From Spas to Longevity: Phuket Evolves into a Global Wellness Tourism Leader

Wellness tourism is in great shape. One of the fastest growing areas of the tourism industry, the sector has grown from a niche market for committed health seekers to become a THB 219 trillion (USD 6.3 trillion) global powerhouse. At the heart of this revolution is Asia Pacific, which accounts for 30% of the worldwide market and where pioneering destinations such as Phuket have successfully changed the face of wellness tourism.

In the latest in a series of C9 Sessions, C9 Hotelworks, the award-winning Phuket-based tourism, hospitality & real estate consultancy, presented “Phuket’s New Wellness Trends for Hotels, Tourism & Real Estate”, an immersive event that revealed the latest insights and intelligence on the ever-evolving and expanding wellness tourism industry in Thailand and Phuket. Download here.

Key data from the report, including analysis of the figures driving the wellness economy, which is valued at THB 1,200 billion (USD 34.6 billion) in Thailand, with an annual growth rate of 5.58% (2020-2022). This includes THB 296 billion (USD 7.8 billion) in wellness tourism trip expenditure alone.

With its rich tradition of healing, Phuket has long attracted travellers who want to soothe their body, mind and soul in paradise. In the post-pandemic era, the mindset shift towards healthy lifestyles has inspired a new era of wellness tourism that goes far beyond the spa. As visionary companies launch a new collection of state-of-the-art cosmetic and medical services, Phuket is ensuring its longevity as a global wellness leader.

Staged at Amora Beach Resort Phuket, in collaboration with VitalLife Scientific Wellness Center Phuket, powered by Bumrungrad International Hospital, the Phuket Hotels Association, and Delivering Asia, the 90-minute session explained how Phuket emerged as a top wellness tourism destination in the 1990s, when traditional Thai massage and spa therapies were elevated to new levels of luxury by the arrival of brands like Banyan Tree. This was followed by an expansion into medical tourism in the 2000s, driven by the arrival of private hospitals, which then shifted to focus on aesthetic treatments in the 2010s.

Now, in the lifestyle-conscious 2020s, the concept of “longevity tourism” has taken centre stage – a holistic approach to wellbeing that promotes extended living. Phuket is leading this trend with cutting-edge facilities arriving in Phuket such as the VitalLife Scientific Wellness Center Phuket, a hub of health and longevity which opened its doors fully this month, the Health Resort by Clinique La Prairie at TriVananda, a sustainable luxury wellness resort which is on track to open in 2026, and the new Bumrungrad Hospital Phuket, which also debuts in 2026.

Dr. Polakit Teekakirikul, M.D., CEO & Chief Science Officer, VitalLife Scientific Wellness Center Phuket, said: “This is a tremendously exciting time for the wellness tourism industry. The launch of our VitalLife Scientific Wellness Center will introduce some of the industry’s latest longevity solutions, such as DNA profiling and the use of AI, to create tailored health blueprints and programmes for every guest. This reflects our confidence in Phuket’s status as a global wellness hub, now and for many years to come.”

TriVananda will also soon be home to Clinique La Prairie’s first Health Resort in South East Asia. “Clinique La Prairie’s longstanding expertise in longevity and their innovative approach makes them the ideal partner to achieve and realize our vision of establishing TriVananda as the gold standard for wellness hospitality in Asia,” said Kittisak Pattamasaevi, CEO of Montara Hospitality Group, who oversees TRISARA and TriVananda. “We recognize that there is a global stress epidemic at hand, and the negative affects it has on our individual health and wellbeing, and as a global community. TriVananda will be a place for people of all ages to heal, grow and learn.”