Wellness tourism is travel taken to maintain or improve wellbeing. The Global Wellness Institute (GWI) valued global wellness tourism spending at $894 billion in 2024, making it the fourth-largest of the 11 sectors in the $6.8 trillion wellness economy.
- 1Wellness tourism spending reached $894 billion in 2024.
- 2It grew 6.4% a year between 2019 and 2024.
- 3GWI forecasts 9.1% annual growth to 2029, faster than the wellness economy as a whole (7.6%).
Market size and growth
Wellness tourism grew by 6.4% a year between 2019 and 2024. GWI expects growth to accelerate to 9.1% a year between 2024 and 2029, which is faster than the 7.6% forecast for the wider wellness economy.
Global wellness tourism spending in 2024.
Forecast annual growth in wellness tourism, 2024 to 2029.
How it compares with related sectors
Spas and thermal and mineral springs are measured as separate sectors, but much of their spending comes from travellers.
| Sector | Size, 2024 | Annual growth, 2019–2024 | Forecast annual growth, 2024–2029 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wellness tourism | $894B | 6.4% | 9.1% |
| Spas | $157B | 6.2% | 7.7% |
| Thermal & mineral springs | $72B | 1.7% | 10.0% |
Demand for retreats
Retreats are one of the clearest signs of demand. In a survey of 1,040 U.S. travellers by BookRetreats.com, 64% said they already had a retreat planned in the next 12 months.
Wellness tourism in the wider economy
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Global wellness economy, 2024 | $6.8T |
| Wellness tourism, 2024 | $894B |
| Wellness economy forecast growth, 2024–2029 | 7.6% a year |
| Wellness tourism forecast growth, 2024–2029 | 9.1% a year |
Sources
- 01
- 02