The first wellness conference in Madeira is being held at the Vidamar resort in Funchal today (6 October).

Located in the resort's Madeira Congress Centre, the event is titled “The Rise and Relevance of Wellness Tourism”. The event takes place between 9am-1pm and is being organised by the Madeira Promotion Bureau (APM).

Conceição Estudante, Madeira's regional secretary for culture, tourism and transport is giving the opening speech at the conference. Other internationally-renowned speakers also feature, including Thierry Malleret, an economic specialist; Barbara Cassani, founder of low-cost airline Go Fly; Steve Dunne, a marketing specialist; and Anni Hood, founder and director of Wellness Business Consultancy. Hood – who highlighted Madeira as a sought-after wellness hub in an article for Spa Business in 2012 – is moderating the event

President and CEO of the Global Wellness Tourism Congress (GWTC), Susie Ellis, is also attending the event. “It’s great to see the Madeira Promotional Bureau putting wellness tourism so high up on the agenda,” said Ellis. “Promoting the benefits of health and wellness will positively impact not only the tourism market but also the local population by emphasising the importance of taking responsibility for personal wellbeing.”

This conference is part of a series of wellness tourism initiatives being organised by the Madeira Promotion Bureau (APM) to raise awareness of the benefits that can be derived from promoting the island’s wellness tourism capabilities.

"Our challenge is to define and deliver the right tourism product to meet the needs of the growing wellness traveler segment and to distinguish Madeira Islands for its rich, healing and indigenous assets," regional secretary Estudante told local media.

"Having such a wealth of natural beauty in the islands is a market magnet and is of particular relevance in this climate of increased consumer demand for wellness orientation and declining public health.”