A report into the state of the Asian spa market has shown that there are now 3,500 facilities operating within the region - with 60 per cent of Asian countries considered emerging or potential spa markets.

The report, compiled by research company Intelligent Spas on behalf of The Asia Pacific Spa and Wellness Coalition (APSWC), suggests that there are plenty of development and business opportunities across the region.

The region's spas collective generate annual revenues of around US$2bn (1.4bn euro, £1.2bn) and employ more than 50,000 people.

The full report, available from the Intelligent Spas website, covers total industry revenue and employment numbers by country.

Collected using Intelligent Spas' Global Spa Benchmark Program, it also lists which spa markets are supported by industry associations and government departments, enforce legal requirements and training standards, plus practice traditional spa therapies.

Each country was also analysed and categorised according to market status including mature market, growing market, emerging market or potential future market.

Julie Garrow, managing director of Intelligent Spas, said: "This new Regional Spa Industry Report is a vital resource in understanding the spa industry across Asia Pacific and will prove useful in its continued development"