38 SPECIAL FEATURE
38 SPECIAL FEATURE Wellness & Medical Tourism SpaFinder reveals trends in Spa and Wellness business A conference at ITB Berlin yesterday focused the evolution of the spa industry around the world. Released in mid January, a study of SpaFinder Wellness analyses all factors influencing the most recent trends in tourism. Susie Ellis, president of SpaFinder Wellness and industry expert, said that when the company’s first trend report was issued a decade ago, the industry was in a different era. “A lot has happened in the world of spa and wellness these past 10 years,” said Ellis. “We think this forecast shows how far the industry – and consumer expectations – has evolved from pampered indulgence to personalised, functional health and wellness.” Each year the SpaFinder Wellness Trend Report is based on ongoing surveys with spa and wellness businesses and stakeholders around the world, thousands of travel agents and hundreds of thousands of consumers. According to the report the top 10 Spa And Wellness Trends are: • Healthy Hotels Established hotel chains are re-branding around wellness. • The Mindfulness Massage The Mindfulness Massage uses breath work and other techniques where attention is brought to every part of the body. • Earthing “Grounding” the body to the earth’s surface stabilises natural electrical rhythms and reduces diseasecausing inflammation. • Spa-Genomics Telomeres can – according to some studies – be repaired by stressreduction, exercise, sleep, healthier food and meditation. • Authentic Ayurveda and Other Ancient Revivals More spas are acquiring a distinctly ancient look, feel and language. • Colour Self-Expression Expect more body art on bodies of every gender and age, performed at new, haute “tattoo spas”. • Inclusive Wellness The industry will shift focus from pampering to delivering wellness to persons of all age and ability levels. • Label Conscious Fitness An explosion of “fitness labels” that distinguish products and programmes in a saturated market. • Men: From Barbers to “Brotox” More men are having more serious work done at medspas and plastic surgery offices. • Where the Jobs Are Spas cannot find enough people with the right skills to fill spa management or therapist jobs. SpaFinder Wellness is a wellness discovery engine Susie Ellis SpaFinder Wellness president that connects millions seeking a healthier, happier lifestyle with wellness providers around the globe. [by Luc citrinot] ITB BERLIN NEWS • Friday 8 th March 2013 www.itb-berlin-news.com
Wellness & Medical Tourism SPECIAL FEATURE 39 Wellness Tourism Sees Growth across ‘Wonderful Indonesia’ ITB Berlin Partner Country Indonesia has made wellness and medical tourism an essential part of its ‘Wonderful Indonesia in the World’s Heart of Wonders’ campaign. Bali’s Fivelements, Puri Ahimsa The COMO Shambhala Nearly 20% of Indonesia’s vast 410 sq m pavilion at ITB Berlin is dedicated to health and wellness, encompassing 90 tourism organisations from tour operators to hoteliers. Despite difficult global economic conditions, Indonesia looks forward to welcoming between 8.5 million to nine million tourists in 2013 – an increase of up to 12.5% from 2012 – and wellness and medical travel is a vital part of such strong tourism demand. The second Indonesian Wellness and Medical Tourism Fair held in Jakarta in February reflects the wellness boom, as does the Indonesian government’s recent commitment to further develop health tourism among public and private stakeholders to create the Indonesia Wellness and Healthcare Tourism working team. Wellness and spa resorts are expected to hugely boost health tourism industry in Indonesia, and two local spa treatment methods – Java spa and Bali spa – dominate the global industry. “I think we have to take a look at some of the ways our business in the health sector run in order to increase our market share,” Tourism and Creative Economy Minister, Mari Elka Pangestu, said last November of a tourism sector where global revenues rose 20-30% between 2010-2012, despite a recession across much of Europe. Healing Hotels Of The World (HHOTW), which is We want to show the world the richness of our tourism which brings together its nature and people in harmony exhibiting at ITB Berlin, is a rising brand that symbolises the importance of wellness tourism. Three of its 81 partner hotels that promise to “nourish your soul, fill you with vibrancy inside out and bring serene peace to your mind”, are located in Bali, Indonesia, the island synonymous with the best in traditional spa and massage treatments. The COMO Shambhala, for example, is a residential health retreat occupying 23 acres on a jungle-covered riverbank that includes The Source, a natural spring known locally for its healing properties. Inside its 31 suites, five residences and 10 villas, a team of consultants and specialists offer special diets, activities and health education. Meanwhile, Bali’s Fivelements, Puri Ahimsa – also part of the HHOTW portfolio – was awarded 2011 Destination of the Year and 2012 Eco-Spa of the Year at the AsiaSpa Awards. The healing-based sanctuary’s programming and activities – yoga, martial arts, meditation, blessing ceremonies – take place against a tropical river landscape, while the spa rituals are rich in tradition, using nature’s elements and local village techniques. The wellness sector in Indonesia is vast, with some 4,500 spa therapists having received certification from the Indonesian Education and Culture Ministry in 2012. Many of these wellness and health tourism professionals are also working in wellness centres across Europe, America and Asia, and some are on show at the ITB Berlin Indonesia pavilion. As Indonesian Director General of Tourism Marketing, Esthy Reko Astuty said at ITB Berlin on Wednesday, wellness is the perfect complement to Partner Country Indonesia’s Heart Matters theme. “We want to show the world the richness of our tourism which brings together its nature and people in harmony,” she said. [by nancy cockerell] Hall 26 C stand 313 ITB BERLIN NEWS • Friday 8 th March 2013
