THAI SPAS
Thai Spas Wellness factOr
Wellness and the spa experience are important
considerations for many travellers heading to one of the UK’s top long haul destinations, says Ben Lerwill
H
oliday spots don’t come much more tempting than Thailand. Take the combined
appeal of the food, the weather, the beaches, the cost and the culture and you’re left with somewhere that can occasionally seem too good to be true. More than anywhere else in Asia, its name has become a byword for colourfully indulgent breaks in the sun. And that’s before we even mention its spas. But spa tourism has become big
news in Thailand. The sector has barely stopped growing since the concept was first introduced in the early 1990s, and the country is now widely established as one of the world’s leading draws for spa, health and wellness. The spas themselves
range
from ultra- luxurious pampering palaces in five-star resorts to open-to-anyone drop-in centres, and the end product can generally be relied on to be of an excellent quality. Despite the fact that spas themselves are a relatively recent phenomenon, of course, traditional Thai massage dates back to the mists of time. The fact that, as a result, Thailand is almost synonymous with wellness treatments helps bolster the destination’s appeal. And it’s not just the prospect
of pampering that keeps visitors returning – on a closely associated topic, the country’s credentials for
medical tourism are also well
worth highlighting. The tourist board is behind the comprehensive
www.thailandmedtourism.com website, which as of this year now has a mobile app available. According to the Department of Health Service Support, more than 2.5 million foreign visitors are expected to have visited Thailand for ‘medical purposes’ in 2012. Such is the popularity of Thailand’s spa sector, in fact, that it’s now highly unusual for a hotel or resort to open without one. Good upcoming examples are the Le Meridien Suvarnabhumi
Clockwise from top left: Sofitel Bangkok; the Banyan Tree; Okura Prestige Hotel; Fours Seasons Resort Chaing Mai; Sofitel So Bangkok Spa
www.sellinglonghaul.com • October 2012 31
selling tip
“Spa breaks are particularly popular during the winter months from November to March. Perfect for relaxa- tion and escape”
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