Indian spa industry needs trained therapists
On 7th June, The Financial Chronicle, in New Delhi reported that the Indian spa industry, which is growing at around 20-30 per cent annually due to increased affluence of people and lifestyle related ailments, is still unregulated and lacks trained therapists, according to experts. This is a partial exert of the article.
An absence of a monitoring authority to set standards and accreditation for the Indian spa industry is also a cause of worry. A study by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) suggests that the wellness industry in the country is growing at close to 20 per cent annually and currently stands at Rs 1,500 crore. (approx USD316,000,000)
According to a CII report, India needs 20,000 trained therapists and there are over 2300 spas that have created direct and indirect employment for about 400,000 people in the country. Blossom Kochhar, Chairperson, Blossom Kochhar Group pointed out that without professional training spa services can do more harm than good.
According to a 2009 FICCI-Ernst & Young report, wellness industry, including spas, wellness centres and gyms, are expected to sustain the growth rate of 20 to 30 per cent till 2010. Some experts opine that accreditation or certification by any central authority would not work in an industry which is best judged by the clients or consumers. “The Spa and Wellness Association of India has tried to bring the industry under one umbrella. But I think spas are experiences and perhaps best judged and accredited by clients or consumers,” says Ramesh Ramanathan, MD, Mahindra Holidays and Resorts India Ltd.
Expecting a flow of tourists during Commonwealth games, the spa centres are gearing up in the metropolitan cities to cash in on the demand.
According to an industry report, in the next four years, 700 new spas, both homegrown and international brands, will open in India to meet the growing demand. Presently India has around 20-25 major spa centres, most of them spread in the southern states — Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
Source: www.mydigitalfc.com