellness travel is not the same for everyone.
Additionally, because each destination has its own unique culture, the flavors and available wellness experiences are unique in each place.
This 2021 and beyond, we are seeing a lot of wellness travel trends. Below are a few to keep in mind when planning your next vacation.
Nature-Focused Wellness Travel Trips
After months of being in lockdown, staying indoors, and practicing social distancing, people are looking for ways to reconnect with nature.
Being cooped up inside our houses and staring at our computer screens for most of the day is exhausting. This is why more and more people are looking for ways to spend more time in nature.
Additionally, during these months of lockdown, mother nature was able to heal herself. Thus, we are seeing a lot of improvement in the environment.
Nature-focused wellness trips can include a hike up the mountain, a walk in the park, surfing, diving, or even just a run in the park.
WiFi-Free Isolation and Solitude
People have seen a surge in their screen time the past year. This is mainly due to increased time at home and less time for other outdoor activities.
More and more people are experiencing Zoom fatigue and screen burnout.
One of the trends that we are seeing in wellness travel is going for digital detoxes. This means vacations where there are no screens and no available WiFi. This forces us to enjoy nature, be present at the moment, and gives us a break from everyday digital life.
Sustainable Travel
Although sustainable travel has been a focus in the past years, 2020 has put it in the spotlight.
With everyone being in lockdown, mother nature was able to heal herself and people noticed. This drove people to continue looking after the environment by incorporating it into how we travel.
Many wellness resorts are switching to more eco-friendly materials. They are adopting green business practices, and providing more options that are friendly to the environment.
Hassle-Free Travel
Hassle-free travel has been ongoing for years. But with the stressful year that was 2020, people are looking for more ways to maximize their wellness travel by making sure it is hassle-free.
Some of these hassle-free travel elements that people are looking for include online booking, online payments, quick and hassle-free rescheduling of trips.
Additionally, they are looking for destinations that require less transportation headaches. People are searching for trips that include fewer connecting flights, less crowded trains or buses, and more pre-arranged ground transportation.
Longer Vacation Time
The pandemic has forced us all to slow down.
Additionally, the way we work has changed forever. As more and more companies are opening up to going back to the office, a lot more are allowing their employees to continue working from home.
Even more so, more people prefer to work from their homefront. This gives them more flexibility to plan for longer vacation time.
This is why wellness centers are offering packages with discounts for a minimum stay of 10 to 15 (or even up to 20) days.
In conclusion
The world “wellness” has gained more gravity during 2020.
This has changed the way we travel and view vacation time tremendously. It’s not anymore a 3 to 4 trip around a foreign country to view tourist attractions. People are focusing more on gaining improved health and wellbeing during their wellness travel.
With personal health on everyone’s top priority, wellness travel is likely to be the biggest trend in travel this year and beyond.