The wellness retreat industry is expected to see a spike in demand post-lockdown in the UK, according to new research.
The research looked into online searches into yoga and meditation, activity and adventure, and outdoor hospitality retreats over the past 5 years. It revealed a 1,605% increase in the last five years - including an 81% increase in 2020 despite lockdown. Peak months for bookings and online searches start in March and run through until the end of summer.
Activity retreats are among the fastest growing in the industry after having experienced a 928% increase in online searches from 2019 to 2020, before peaking in March-May. Along with the spike in searches for activity holidays, ‘camping retreats’ ‘hiking’ and ‘biking’ also saw a big rise in online queries. Yoga retreats also remain popular and saw an 890% increase from January to April in 2020, while searches for meditation retreats also jumped notably.
Ed Bassett, Head of Wanderlust at motorhome rental company Camptoo, which conducted the research, says “Activity-based holidays are among the fastest-growing in the industry, and there’s never been a more exciting time to be involved. The benefits of a wellness retreat are endless, but we really believe that adding something activity-based in the UK - whether it be kayaking, hiking, surfing, wild swimming, climbing, mountain biking - will take that experience to the next level.”
Wellbeing and Lifestyle consultant Yvonne Wake agreed on the growth potential of wellness retreats: “I don’t see how the industry cannot continue to grow. I expect it to boom once restrictions are lifted as it is the one real thing that is absolutely needed after the past year of limiting conditions. We desperately need to get our health back on track.”
A recent study from Barclays had also highlighted that wellness offerings could generate additional revenue of £21.1bn by 2023 to hospitality businesses in the UK.