{"id":12539,"date":"2023-12-18T17:31:02","date_gmt":"2023-12-18T17:31:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cooncampsprings.com\/?p=12539"},"modified":"2023-12-18T17:31:02","modified_gmt":"2023-12-18T17:31:02","slug":"five-wellness-trends-to-keep-an-eye-on-in-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cooncampsprings.com\/destinations\/five-wellness-trends-to-keep-an-eye-on-in-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Five wellness trends to keep an eye on in 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Dorine<\/p>\n

The Global Wellness Institute recently revealed that consumer spending on wellness continues to grow, with the global wellness economy projected to expand at an annual rate of 8.6%. By 2027, it is expected to reach $8.5 trillion with wellness tourism leading the charge. And this sector is outpacing general tourism growth, according to GWI. Wellness trips make up 7.8% of all tourism, yet they contribute a substantial 18.7% to total tourism expenditures — nearly one in every five travel dollars.<\/p>\n

Africa, with its rich natural landscapes, unique stargazing opportunities and nutritious cuisine, is ideally suited to capture a significant share of this wellness market. “Being in Africa lends itself to the concept of wellness unlike any other destination in the world,” said Wendy Walker, travel advisor and owner of Quintess Vacations, an affiliate of The Affluent Traveler Collection.<\/p>\n

Here are five African tourism wellness trends I expect to be very popular in 2024:<\/p>\n

1.Slow safaris:<\/strong> There is still no equivalent to “silence” on a safari, according to Jim Holden, the president of Holden Safaris. He said clients really resonate with the experience of being out on a game drive and stopping in the middle of nowhere, switching off the jeep’s engine, and just listening and reconnecting with nature.<\/p>\n

“Similarly, when I describe the sundowner tradition in Africa — of stopping at a stunning view or water hole to watch the sun set on another day and to relax with a favorite beverage, and to sit and reflect on life and the day’s activities — again, I see clients longing for such an experience,” he said. According to Holden, there seems to be a longing to just stop for a minute, stop the world spinning, stop endless conversation, stop the endless stimulation of social media. Just stop!<\/p>\n

2.Star bathing<\/strong>: This trend that has gained traction in the past year and is expected to grow in 2024. It began as a wellness technique to help insomniacs, allowing people to immerse themselves in the night sky in pursuit of a better headspace.<\/p>\n

The clear air and minimal artificial light found within the remote African wild spaces make for an ideal stargazing and star-bathing location, according to Rob More, founder and CEO of the More Family Collection. He said travelers are looking for those rare experiences to be part of the untouched wilderness, and a treehouse stay is as close as it gets. “Just you, the animals below, and the stars above,” he said.<\/p>\n

Sarah Jackson, Jacada’s Africa product manager, agreed, saying sleep-outs under the stars are a great way for travelers to become totally immersed in nature, allowing for utter relaxation and a sense of rejuvenation.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n