Spa revenues growing by 10 per cent a year across MENA region

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) spa sector is outpacing global growth rates – despite ongoing security concerns across many of the region’s countries, according to a new report by the Global Wellness Institute.
Annual revenues within the MENA’s spa sector jumped from $1.7 billion (AED 6bn) in 2013 to $2.1 billion (AED 7bn) in 2015, representing 10 per cent annual growth – five times faster than the average global spa industry growth rate of 2 per cent.

The report also shows that MENA’s wellness tourism revenues grew 6 per cent annually between 2013 and 2015 – from $7.3 billion (AED 25bn) to $8.3 billion (AED 29bn). Presenting the findings, GWI chief executive Susie Ellis described MENA as a “unique wellness tourism market”.

“Globally, only 33 per cent of wellness travel revenues come from inbound tourists,” Ellis said. “But in MENA, inbound visitors account for 68 per cent of the market. The UAE remains the regional powerhouse, with a wellness tourism market now nearly two times bigger.”
MENA is now the second-fastestgrowing spa industry in the world – when measured by revenue growth. The 10 per cent growth rate is second only to the very small market of Sub-Saharan Africa, where revenues are growing at a rate of 18 per cent per year.