The Global Wellness Summit in St Andrews recently highlighted the importance of water in the wellness industry, which is currently worth nearly £5 trillion globally. However, as the industry grows, it also contributes to high resource consumption and a significant planetary footprint. Hydrotherapy, bathhouses, swimming in nature, and hot springs were identified as major trends, but concerns were raised about the impact of spas and tourism on the global water crisis.
Advocates for wild swimming, a low-impact water activity, shared their insights on the rise of outdoor swimming in Scotland and the UK. Key takeaways from the summit included the global popularity of wild swimming, the focus on longevity and biohacking, the effectiveness of the Wim Hof method, the importance of social and communal wellness, and the urgent need to address water use in the industry.
With a growing global water crisis, there is a push for more sustainable practices in wellness tourism. Initiatives like wastewater treatment for reuse and regenerative travel are gaining attention as the industry seeks to minimize its environmental impact. Additionally, the use of AI in wellness, the importance of disconnecting from screens, and efforts to democratize wellness by making it more accessible to the general population were discussed at the summit.
Women are also challenging themselves in nature and the outdoors, with various organizations promoting health and wellness activities for women. The future of wellness tourism is expected to focus on hot springs, as governments and private developers invest in thermal areas to cater to the growing interest in nature-based experiences and combat overtourism.
Overall, the summit highlighted the need for the wellness industry to adopt more sustainable and inclusive practices to address the growing global challenges while promoting health and well-being for all.
