Wellness travel has evolved beyond the hotel

Having escaped the confines of the spa, wellness now influences the travel experience far and wide, offering new ways to discover the world

The number of people concerned about their health and wellbeing has rocketed since the pandemic began. The stats are legion but among them, 80% of those surveyed by Public Health England in 2020 — in the first year of Covid-19 — reported wanting to change their lifestyle in 2021 to become healthier. Meanwhile, an Ipsos study in 2021 noted that 62% of Americans believe health is more important to them than before the pandemic. And this has, as countless more reports will attest, changed the way many of us want to travel.

Key takeaways

• Trends include travel to reconnect - with friends, family, partners or children - and a growing focus on sleep wellness;
• The rise in apps like Calm and Headspace permeating travel products, providing flyers the ability to plug in and meditate while in flight’ - not to mention the growing number of sleep retreats aimed at aiding insomniacs;
• Health and wellness technology is moving forward at a very fast pace and creating exciting new possibilities that we’re exploring, from sleep therapy and guided meditation to dynamic bathing, cryotherapy and infrared saunas.

Get the full story at National Geographic