Wellness activities take prime importance in traveller itineraries, study finds

Travellers are now incorporating wellness activities into their travel plans, according to a study by travel website Travelzoo.Conducted in April with more than 10,000 members across different countries and regions, including the US, China, Australia, the UK ,and Hong Kong,  the survey defined wellness holidays as breaks tailored to improving mental or physical health such as yoga retreats, sport- or activity-led holidays. 70% of the respondents said would incorporate wellness activities into their travel plans for 2019.More than 90% of respondents believed that mental well-being is as important as physical well-being, if not more important. 83% of respondents agreed that taking a holiday or short break helps them to feel less stressed, regain higher productivity at work, and re-identify with their best selves.Germans lead the way in wellness breaks, with 64% of respondents having previously taken a wellness break, while the US is at the bottom of the table, with only 10% of American members having taken one.When it comes to taking a wellness holiday, the fear of having to pay a premium price was the major barrier preventing people from taking a wellness break. A majority of respondents perceived wellness trips as more expensive than other kinds of holidays, and are perceived to be designed for the wealthy.However, Travelzoo has advised that practical wellness travel offers at attractive prices are exactly what travellers need currently. A third of the respondents stated that they feel more stressed now than they did last year.