The Global Wellness Institute Partners With UNWTO

What:
The Global Wellness Institute (GWI), an international think tank for the wellness industry, signed an agreement on Nov. 5 to implement joint projects with the United Nations World Trade Organization (UNWTO).

Why It Matters:
Wellness tourism is a niche that’s coming of age, reaching one milestone after another. This year has been particularly strong for the $494 billion sector: The 2014 World Travel Market debuted the first-ever wellness travel track, and now, an agreement between GWI and UNWTO offers the niche a greater presence on an international scale. Collaborations will likely focus on product diversification (specialization of destinations) and quality standards.

Fast Facts:
- Projects will address the role of wellness tourism in key fields, including seasonality, product diversification, and specialization of destinations, as well as knowledge areas such as quality standards, professional profiles and the production of a global report on wellness tourism.

- As a UNWTO Affiliate Member, GWI is part of a global network of more than 400 private tourism companies, non-governmental organizations, destinations and academic entities, contributing to knowledge and expertise for promoting the development of responsible, sustainable and accessible tourism.

-  GWI can benefit a wide range of public-private collaboration opportunities, including a powerful platform to connect with governments around the world and the opportunity to join its United Nations efforts.

What They Are Saying:
“The Global Wellness Institute’s new affiliation with the UNWTO is incredibly gratifying and will increase our global reach in driving future, high-level discussions about the critical role of wellness in overall tourism development,” said Susie Ellis, chairman of the Global Wellness Institute.

The Details