Surge in wellness travel pushes segment into mainstream

Wellness tourism in India, once considered a niche category, is expanding as hotels across the country are banking on wellness-focused bookings — from basic yoga classes to curated nature immersions.

- ROSHNI SHEKHAR

This has led to some hotels reporting up to 15 percent surge in room rates this year compared to last year.

While wellness-related facilities and activities used to be considered luxury offerings, hospitality industry executives note that it has now become a mainstream expectation among guests.

This reflects the changing tourist behaviour among Indian travellers opting for preventive personal care. It resulted in an increase in the average room rate (ARR) to 10-15 percent and occupancy of hotels touched 75 to 85 percent during peak travel seasons, said Aashish Gupta, consulting chief executive officer (CEO), Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism and Hospitality (FAITH).

According to the Indian Association of Travel Operators (IATO), this year has seen a 15-20 per cent rise in hotels curating specialised wellness offerings from yoga pavilions and ayurveda therapies to nutrition-based menus and holistic healing experiences. This is also reshaping the hospitality landscape in destinations like Rishikesh, Kerala, Coorg, and Goa.

“Wellness-led destinations have seen room rates rise by nearly 12-15 per cent and occupancies have improved by around 10 per cent this year,” said Ravi Gosain, president, IATO.