Spa industry on growth spurt in MENA region

The spa industry in the MENA (Middle East North Africa) region is witnessing an explosive 15.4 percent yearly growth and is now valued at $2.8 billion, according to recently revealed statistics from the Global Wellness Institute (GWI).

It notes that with hotels/resorts being built at a breakneck pace and spas now seen as a ‘must’ in properties from mid-price up, MENA’s spa industry is fast catching up to its hyper-developed hospitality market. Spa locations jumped from 4,465 in 2015 to 6,057 in 2017 while spa revenues grew from $2.1 billion to $2.8 billion.

The UAE is the overwhelming leader (ranking among the top 20 spa markets in the world) with $873 million in yearly spa revenues, followed by Saudi Arabia ($347 million) and Morocco ($295 million).

According to the GWI, wellness trips across MENA (domestic and inbound combined) grew from 8.5 million in 2015 to 11 million in 2017. Wellness tourism revenues jumped from $8.3 billion in 2015 to $11 billion in 2017 and will grow another 75 percent to reach $18.7 billion by 2022.

“MENA’s recent wellness tourism revenue growth rate of 13.3 percent annually is more than double the global average (6.5 percent). And, MENA wellness travelers are high spenders: spending 44 percent more on inbound wellness trips ($1,305) than the average traveler to the region, while domestic wellness trips command a 65 percent premium ($599),” reads the GWI report.

For more information click here.