How popular are wellness retreats?
Wellness retreats are quite popular — the demand is growing quickly, and the numbers show significant increases in both people going on wellness trips and the money spent. Here are some key stats and trends to help you see how popular they are and why this might matter for your business:
📊 Recent Data & Trends
Wellness Tourism Size & Growth
The global wellness tourism market was about US$720.4 billion in 2019 and dropped during the pandemic, but has since been recovering strongly. (Global Wellness Institute)
In 2022 there were about 819 million wellness trips (both domestic + international) globally. (Global Wellness Institute)
Wellness tourism represented ~7.8% of all tourism trips in 2022, and about 18.7% of all tourism spending — so while it’s a minority of trips, it accounts for a large portion of travel dollars. (Global Wellness Institute)
Growth Forecasts
Wellness tourism spending is projected to rise fast. For example, from ~US$651 billion in 2022 to over US$1 trillion by 2024, and continuing to grow to ~US$1.4 trillion by 2027. (Global Wellness Institute)
The market for wellness retreats specifically was valued at US$180.5 billion in 2022, expected to reach about US$363.9 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of ~7.4%. (GlobeNewswire)
Reasons Behind the Popularity
Rising stress and anxiety in daily life, especially after global events like the pandemic. Many people are seeking digital detox, peace, and self-care. (GlobeNewswire)
Growing awareness of holistic health — not just fixing illness, but supporting mental, emotional, spiritual wellness as well. (HTF MI)
Higher disposable incomes and more travel demand, especially from emerging markets. (Global Wellness Institute)
🔍 What This Means in Practice
More people are willing to pay a premium for retreats that offer high-quality experiences (good food, beautiful locations, professional guidance).
Retreats with unique features — e.g. nature immersion, digital detox, wellness + luxury, personalized wellness plans — tend to be more in demand.
Even weekend or short-duration retreats are becoming more popular, especially for people who can’t take long breaks.
There’s also growth in “secondary wellness travelers” — people whose main purpose for travel isn’t wellness, but who include wellness experiences in their trips. (Global Wellness Institute)
💡 Implications for a Business Like Yours
Since demand is increasing, there’s an opportunity to create or promote retreats that align with what people want (stress relief, mental health, self-care).
Differentiation matters: offering unique retreats (e.g. specialized themes, boutique experiences) can help you stand out.
Marketing should focus on benefits people care about — rest, recovery, emotional well-being, reset.
Partnerships (with wellness influencers, travel agents, retreat directories) can help you reach people who are already interested.