Thailand joins GWI’s Geography of Wellness platform

The Global Wellness Institute (GWI) has expanded its Geography of Wellness (GoW) platform to include details of Thailand’s wellness economy. 

Launched in May 2022, the GoW resource was designed to offer a clear picture of each country’s unique wellness assets and its position within the global wellness market. 

Brazil and Singapore were the first two countries added to the site when it went live. 

Now, thanks to a partnership with Thailand’s largest private healthcare network, Bangkok Dusit Medical Services (BDMS), the platform offers a deep dive into the country’s wellness economy.

Thailand’s wellness economy

According to GWI data, Thailand’s wellness market experienced a 29% growth between 2017 and 2019. This growth stagnated, however, when Covid-19 travel restrictions prevented wellness tourism to the country.

For context, GWI researchers say that the overall wellness economy experienced a 6.6% growth between 2017 and 2019, before falling by 11% in 2020. Today, Thailand ranks ninth in the Asia-Pacific wellness economy and ranks twentyfourth globally. 

“Of the 11 sectors that the GWI measures, one of the biggest to gain through the pandemic was the ‘Public Health, Prevention and Personalised Medicine’ sector, which grew 6.5% from 2019 to 2020. BDMS is honoured to have played a significant role in that growth,” said Dr Tanupol Virunhagarun, CEO of the BDMS Wellness Clinic. 

“We see our partnership with the GWI as a tangible way to give back to the local wellness community by fostering deeper knowledge about Thailand’s unique wellness assets and helping to create a roadmap to grow our country’s slice of the growing wellness economy,” he added.

GWI’s macro wellness economy market data, along with a deep dive into Thailand and the wider Asia-Pacific region, can be found the GWI’s new report: The Global Wellness Economy: Thailand, which is available as a free download, thanks to the BDMS partnership.

Unique offering

“Every destination has something unique to offer when it comes to wellness – both for locals and tourists alike,” said GWI chair and CEO Susie Ellis. 

“GWI’s Geography of Wellness platform was created to give countries a deeper understanding of their position within the $4.4 trillion wellness economy.

“This gives entrepreneurs, businesses, academics and government agencies a clear-eyed look at where short and long-term opportunities may lie. Our thanks go out to country partners, like BDMS Wellness Clinic, for recognising the value of these insights.”