New Wave Of Wellness Travellers
Wellness Tourism is the new buzz word in the world of travel, but what does it mean? Jolene Ogle chats with Wellness Tourism Summit founder Katherine Droga to find out more about this booming industry.
All summer long, my social media feed is filled with images of magical sunsets in exotic lands, yoga at sunrise and the glowing faces of people who have just climbed a mountain.
I’ve noticed fewer people are sharing photos of nights drinking and days spent poolside, but instead they are hiking, swimming and waking up for the sunrise.
I’m not imagining it – this form of Wellness Tourism is on the rise and from 19 March, hundreds of delegates will arrive in Noosa to learn all about this new wave of travel at Australia’s first-ever Wellness Tourism Industry Summit.
Summit founder and chair of the Global Wellness Institute (GWI) Wellness Tourism Initiative, Katherine Droga, will be there to reveal the latest research, consumer trends and best practice in wellness travel and wellness tourism.
She will be joined by more than 30 wellness travel experts who will share insights into the growing sector, including our very own Editor-in-Chief Deb Caruso who will speak about responsible food experiences and travel in her role as vice-president of Slow Food Noosa.
Katherine sums up Wellness Tourism as travel with the intent of kickstarting, maintaining or improving your own health and wellbeing.
“The types of experiences you seek for a wellness travel experience can be so broad. It could be immersing in nature, ensuring you eat amazing local fresh produce, digitally detoxing, or doing yoga, a hike or walk – the list is endless,” she explains.
“This type of travel is booming because the demands of daily life continue to increase for us all. With advances in technology we are so much more digitally connected and ‘on’ and that increases the pace and intensity of our modern lives. So, when we travel, the opportunity to look after ourselves inside and out becomes more and more important.”
Inspired by her own transformative wellness experiences, Katherine wants to share the benefits of wellness travel and inspire others to be open to travel experiences where you make meaningful, lasting changes in your life.
“The most transformational trip I had was when I ran a half marathon in Kenya to raise money for an amazing children’s foundation called the One Heart Foundation,” Katherine recalls.
“The trip stretched me out of my comfort zone so much I ended up returning home, leaving my job and starting a new career and joining the Board of the One Heart Foundation! This trip had all the ingredients of wellness, travel and transformation.”
As the first-ever Wellness Tourism Industry Summit in Australia, Katherine knew it had to be held in Noosa and is excited to offer delegates a Wake Up To Wellness program each day as well as a Refresh, Nourish and Discover breakout area with free facials and massages.
“Choosing Noosa to host the first Wellness Tourism Industry Summit was easy,” Katherine says.
“I wanted a location that oozed wellness from a nature perspective. A location with a Biosphere Reserve and so many national parks and clean beaches did just that.”
And we couldn’t agree more!
Event details
The Wellness Tourism Industry Summit will run from 19-20 March at the Sofitel Noosa Pacific Resort.
Want more?
Visit wellnesstourismsummit.com.au to learn more about this booming industry.
