What do you think of when you hear wellness tourism? A lot of us may think it’s a trip to a spa or a soak in a hotel room tub, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Wellness tourism is one of the fastest-growing trends in tourism, according to the Global Wellness Institute, who report that $651-billion was spent on it in 2022 alone. That number is expected to grow by 16.6% every year, reaching $1.4-trillion in 2027.
Travelers who are looking for a more holistic approach to wellness or want to focus on spiritual wellness are willing to travel around the world to get the treatments and experience they’re looking for. These are some of the most out-of-the box wellness trends and experiences offered this year.
- Tandava Retreat Center in Tepoztlan, Mexico - Sweaty ayahuasca tents are out and MeO-DMT is in. It’s the substance found in toads, also called O-methyl-bufotenin, that’s used medicinally at this retreat in Mexico. They claim the psychedelic can help you “regain control over your own mind, inspire a new way of experiencing your life and deepen self connection” with retreat prices starting at $2,995.
- Laughter yoga in Bali, Indonesia - It may sound laughable, but you can visit Bali’s Amankila Aman resort to have a yoga guru guide you through an hour-long laughter yoga session on the beach. The benefits reportedly include enhanced mood, reduced stress and improved sleep.
- Lunar healing with Larimar gemstone, Dominican Republic - The Amanera Aman resort offers “lunar journey therapies” that feature Larimar, a blue gemstone. It’s believed to encourage physical and emotional healing and have connections to the moon and is used here, along with a palo santo smudging ceremony.
- Hilton London Bankside’s fully vegan room - This U.K. hotel offers the first fully vegan room that includes a check-in at a plant-based desk, a plastic-free keycard, a vegan pillow menu with different pillow options, faux leather, plant-based toiletries, and the housekeeping staff even swaps their cleaning products for eco-friendly ones.
- Desert bathing - At Arizona’s Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale, guests can enjoy desert bathing, where they engage the five senses in nature while doing yoga, practicing mindfulness and setting intentions.
Source: NY Post
Scott's Thoughts:
- Laughter yoga sounds pretty fun, especially in Bali, but that’s a hard pass on the hallucinogens!
- Most of this just sounds like a dumb way for people to blow their money!
- I am not really into wellness treatment. I have paid for one massage in my lifetime.