How Wellness Tourism Became a Trillion-Dollar Industry

We're currently obsessed with wellness travel, and judging by the explosion of new offerings and concepts popping up worldwide, we're not alone.

The wellness tourism industry is now worth over $1 trillion. It seems like every month we learn about another operator going all-in on wellness—cryotherapy chambers, IV vitamin drips, genetic testing, biomarker analysis. 

(we've moved far beyond yoga mats and meditation cushions)

Many of the newest hospitality concepts are being built with wellness as a core offering.

But 100 years ago, "wellness travel" meant simply soaking in mineral springs and hoping for a miracle cure. Today, guests are paying $10,000+ per week for cutting-edge medical technology at luxury resorts.

Same goal, wildly different methods.

How did we get here?

Originally, wellness wasn't leisure at all. 

People traveled for medical necessity–seeking cures for tuberculosis, arthritis, and other ailments. Mineral springs and thermal baths were prescribed by doctors, not booked for vacation.

The shift from medical treatment to leisure experience began in the 1920s and took a century to evolve into today's high-tech wellness tourism industry.

1920s: The Birth of Spa Leisure

After World War I, everything changed. 

Thermal springs shifted from "medical cures" to luxury escapes as the growing middle class gained disposable income and leisure time.

Hotels like Safety Harbor Resort in Florida turned mineral baths into weekend getaways.

Health treatments became leisure experiences for the first time and wellness tourism was officially born.

1930s: Doctor-Prescribed Escapes

The 1930s brought a fascinating blend of medical authority and hospitality glamour. 

Properties like the Baker Hotel in Mineral Wells, Texas became legendary for combining luxury accommodations with physician-prescribed regimens.

Celebrities flocked there for medical supervision wrapped in resort-style comfort.

This era established the template of medicine meeting hospitality that we still see today.

1940s: Climate as Medicine

Post-war America embraced the concept that the environment itself could be therapeutic. 

Fresh air, sunlight, and natural settings became prescribed treatments for everything from depression to respiratory ailments.

Banff Springs Hotel in Canada capitalized on this "climate therapy" trend, becoming internationally known for its hot springs and mountain air.

Nature-immersed healing was becoming mainstream.

1950s: The Science Revolution

Post-war optimism brought an obsession with "scientific" health programs that promised measurable results. 

Saratoga Spa State Park transformed from a simple mineral bath destination into a medical-wellness facility offering diet-based therapies, vitamin regimens, and supervised medical testing.

This was the first time wellness travel offered data-backed approaches rather than just relaxation.

Guests started looking for measurable results.

1960s: Eastern Wisdom Arrives

The Beatles brought meditation to the West, and everything changed again. 

Esalen Institute in Big Sur pioneered yoga and mind-body retreats that combined Eastern spiritual practices with Western psychology.

Wellness expanded beyond physical health to spiritual transformation.

The retreat model focused on personal growth and consciousness expansion was born.

1970s: Fitness Goes Mainstream

The jogging revolution hit resort destinations hard. 

Palm Springs became the epicenter of active wellness escapes as hotels added fitness classes and structured exercise programs.

This marked a fundamental shift—guests were no longer passive recipients of treatments but active participants.

The era of wellness as something you do, not something done to you, had begun.

1980s: Aerobics and Day Spas Boom

The rise of Jane Fonda workouts brought wellness to the masses. 

Golden Door Spa became the celebrity wellness retreat, combining structured fitness programs with luxury spa treatments in a way that made wellness glamorous.

Short wellness breaks replaced long health retreats as busy professionals sought weekend warrior experiences.

This decade commercialized wellness and made it accessible to a broader audience.

1990s: Holistic Wellness Emerges

"Wellness tourism" became an official industry term as resorts began integrating spa treatments, fitness classes, meditation, and medical testing into comprehensive programs.

Properties like Ananda in the Himalayas pioneered week-long integrated wellness experiences.

The industry had found its formula for comprehensive wellness travel.

2000s: Luxury Wellness Resorts Rise

Wellness travel became ultra-personalized and luxurious. 

Properties like Chiva-Som in Thailand pioneered bespoke retreats that attracted celebrities, royals, and ultra-high-net-worth individuals seeking privacy and customization.

These resorts proved that guests would pay premium prices for exclusive, tailored experiences.

Wellness had officially become a status symbol.

The Modern Era: Biohacking and Beyond

Today's wellness resorts look more like medical facilities than traditional spas. 

Properties like Chenot Palace Weggis in Switzerland charge $8,000-$11,000 per person for week-long programs featuring anti-gravity treadmills, cryochambers at -160°F, and comprehensive biomarker screening.

Wellness travel has always followed the same evolution: 

→ New health trend emerges

→ Early adopters create destinations around it

→ Luxury hospitality scales it to the masses

From mineral baths to biohacking chambers, the core promise remains the same–leave feeling better than when you arrived.

What do you think the next wave of wellness will be?