Wellness means different things to different people, although we can probably agree that the pandemic has heightened overall awareness and concern for “wellness” in general. Wellness certainly applies to physical health, but also mental health, physical fitness, nutrition, sleep, and mindfulness. Wellness travel allows us to intentionally manage or improve any of these qualities of our personal welfare.

People are experiencing more stress, insomnia, depression, and other mental health issues than ever before. The good news is that society is making an effort to give mental health issues more recognition and less stigmatization. This opens the door for self-help in the form of wellness travel.

The Wellness Tourism Association defines Wellness Travel as Travel that allows the traveler to maintain, enhance or kick-start a healthy lifestyle, and support or increase one’s sense of wellbeing. To be clear, wellness travel is not the same as medical tourism, which is traveling to receive treatment for a disease or a condition by a doctor.

Two Types of Wellness Travelers

A “primary” wellness traveler is someone who chooses their destination and activities specifically for the purpose of advancing their personal wellness. The primary focus of their trip is centered around improving their lifestyle with healthy food, fitness activities, and nature.

A “secondary” wellness traveler also wishes to incorporate those self-care elements while traveling, but the main objective of the trip may be business or just taking a break from their routine. They integrate wellness activities into a trip with another principal purpose.

Can you tell which is which in the Blackberry Mountain photos above? Of course not. Most wellness resorts cater to both types of travelers with activities to please both motivations.

It’s a common misconception that wellness travelers are often perceived as wealthy female prima donnas who vacation at a spa solely for pampering and beauty treatments. Wellness travel is not only for women; men want to improve their self-care, too. And while wellness resorts may offer all kinds of spa treatments, that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

What are wellness travel activities?

The beauty of this travel genre is that it can include myriad activities, depending on exactly which element(s) of wellness you wish to focus on. Someone who is intentionally managing stress or change or loss in their life might practice art to express their feelings or try indigenous spiritual healing practices. Another person who wants to increase mindfulness could spend time in self-reflection, yoga, and nature experiences. One who struggles with weight problems can combine fitness activities with nutritional education and cooking classes to help them manage their relationship with food.

Wellness travel can include high-adrenaline adventures to bolster self-confidence like a ropes course or rock climbing. Or if a better sleep is needed, essential oils aromatherapy may be in order. You can visit a traditional Guatemalan sweat lodge, heated by volcano stones, or take a guided sound bathing experience. It may mean hiking, biking, or paddling in the great outdoors, or spending an hour in a virtual reality pod to see, hear, smell, and feel different virtual nature settings.

Wellness activities are increasingly tailor-made because the market needs are so diverse and still growing. The Global Wellness Institute forecasts wellness travel to increase by 6.5 percent per year. It is worth mentioning that in addition to an increased desire for self-care, concern for the environment and sustainability are key to wellness travel and lifestyle. Since nature plays an important part in a regenerative self-journey, wellness travelers also want to leave the places they visit better than when they arrived.  

The motivations for wellness travel can be as varied as the activities that are undertaken, but they all have one thing in common. Wellness travel is restorative for the mind, body, and spirit. To plan your customized experience, contact a Covington vacation advisor and begin your journey to wellness.