30 Mar Wellness Tourism – The Healthy Niche
Holistic Health, wellness and mindfulness are increasingly being found at the core of the Modern Traveller’s holiday itinerary. But what has caused this surge in demand and where can you find your perfect retreat?
The turbulent years of 2020-2021 were a shock to mankind all across the globe. Today, it would be difficult to find someone who has emerged through the past two years without any increased consciousness of long term health benefits. The effect has also ricocheted on the travel industry, which in itself has been going through an evolution. The rising waves of Wellness Retreats in India can’t be solely attributed to COVID-19 as it’s demand was already seen, however post-pandemic it seems to have heaved ten-fold.
The necessity to travel for a healthy mind and body
The working man today finds his life to be exceedingly stressful and sedimentary with various psychological and physiological ailments that accompany it. That is further compounded by the idea that to succeed we must be the best version of ourselves and thus, our mind, body and environment must remain in balance.
Wellness Travel offers the chance to rejuvenate and recharge in the midst of nature of your preference. There is a certain decadence in waking up to the sound of the waves to a nutrient rich meal prepared for your body type, meditating at the top of a mountain amidst fresh air or perhaps even reaching specific goals – may it be to look younger, loose weight, de-stress or so on. One thing remains clear, post your retreat you will easily find a divide of before and after.
Wellness Tourism is not Medical Tourism
When we say wellness tourism it can’t be confused with medical tourism. Medical Tourism is more regulated, more structured and uses terms like doctors, patients etc. It remains more for people who has pre-existing conditions and would want targeted treatments the same. Wellness Tourism is more based on locations, is experience centric and focuses on the overall mental and physical wellbeing of the person. To lose a lot of weight in few days you would go for medical tourism but to manage weight you would go for wellness tourism.
Wellness Tourism includes a variety of things. There are check-ups, diagnostics from specialists and nutritionists. Then there is fitness which includes gyms, hikes, walks, biking etc. It also includes personal and spiritual growth through music, prayers, yoga etc. Finally, there is spa and beauty element which includes massage, facials, body treatments and so on. The objective is not just immediate difference but to spearhead a holistic lifestyle change that lasts long after the retreat is over.
You can go on your wellness journey at the end of your lengthy travel itinerary
Now comes the important question – the where and when of it. Wellness Retreats are located all around the world today. In fact, it will be more difficult to find a country that doesn’t have at least a few acclaimed wellness resorts. When you plan Holiday in Europe and for instance it ends in Switzerland – a good Travel Agency will suggest Burgenstock, Chenot Palace, Grand Resort Bad Ragaz to name just a few. Similarly, in Austria you will find Vivamer, in Germany there is Schloss Elmau etc. After skipping through various countries, eating every possible dish, travelling for hours and languishing in sheer decadence perhaps a few days in a wellness resort are how you must end your holiday. It guarantees you are not more tired after your journey than when you began.
Alternatively, there always remains the option of simply going somewhere for the retreat itself. When the idea is to bring about a change you would want to dedicate atleast a week to it if not more. In India, itself you will today find some of the world’s best wellness retreats that would be ideal for you from Ananda and Vana for the Himalayan escapes to Atmantan and Hilton Shilom in West to SwaSwara and Shreyas Retreat in the South. If you are more of a Sea person like me then head over to Shivasom or Soneva Kiri in Thailand or one of the numerous resorts in Maldives or Bali. There remains a plethora of options in each continent of the globe, each different than the other – either find your favourite or try them all!
So go beyond cities, accommodations and sightseeing choose to enhance your well-being on the go too!