Wellness Tourism in South Africa: Development Opportunities

Abstract

Due to growing attention in health and general wellness, health associated industries have experienced an exponential growth. The idea of wellness has been around since the early Greek years and has presented as a sociological and theoretical concern. In research, wellness has extended to areas such as academia, economics, and psychology to name but a few. Regarding tourism, wellness is somewhat a new trend that has witnessed an incredible growth. Globally there has been a rising number of people travelling to destinations that offer wellness facilities; this is because wellness is one of the elements that consumers are searching for when engaging in tourism. Consequently, wellness tourism has been on the rise. South Africa’s rich cultural and natural resources are the primary offerings of the country’s tourism sector. Developing wellness tourism in South Africa will boost the economy and provide the country with a competitive edge as a tourism destination. This research paper utilises secondary literature to explore the concept of wellness tourism in South Africa. The main objective of this study is to explore Africa’s wellness tourism resources, especially in South Africa and its potential for development. Research reveals that South Africa’s rich cultural and natural landscape are excellent attributes for wellness tourism development in the country. Recommendations on harnessing the opportunities for wellness tourism are outlined. There is a scarcity of academic observation on wellness tourism and the secondary research will provide outcomes that will be of benefit to the wellness tourism industry in Africa.