Riding the wave of wellness tourism

Winnie Makena  Imagine sleeping at a hotel that provides complimentary walking, jogging and hiking tours, some showcasing a city’s best-loved landmarks. With more people finding the importance of diet, fitness and health, vibrant new business sectors, such as wellness tourism, are being powered.

 The US-based non-profit Global Wellness Institute defines wellness tourism as
“travel associated with the pursuit of maintaining or enhancing one’s personal well-being”.

Kenya is currently in fifth place in Africa behind Mauritius, South Africa, Tunisia and Morocco in the field of care and welfare, and is a fast growing travel segment.

So notable is wellness tourism, that it accounts for about six per cent of the industry.