As international tourism recovers from the Covid era and looks to rebuild, wellness tourism has emerged as the sector with most potential for growth. This is partly due to travellers’ focus on health in the post-pandemic era, but is also indicative of a more general shift towards sustainability in the tourism sector.
“I believe that the industry that is (most) resistant to crisis is the wellness industry,” explains Sandiaga Uno, Indonesia’s Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy. “Especially after the pandemic, health is everyone’s priority,” he added.
The minister believes that Indonesia has untapped potential in this particular area, given the country’s combination of unique natural wonders, growing infrastructure development and spiritual heritage. The Government of Indonesia sees wellness tourism as a reliable and potentially lucrative new market, which could be the key to the country’s continued recovery.
“Indonesia is ranked 17th as a fitness tourism destination market. We should be in the global top five,’ noted Sandiaga in a statement on 8 August. Speaking with local news outlet Kompas, he outlined his plans for the future, the opportunities that lie ahead and the scale of the task at hand. “This is a huge homework, because it turns out that wellness tourism creates 1.3 million new and quality jobs,” said the minister.
Sandiaga was referring to recent figures from the Global Wellness Institute, a non-profit organization with a mission ‘to empower fitness worldwide’, which placed Indonesia in 17th place on its index of destinations geared towards the fitness tourism market. Health tourism has emerged as one of the fastest growing industries in the wake of Covid, with travellers determined to take care of body, mind and spirit on their travels.
The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy is currently developing its 2022-2026 National Action Plan, which will form the blueprint for its actions in the years ahead. “We understand that wellness tourism can offer great performance and provide opportunities in the future,” said the ministry’s Deputy for Tourism Products and Event Organizers, Rizki Handayani, at the closing ceremony of the 2022 International Wellness Tourism Conference & Festival (IWTCF).
Held in Solo, Central Java, from 5-7 August, the IWTCF showcased Indonesia’s health and wellness tourism sector to an international audience. Hosted by the Indonesian government and the Indonesia Wellness Institute, the festival attracted over a thousand participants, along with 30 speakers from G20 member countries. Events included workshops on Indonesian herbal medicine, health foods, traditional therapies and wellness destinations around the archipelago.
With a solid base of international partners and local products, the Indonesian government is planning to boost investment in wellness tourism promotion and development in the months ahead. Looking to the future, Indonesian tourism appears to be in good shape.
