Thank you for your interest in the WTA!  As the tourism industry recovers and the wellness sector continues to grow stronger, there has never been a better time to embrace wellness tourism and wellness travel.

Incorporated as a not-for-profit in the United States of America, and launched in January 2018, the Wellness Tourism Association (WTA) is a global network for qualifying DMOs, hotels/resorts/retreats, tour operators, travel advisors, wellness practitioners, media, partners and others in the global wellness tourism industry.  Check out the WTA Directory.

The vision of the WTA is to be the voice of the industry. We are one community, working together to support the sustainable future of wellness tourism for the global good.  If you’d like to be considered for membership, you can apply here 

Here are a couple of comments from our members:

From day one, the Wellness Tourism Association has been an incredibly helpful resource for our business. The ability to connect with others in the industry, to share best practices and to have access to the resources offered has been valuable, far beyond what we’ve paid in membership dues. This is not an organization that will collect your dues with little return. The WTA is one of the best investments we’ve made as a business, with far-reaching benefits that come with being part of this broad network. Even more valuable was the support we received during the COVID pandemic. To support its members, the WTA conducted a Wellness Travel Consumer survey that helped us see what consumers were seeking, what their fears were, and most importantly, when they’d be likely to travel again. We used the data collected from that survey in every corner of our marketing efforts. Anne Dimon and her team are helpful and always available for help with brainstorming, and for best practices that have worked for others in the industry. She once told me to consider her part of our Public Relations team, and she meant it!

Rachael Colacino, M.B.A.
Director, Marketing and Communications,
Skyterra Wellness

Richmond Nua has been a member of the WTA since 2018 and we find the association most useful for networking, industry and consumer research, helping promote and market us international, and giving us the opportunity to learn about new wellness-focused ideas.  We also appreciate being part of an organization that will shape the future of wellness tourism.

Hakan Balcan
General Manager
Richmond Nua

Welcome to the Wellness Tourism Association (WTA). This association has been created to offer anyone connected to, or interested in, any aspect of wellness tourism an opportunity to become a member and, subsequently, have a voice in the industry, along with the opportunity to help shape its future and sustainability.

To that end we have introduced criteria for the various categories and forming the very basis of industry standards. We have also introduced the industry’s first Glossary of industry terms, as definitions are an effective way to create standards and credibility in a field that is global, broad and attractive to many operators and companies seeking a competitive edge.

While people have traveled both nationally and internationally with health or wellness the primary focus since the time since the Roman Baths, wellness tourism as a global industry remains relatively new. The WTA defines Wellness Tourism as “A specific division of the global tourism industry that is defined by the common goal of marketing natural assets and/or activities primarily focused on serving the wellness-minded consumer and those who want to be.”

Check out our Glossary for other definitions.

As an association, it is crucial that we work together to help define our industry, as well as educate the public so they can recognize legitimate and credible wellness suppliers and operators. The WTA also collaborates with leading wellness organizations and education authorities for the benefit of the industry to ensure a consistent and unified message and development for wellness tourism. We welcome anyone connected or wishing to be involved in the development of wellness tourism to check out these five ways to get involved with the WTA.

 Our primary goals are to:

1. Create a common set of standards
2. To educate and increase awareness of Wellness Tourism as well as the various categories that fall under the umbrella of this growing sector of the industry.
3. To provide a networking platform for those involved in the industry.

As with all associations, the goals and objectives will be determined by the members. We encourage you to join us in helping shape the future of this growing and still developing global industry.

Join us and help shape the future of wellness tourism.

The Board of Directors
Wellness Tourism Association