Annual MENA wellness growth

 The Global Wellness Institute has released new data on wellness travel in the Middle East-North Africa region.

MENA wellness tourism is growing 6%, and spa revenues 10%, annually –with more than two-thirds of wellness travel spend coming from inbound tourists.

Despite security concerns for Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia, MENA’s wellness tourism revenue grew annually from 2013-2015 (from $7.3 billion to $8.3 billion).

MENA’s spa market grew even faster: annual revenues jumped from $1.7 billion to $2.1 billion.

Globally 33% of wellness travel revenues come from inbound tourists, but in MENA, the inbound spend accounts for 68% of the market.

The UAE remains the regional powerhouse, with a wellness tourism market ($2.7 billion) twice as big as its closest competitors, Morocco ($1.5 billion) and Israel – and a spa market three times larger ($742 million) than second placed, Saudi Arabia ($255 million). Other growth markets include Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar.

Trends to watch include-

  • Move from generic luxury to indigenous wellness experiences

Wellness communities that are part hospitality, and part wellness residence

  • Luxury wellness will include professionals trained in lifestyle change, stress reduction, mental wellness and indigenous traditions/medicines plus a focus on local offerings
  • Medical wellness and cosmetic surgery plus wellness concept
  • Hot natural thermal/mineral springs
  • Domestic wellness travel growth.                                                                                                                                         IMTJ

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