GWI launches snapshot of spa industry from 2007 to 2027

The Global Wellness Institute (GWI) has released new data showing a snapshot of the spa industry from 2007 until today, with a forecast through to 2027.

The GWI’s economists published the first global spa economy study back in 2008. Since then, the institute’s research has expanded to encompass 11 industry sectors within global wellness economy.

The organisation has now revealed a snapshot of its full time-series dataset, from 2007 to 2022, with projections forward to 2027.

The data reveals that while the spa industry was hit hard by the pandemic, its long-term growth trajectory is robust.

From 2007 to 2019, spa industry revenues were growing at 7.7% annually. This is more than double the rate of global GDP growth during the same time period.

The number of spas operating around the world expanded by 2.3 times from 2007 to 2019 but, in 2020, spa revenues fell by 39% globally.

The number of spas was also hit hard by the pandemic, falling by more than 5,600.

A resurgence for spa

In 2021 and 2022 spa revenues slowly recovered, but remained below their pre-pandemic peak of $113.8 billion.

As of 2022, the number of spa businesses reached a new peak and exceeded pre-pandemic figures with 181,175 spas across 217 countries.

The projected annual growth rate from 2022 to 2027 is 8.3%. In autumn of 2023, the GWI projected that the spa industry would exceed its pre-pandemic levels by the end of last year.

These figures will be updated in the new Global Wellness Economy Monitor in autumn 2024.

Spa industry data collection

The GWI takes a multifaceted approach to collecting spa data, measuring seven categories of spas, with each category requiring a separate data collection method.

For destination spas and health resorts, thermal/mineral springs spas and cruise ship spas, the GWI’s research team has compiled databases that count the spas located in 218 countries and territories.

Other spa categories, such as including day/club/salon spas, hotel/resort spas and medical spas are recorded using two methods.

In larger countries, the GWI has developed an econometric model to help make estimates for each spa segment, based on input factors such as population, income level and tourism sector development.

In smaller countries, the GWI maintains maintain a database that counts spas in these categories.

The GWI’s wellness economy figures are updated and released every two to three years in its flagship publication, the Global Wellness Economy Monitor.

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