Wellness Tourism Association Survey Reveals Top Wellness Vacation Wants & Motivations

To aid in support and growth of wellness tourism, survey key findings reveal “main goal,” “perfect length of stay,” and “must have” for a Wellness Vacation

September 26, 2018 (Denver)– The Wellness Tourism Association(WTA), a Denver-based non-profit organization creating networking, educational and marketing opportunities for the wellness tourism industry, got the first meeting of its membership off to an informative start with the release of results from its first Wellness Travel Survey focused on what consumers desire from Wellness Vacations.

A total of 2,566 respondents participated in the just under eight-month long, online consumer survey. Among key findings unveiled at the WTA’s inaugural Meeting of Members, September 23-24 at the historic Le Monastère des Augustine in the heart of Quebec City:

  • Just under half of survey respondents (44.93%) identified a “general, overall reboot”as their main goal for a Wellness Vacation
  • Half of respondents (49.22%) would be willing to spend less than $2,000on a five-day all-inclusive (not including transportation) Wellness Vacation, while close to the same (44.86%) would be willing to spend between$2,500 and $5,000
  • A vast majority (84.57%) cited “a variety of healthy food options”as a “must have” for their personal Wellness Vacation, followed closely by “accessible nature”(72.9%), “access to spa treatments”(69.91%) and “a wide range of scheduled fitness activities”(68.86%)
  • Sizing up their “perfect length of stay”for a Wellness Vacation, 48.75% of respondents chose “3 to 5 nights,”while 33.63% chose “7 nights”
  • When asked with “whom do you/would you prefer to travel on a Wellness Vacation?”, 24.43% responded “solo to meet up with the like minded,”followed closely by “with a significant other”(24.28%) and “solo”(22.72%)
  • As for the type of Wellness Vacation they “do” or “would” prefer, nearly 8 in 10 (76.73%) selected “a self-guided program” with opportunity to pick and choose from a menu of options,” versus just over 2 in 10 (23.27%) who desired “a structured program”guided by hosts and experts.

Methodology

The WTA’s online survey, conducted mid-January to end of August, 2018, drew from 2,566 respondents, 95% from the U.S. and Canada. The survey included 16 questions related to demographics as well as to Wellness Vacations. Respondents were overwhelmingly female (over 92%), and varied in age from 35 to 55 (46.57%) and over 55 (43.26%), with the remainder under 35 years.

The survey was promoted with the help of WTA members, and all respondents had the opportunity to win a $2,000 gift certificate redeemable on their next Wellness Vacation with any participating member. And the winner? Sharon Dickson of Ottawa, Ontario, who was selected at random and has chosen to redeem her reward at Grail Springs Retreat Centre for Well Beingin Bancroft, Ontario.

For more information on the Wellness Tourism Association, please visit www.wellnesstourismassociation.org   Travel to Wellness is a co-founder of the Wellness Tourism Association.