News

Health and wellness tourism is one of the biggest growing areas in tourism.

Health spas are growing in popularity with holidaymakers either as the sole reason for a break or as feature of hotels that travellers are increasingly demanding.

As a result the World Travel Market 2006 is set to focus on spas.

Fiona Jeffery, managing director of World Travel Market, said: 'This is no longer the sole domain of well-heeled women with nothing else to do.

'Spas in particular are becoming extremely relevant to today's traveller and are becoming more affordable.'

'People want look and feel better, lose weight, slow the effects of aging, relieve pain and discomfort, manage stress and use vitamins, natural minerals and treatments to improve their health,' she added.

To aid travellers pick a spa, the British International Spa Association (BISA) is set to launch an international spa accreditation scheme.

Dr Bruce Osborne, BISA Council member, said: 'Spas are now a key consideration for many holidaymakers because they offer a relaxation and health component to the traditional holiday or break.

'For many professional and affluent holidaymakers the combination of accommodation and health enables the limited time available for a break to be utilised to maximum effect. As a result we have seen the spa industry worldwide develop at an exponential rate in recent years.'


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