Jane Crebbin-Bailey, partner of spa consultancy HCB Associates, has predicted a boom in the Indian spa training market, fuelled by the number of new facilities opening in the coming years.

Speaking to Spa Business (Issue 4 2010, p.28), she said: "The current lack of professionally-certified staff in India's spa market will be a challenge.

"Spas are left to poach good therapists and employ unqualified staff who may be good masseurs, but lack formal training and knowledge of anatomy, physiology and best hygiene practice."

She added that India will require 20,000 new spa therapists by 2012 and that there are already moves to combat this with the opening of a number of training institutes.

"A lot of the ayurvedic schools, mostly originating from Kerala, are now turning into spa schools, or adding courses in services or Oriental therapies," she said.