Future Predictions, India Emerging
As a growing number of luxury brands and celebrities draw public attention to India’s beauty, spa and wellness offerings, global attention is being drawn to the industry.
“Expect to see the biggest spa growth in Northern India because of steadier economic growth, followed by Mumbai, Gujarat and Bangalore,” Mia Kyrios (Director of Global Spa Brands and Programming for Starwood Hotels and Resorts) predicts. “Kerala remains the destination for Ayurveda.”
Maggie Gunning (Spa Synergy Singapore) believes that the same future waits the Indian spa market as the industry globally.” India will develop its spa medical tourism and continue to build spas at many hotels. We will see more and more day spa chains, Ayurveda will continue to improve the way it presents itself, for example, with improved hygiene and delivery of high quality service.”
Anjona Mitra Mustafi (Ananda Spa Institute), agrees, “The spa industry has a bright future in India and has a potential to grow at a faster rate than it did in Thailand 10 years back.”
As the benefits of traditional Indian techniques and the credibility of Indian therapists increase, bookings from foreign tourists are also increasing. “Where international guests are concerned, European tourists comprise the majority of Indian spa guests with 38 percent; the Pan-Asian contingent consists of 34 percent; and the Americans make up the final 28 percent,” reports Melissa Lucas (ILC World).
“At present there are very few Indian people taking up work in the spa industry because as with the rest of Asia massage and massage therapists are often wrongly perceived,” says Gunning. “However, more schools will open up offering international training and Qualifications such as the Ananda Spa Institute in Hyderabad, so over time people will take up jobs in the spa industry because it will be perceived as being a ‘respectable profession.”
“We still face many cultural barriers with massage being looked down on as a profession. Sometimes parents voice concern about massage not being the right profession for educated children. We need to reach out and create awareness in schools and collages about Spa being a part of the wellness industry which is as good as any other profession such as a doctor or an engineer.”
As the world economic climate improves it is anticipated that international travelers will increasingly consider India as a prime spa destination for rest, relaxation, rejuvenation and spiritual renewal, with the added benefits of our Ayuveda therapies and yoga.
AsiaSpa September/October 2009 page 62