Mandarin Oriental, Downtown Dubai
The pandemic sparked a seemingly permanent shift: people demanding more wellness in travel. Global Wellness Institute research reveals that the wellness tourism, spa and hot springs markets clocked roughly 30% growth in 2023, representing by far the fastest growth rates for any wellness sectors. The GWI projects that the global wellness tourism market will reach $1.35 trillion by 2028.
As generational, income and gender divides continue to grow in culture and in wellness, travellers’ preferences are becoming more specific, complex and even contradictory. For example, we are witnessing an unprecedented surge in medical-wellness and longevity destinations with full menus of doctors and diagnostics, but also a rising hunger for destinations focused on mental and emotional wellness, deep nature, spirituality, and planetary health.
The Global Wellness Summit™ (GWS), the foremost gathering of leaders in the $6.3 trillion global wellness economy, announced that a hot topic at its conference, being held in Dubai from November 18 to 21, will be the shifting consumer desires and the best new ideas emerging in the wellness tourism space.
The Summit will bring together executives from the largest brands in wellness travel and hospitality, along with investors and academics who study the space, to debate where the future is headed and to answer the questions: “What are the big shifts and big ideas?”
Keynotes will also explore the future of the explosive $19 billion Middle East wellness tourism market, by far the biggest growth leader worldwide, at 12% annually from 2019 to 2023.
“In the last few years, the wellness travel market has not only clocked eye-opening growth, but it has also changed significantly, with far more diverse, specific and sophisticated offerings,” said Susie Ellis, GWS chair and CEO. “The caliber of speakers joining us in Dubai––from the leaders of companies that pioneered the space to executives creating ‘startup’ concepts––underscores just how much momentum there is for wellness tourism, and I expect conversations that will inspire and challenge the industry.”
The Summit takes place at the brand-new Mandarin Oriental Downtown Dubai. The complete list of speakers can be found here.
Registration is open—apply now, as the Summit is close to selling out.
