Wellness Tourism: what are the two types of Wellness Travellers?

Among the so-called category of Wellness Travellers, a subtle but significant division exists – the demarcation between primary and secondary wellness travellers. But what’s the difference, and what does each of these groups of customers care about? Let’s take a quick look at the difference between Primary Wellness Travellers and Secondary Wellness Travellers.

Who are Primary Wellness Travellers and what do they expect?

A primary wellness traveller is someone whose main purpose for travelling is to focus on their well-being, health, and/or self-improvement.  These guests prioritize wellness experiences during their trip, and will most likely choose destinations and accommodations that offer a wide range of wellness facilities and programs. As they are seeking to improve their overall health and wellness, they will likely engage in several wellness-related activities such as fitness classes or personal training, meditation, yoga and holistic therapies during their stay. They will expect to find healthy and nutritious food, will pay attention to where the ingredients are from, and might ask for vegetarian /vegan /gluten-free options. They are also the main audience for fitness and wellness retreats, such as fitness bootcamps, yoga or meditation retreats, and other thematic stays with facilitators and planned activities.  They tend to spend on average 158% more money on their trip than the traditional tourist – making them ideal customers for wellness-focused hotels & resorts.  woman in swimming pool relaxing wellness traveler wellness tourism

Who are Secondary Wellness Travellers and what do they expect? 

A secondary wellness traveller, on the other hand, is someone who incorporates wellness activities and experiences into their trip but won’t consider them the main focus of their travel. These travellers might be more interested in exploring a destination’s culture, history, or more touristic attractions, and will choose to include wellness activities as an added benefit to their trip. They are generally interested in maintaining a healthy lifestyle while travelling and will likely try one of the spa treatments and participate in a fitness or yoga class as part of their vacation. However, they won’t expect a full schedule of activities, nor demand perfectly balanced meals at the restaurant – they are first and foremost here to enjoy their trip and make the most of it.  That being said, they see wellness activities as a way to enhance their overall travel experience and relaxation, and will pay attention to wellness facilities and services offered to them.  In summary, the key difference between primary and secondary wellness travellers lies in their travel motivations and priorities.  Primary wellness travellers prioritize wellness as the main reason for their trip, while secondary wellness travellers incorporate wellness alongside other interests.   

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