In Brief: The Global Wellness Summit will mark its 20th anniversary at Angsana Laguna Phuket in Thailand from November 10 to 13, 2026, focusing on Asia’s rapidly expanding wellness market and the theme ‘The Science, Art and Soul of Wellness.’
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Image Credit Global Wellness Summit
The Global Wellness Summit will hold its 20th-anniversary event at Angsana Laguna Phuket in Thailand from November 10 to 13, 2026. The conference will focus on the theme “The Science, Art and Soul of Wellness” and will examine developments in Asia’s wellness market, addressing the question, “Why Asia, why now?” The agenda will feature speakers discussing opportunities in Asia’s wellness economy and the region’s influence on global wellness trends.
Asia’s wellness market reached $2 trillion in 2024, with a 9.3% annual growth rate, tying with Europe as a leading growth region, according to the Global Wellness Institute. The wellness tourism segment in Asia is valued at $215 billion, with a 31% increase in 2024, making it the largest market by number of wellness trips. India, Thailand, South Korea, and China are among the top five annual growth leaders in wellness tourism, with growth rates of 57%, 36%, 36%, and 35%, respectively.
The conference will include sessions on Asia’s approach to longevity, traditional and complementary medicine, wellness travel, spa, beauty, wellness real estate, architecture, design, and policy. South Korea’s K-Beauty sector, which attracts one million visitors annually for aesthetic services and has an export market exceeding $11 billion, will be highlighted. The program will also address the integration of traditional medicine systems such as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Ayurveda with modern longevity science, as seen in clinics and resorts across the region.
Asia’s traditional and complementary medicine market is valued at $379 billion, representing 63% of global spending and three times the size of the next-largest regional market. The Global Wellness Institute projects this segment to be the second-fastest-growing wellness market through 2029, with an annual growth rate of 11%. Developments include the use of artificial intelligence in Chinese universities to optimize TCM for a global audience.
Asia is the largest market for healthy eating, nutrition, and weight loss at $347 billion, with a 7.7% growth rate in 2024. The region leads the global wellness real estate market at $350 billion, with a 26% annual growth rate from 2019 to 2025. Seven of the top 20 wellness real estate markets are in Asia, including China, Australia, Japan, and India.
The spa market in Asia is valued at $42.5 billion, making it the second-largest globally. Revenues grew 54.7% in 2023 and 17.3% in 2024. Vietnam, India, China, and Indonesia have been among the fastest-growing spa markets in recent years. Asia also leads the thermal and mineral springs sector with a $38 billion market and 22,611 establishments. China and Japan together account for $55 billion of the global hot springs market.
The conference will explore how Asian countries are addressing challenges related to aging populations and declining fertility rates. By 2050, more than one in four Asians is projected to be 60 or older. Policy initiatives in countries such as China and Singapore are focused on prevention and healthy longevity. China’s “Healthy China 2030” plan includes training doctors in longevity medicine, while Singapore has implemented policies to encourage physical activity, healthy eating, and intergenerational support.
The event will also highlight new wellness and longevity tourism initiatives in Thailand, including public-private partnerships and projects such as the BDMS Silver Wellness & Residences in Bangkok, which will combine medical facilities, longevity clinics, and residences.
Registration for the 2026 Global Wellness Summit is open, and accredited media may apply to attend.
