For over a year the world quieted. Social engagements were non-existent, limited at best; and travel was limited to our own cities. And while we may have slowed down our movements, internal stressors were at an all-time high, with the threat of illness, adhering to ever-changing local and international guidelines and the inability to be with friends and family for support. So, as businesses reopen, border and regional restrictions are lifted and vaccinations allow for in-person socialization, the desire to travel and be with others is stronger than ever.

But what will those initial trips look like? It is no surprise that a priority of all travel will be health and wellness, primarily where COVID-19 is concerned, but also with our mental health, as we come to terms with the stressors of re-entering society.

The Wellness Tourism Association recently conducted a survey of more than 4,000 consumers from 48 countries around the world to assess their post-pandemic wellness travel motivations. Respondents were 54% female with 73% between the ages 26 to 74 (Millennials and Baby Boomers), with close to 78% indicating they already include wellness activities when they travel. The survey included 77 questions related to Wellness Vacation motivations, quality of life, subjective wellbeing, along with basic demographics.

To get a clear understanding of motivations for planning and booking a wellness vacation, the survey asked two main questions:

  1. When it comes time to book a Wellness Vacation/Holiday what would be your main motivations? The survey asked them to rate a series of 28 statements on a scale of 1 to 7 (1 representing Not Important and 7 representing Most Important).
  2. As a result of Covid19 affecting your life, what are some new motivations for going on a Wellness Vacation not mentioned in previous questions. This was an open-ended question that generated over 17,000 plus words from 2,435 individual respondents.

Notable survey results:

And from the open-ended question on motivations, the top four responses were:

Another important finding from the report was that over 24% indicated that wellness “could” or “will” be the focus of their next vacation.

And if you’re not quite ready to travel just yet, that’s okay too! You can create your own wellness retreat in your own city by booking a spa day using your WaySpa gift card. Perfect for massage, facials, mani/pedis and more – all you need for a day of rest and relaxation.