Wellness and medical tourism in Africa was a focus
Around 75 government officials, hospitality executives, physicians and spa operators from a dozen African countries convened in the sunny seaside town of Mombasa, Kenya in September for an annual industry conference organised by the Spa & Wellness Association of Africa (SWAA).
With the backdrop of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals which outlay a plan of action for planetary health and wellbeing, and Africa adding 2030 and 2063 Agendas which focus on this, the 2019 SWAA conference was dominated by exploring the difference between medical and wellness tourism, and the status of those markets in Africa. “Tourism is on the rise [in Africa] and health is as important as it’s ever been before,” says Elaine Okeke Martin, president of the SWAA’s board of directors.
While defined data is difficult to come by concerning many things African, it would seem that South Africa and Mauritius have more well-developed markets in wellness tourism, but Africa as a continent sees very little inbound medical tourism. Suki Kalirai, a former UK spa industry representative at government level and current spa owner, shared some reasons for the scarcity of medical tourists including a lack of both standards of treatment and supporting regulatory structures, as well as contracts and processes that meet global expectations.
However, progress is being made, and Dr Betty Radier, CEO of the Kenya Tourism Board, explained that ageing populations in advanced economies, urbanisation and an increase in time spent on leisure activities are factors driving health tourism in Kenya.
One issue flagged up by public health specialist Meelan Thondoo is the fact that African countries have enough challenges providing sustainable healthcare for their own communities, and that available funding should go towards that effort.
Having previously held director roles at Six Senses and Anantara, Naim Maadad, CEO of Gates Hospitality, moderated an excellent panel on the intersection between wellness and health tourism. The major theme emerging was that wellness tourism is typically elective and even recreational, while health tourism is often driven by need as well as economic factors.
Meanwhile, medical aesthetics were highlighted to spa operators, including live botox demonstrations. Isabel Roos of Isa Carstens Academy in South Africa explained the current framework of beauty certifications in this part of the sector.
Ancillary workshops engaged African spa operators with practical and actionable education. The well-attended events included two full-day spa management courses in Nairobi and Mombasa delivered by Wynne Business, Wellness for Cancer training delivered by Julie Bach, both sponsored by Biologique Recherche, and LCN nail training sessions.
The overall takeaway is that SWAA continues to bring high-quality educational and networking experiences to the spa and wellness operators in Africa.
Lisa Starr
Lisa Starr is a senior spa consultant and trainer at Wynne Business [email protected]
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 2019 issue 4
Editor's letter: Democratic wellness
To truly flourish, the spa industry needs to step outside its comfort zone and reach out to different markets with new and exciting business models, says Katie Barnes
Spa Programmes: On the menu
Boundary-pushing wellness in Iceland, self-care focus at Devarana and Civana’s equine retreat all feature in our spa menu round-up
Interview: Alexandre Cantin
Canada’s Groupe Nordik wants to open 10 nature spas, focusing on bathing and thermotherapy, by 2027. Katie Barnes talks to its VP of growth and strategy
Promotional feature: Starpool - Star quality
Wellness expert, Starpool, is known for offering complete wellness solutions with Italian design flair, enabling operators to create world class treatments and experiences
Training: Covering all bases
Resense joins forces with Lobster Ink to create an online training program for multiple spa roles
Promotional feature: Gharieni
Spa equipment innovator, Gharieni, is partnering with leading spas around the world to showcase its products to clients in real world settings, as CEO, Sammy Gharieni, explains
Research: Positive picture
ISPA’s latest US spa study shows continued growth across key metrics and pinpoints CBD and gen Z as trends. Russell Donaldson reports
Promotional feature: Zimmer MedizinSystems - Cool customer
Rainer Bolsinger, who heads up hotel and spa sales of icelab at Zimmer MedizinSystems, and icelab customer Chenot Group, explain how cryotherapy can be incorporated into your business
Promotional feature: Biologique Recherche - Skin deep
Biologique Recherche has spent the past 40 years developing technology and products to understand the skin on an individual level. Pierre-Louis Delapalme and Rupert Schmid tell Spa Business about the Parisian brand’s latest innovations
Research: On the move
The global physical activity market is now worth US$828bn according to a new GWI study. But what emerging trends do spas need to know about?
Promotional feature: SpaSoft - Onwards & upwards
The enhanced integration between SpaSoft and multiple PMS systems will help your team save time, remove the possibility of human error and create an elevated guest experience
Software: Monetising
How is software helping spas to navigate e-commerce and further monetise their relationship with clients
Wellness and medical tourism in Africa was a focus
Around 75 government officials, hospitality executives, physicians and spa operators from a dozen African countries convened in the sunny seaside town of Mombasa, Kenya in September for an annual industry conference organised by the Spa & Wellness Association of Africa (SWAA).
With the backdrop of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals which outlay a plan of action for planetary health and wellbeing, and Africa adding 2030 and 2063 Agendas which focus on this, the 2019 SWAA conference was dominated by exploring the difference between medical and wellness tourism, and the status of those markets in Africa. “Tourism is on the rise [in Africa] and health is as important as it’s ever been before,” says Elaine Okeke Martin, president of the SWAA’s board of directors.
While defined data is difficult to come by concerning many things African, it would seem that South Africa and Mauritius have more well-developed markets in wellness tourism, but Africa as a continent sees very little inbound medical tourism. Suki Kalirai, a former UK spa industry representative at government level and current spa owner, shared some reasons for the scarcity of medical tourists including a lack of both standards of treatment and supporting regulatory structures, as well as contracts and processes that meet global expectations.
However, progress is being made, and Dr Betty Radier, CEO of the Kenya Tourism Board, explained that ageing populations in advanced economies, urbanisation and an increase in time spent on leisure activities are factors driving health tourism in Kenya.
One issue flagged up by public health specialist Meelan Thondoo is the fact that African countries have enough challenges providing sustainable healthcare for their own communities, and that available funding should go towards that effort.
Having previously held director roles at Six Senses and Anantara, Naim Maadad, CEO of Gates Hospitality, moderated an excellent panel on the intersection between wellness and health tourism. The major theme emerging was that wellness tourism is typically elective and even recreational, while health tourism is often driven by need as well as economic factors.
Meanwhile, medical aesthetics were highlighted to spa operators, including live botox demonstrations. Isabel Roos of Isa Carstens Academy in South Africa explained the current framework of beauty certifications in this part of the sector.
Ancillary workshops engaged African spa operators with practical and actionable education. The well-attended events included two full-day spa management courses in Nairobi and Mombasa delivered by Wynne Business, Wellness for Cancer training delivered by Julie Bach, both sponsored by Biologique Recherche, and LCN nail training sessions.
The overall takeaway is that SWAA continues to bring high-quality educational and networking experiences to the spa and wellness operators in Africa.
Lisa Starr
Lisa Starr is a senior spa consultant and trainer at Wynne Business [email protected]
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 2019 issue 4
Editor's letter: Democratic wellness
To truly flourish, the spa industry needs to step outside its comfort zone and reach out to different markets with new and exciting business models, says Katie Barnes
Spa Programmes: On the menu
Boundary-pushing wellness in Iceland, self-care focus at Devarana and Civana’s equine retreat all feature in our spa menu round-up
Interview: Alexandre Cantin
Canada’s Groupe Nordik wants to open 10 nature spas, focusing on bathing and thermotherapy, by 2027. Katie Barnes talks to its VP of growth and strategy
Promotional feature: Starpool - Star quality
Wellness expert, Starpool, is known for offering complete wellness solutions with Italian design flair, enabling operators to create world class treatments and experiences
Training: Covering all bases
Resense joins forces with Lobster Ink to create an online training program for multiple spa roles
Promotional feature: Gharieni
Spa equipment innovator, Gharieni, is partnering with leading spas around the world to showcase its products to clients in real world settings, as CEO, Sammy Gharieni, explains
Research: Positive picture
ISPA’s latest US spa study shows continued growth across key metrics and pinpoints CBD and gen Z as trends. Russell Donaldson reports
Promotional feature: Zimmer MedizinSystems - Cool customer
Rainer Bolsinger, who heads up hotel and spa sales of icelab at Zimmer MedizinSystems, and icelab customer Chenot Group, explain how cryotherapy can be incorporated into your business
Promotional feature: Biologique Recherche - Skin deep
Biologique Recherche has spent the past 40 years developing technology and products to understand the skin on an individual level. Pierre-Louis Delapalme and Rupert Schmid tell Spa Business about the Parisian brand’s latest innovations
Research: On the move
The global physical activity market is now worth US$828bn according to a new GWI study. But what emerging trends do spas need to know about?
Promotional feature: SpaSoft - Onwards & upwards
The enhanced integration between SpaSoft and multiple PMS systems will help your team save time, remove the possibility of human error and create an elevated guest experience
Software: Monetising
How is software helping spas to navigate e-commerce and further monetise their relationship with clients
The UK spa review and discovery platform for consumers, the Good Spa Guide, has announced
it will host the Good Spa Guide Awards 2026 during an event on 16 November at Sopwell House
Hotel in St Albans, UK.
Eighty-four per cent of consumers now say wellness is a top priority in their lives, with this
percentage increasing year on year, according to a preview presentation of McKinsey’s Future of
Wellness 2026 research report.
Mass protests have been taking place since Monday 1 June in Albania over the development of
a luxury resort by Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner.
Global Wellness Day (GWD) marked its 15th anniversary on Saturday 13 June 2026, with the
theme: #JoyMagenta – a celebration of the healing qualities of simple gestures and activities
that spark joy.
Global luxury hospitality brand, Six Senses, has partnered with longevity healthcare provider,
HUM2N, to launch a clinic at Six Senses London, at The Whiteley.
As part of its first hotel partnership, Mayrlife – the medical health resort company known for its
site in Altaussee, Austria – has launched a day clinic at the Rosewood Vienna.
Premium London health club, KX Chelsea, will imminently unveil its most significant
redevelopment since its launch in 2002 to create an integrated wellness model combining
training, recovery and relaxation.
Rosewood Le Guanahani St Barth, on the northeast coast of Saint Barthélemy in the French
West Indies, is offering a programme of ocean-inspired yoga classes between 8-14 June to
celebrate Global Wellness Day (GWD).
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package
that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi, in Malaysia, has revealed a schedule for Global Wellness Day
(GWD) that includes guided rainforest walks, mindful movement and guided coastal meditation
experiences.
