In the midst of an uncertain economic and political climate, people in Thailand have various options for getting away from the frenetic pace of life in big cities and recharging their batteries. Recent findings from Booking.com's 2023 Travel Trends Forecast survey show a rise in the popularity of wellness travel among Thai tourists seeking mental and physical renewal.
The poll had 24,179 participants from 32 nations and territories, including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, Colombia, Singapore, Japan, South Korea and Thailand, who planned to travel for work or leisure in the next 12 to 24 months.
At least 77% of Thai travellers want to take a holiday to unwind and find a peaceful place to meditate so that they may discover pleasure and fulfilment on their own, while 65% search for vacations to improve their physical and mental well-being in innovative ways. Some also want to discover themselves while facing significant or transitional life events such as a trip during menopause or pregnancy. Meanwhile, 55% of travellers see travel as an opportunity to experiment with complementary and alternative treatment, using cannabis, ayahuasca or mushrooms for more intense spiritual experiences.
According to a study by the Global Wellness Institute, wellness tourism is growing at a faster rate than other wellness-related businesses as people prioritise self-care. This is an opportunity for the tourism sector to provide unique experiences that allow visitors to take time for themselves for physical and mental recovery during a trip.
Booking.com's data shows that in addition to positive feedback on accommodations for cleanliness and location, guests pay attention to how they feel throughout their stay, whether it's simply relaxing the body and mind from stress or getting inspired following a trip.
In order to satisfy the demands of urban tourists, entrepreneurs may provide brand-new, cutting-edge services. For instance, tourists can enter a forest and spend time healing through a programme of forest bathing. People who need sleep will benefit greatly from sleep tourism, while physical and mental counsellor services may be of interest to people who travel for a break.
Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, more than 10 million travellers travelled abroad for health-related treatments, according to a report compiled by Visa and Oxford Economics, which estimated that the global medical tourism industry could generate around US$100 billion.
Thailand received 66,492 medical tourists from China, England, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, India, Germany, Australia, Vietnam, the US and Qatar, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand's research. Thailand is one of the top 10 destinations for medical tourism, along with Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Turkey, Mexico, Israel, Costa Rica, India and Malaysia, with a growth rate of 13.9% and a value of 26.4 million baht. It has been recognised for its advanced treatments and anti-ageing programmes.
While people are becoming more aware of the need for work-life balance, Booking.com's study highlights a dilemma where travellers in the UK may feel compelled to pick between saving money and being cautious about sustainable travel options during uncertain economic conditions.
Insights from more than 33,000 travellers in 35 countries, including the US, Thailand, Canada, New Zealand and Spain, show that 72% of travellers believed that immediate action and more sustainable decisions are required to protect the environment for future generations.
Travellers are also becoming more responsible in response to increasing climate anxiety, making better decisions about their lodging and mode of transportation. At least 60% of respondents want to return from their travels feeling better about where they went. Today's travellers are seeking vacations that will have a positive impact and looking for reliable assurance at every stage of the journey.
For example, travellers can now easily filter their rental car search results to quickly find fully electric and hybrid cars across 110 countries for their next trip or choose one of over 500,000 more sustainable options for their next stay, no matter the accommodation type.
Another 60% of travellers would feel better about staying at a hotel if it had a sustainable certification or label, and 48% want to filter options the next time they book a reservation to only include hotels that have sustainable certifications.
The number of travellers who bring their regular routines with them on vacation has significantly increased over the past year. Today, 56% of tourists bring their own reusable water bottles, 75% utilise reusable shopping bags, and 77% recycle rubbish. In addition, 76% of visitors turn off the lights and appliances in their lodging when they leave, and 47% recycle their waste these days.
In light of the unstable economy and climate change, our health is crucial, but protecting the planet is a duty.
Pattarawadee Saengmanee is a feature writer for the Life section of the Bangkok Post.