Africa wants to highlight the ‘smart’ in wellness. And in 2020 we look at technology, businesses, institutions and government planning, for the next decade. How do we improve the scene?
Join us and connect with international thought leaders to discuss how smart wellness regions growth will influence policies, cities and communities, our industry and our planet. With the signed Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) treaty to create the world’s largest single market estimates, implementing AfCFTA will lead to around a 60% boost in intra-African trade by 2022.

New frontiers

The value of the global wellness industry has risen to $4.5 trillion. Additional research predicts the market will reach $1.1 trillion+ by 2023. “This new global data stream is meant to encourage business leaders and policymakers to see physical activity as a comprehensive sector, and one that’s critical in supporting lifestyles that are crucial to good health,” noted Ophelia Yeung, GWI senior researcher and report co-author.
From 2015 to 2017 the wellness tourism market grew from $563bn to $639bn, or 6.5% annually – more than twice as fast as the growth of tourism overall, according to GWI. By 2022, GWI predicts the market will reach a whopping $919bn – representing 18% of all global tourism – with well over a billion individual wellness trips to take place around the globe. Anne Dimon, president of the Wellness Tourism Association, adds that while wellness travellers can be anyone, the bulk tend to be higher-educated women between ages 30 and 60.
But according to GWI, wellness tourism today is about much more than the destination or activities – it is an extension of the very values and lifestyle of the traveller.
“All around the world, more people are incorporating elements of health, prevention, self-actualisation, experience and mindfulness into their daily lives,” its 2018 report says. “It is not a surprise that people now expect to continue their healthy lifestyles and wellness routines when they are away from home.”

Introducing Spa & Wellness Association of Africa 2020

One of SWAA’s main objectives is to provide a platform for the growth of the spa and wellness industry in Africa through education and standards. In order to achieve this, we host the only annual association’s conference on the continent. This event brings together stakeholders from the African wellness industry but also international speakers and brands to share their experiences.

This year’s conference focus

The conference will be an opportunity for practitioners from wellness research, private business in fitness, cosmetics, hospitality, public administration in wellness tourism, education, health and environment, to assess what has already been achieved through national/regional innovation strategies, to exchange experience and reflect on an effective transformation through smart wellness regions from 2020-2030 period.“