This technical report presents a robust understanding of the major industry scoping study Health Tourism in Australia: Supply, Demand and Opportunities, presenting the research findings in full and supporting the summary developed by STCRC.

Wellness Tourists

A detailed analysis of tourism demand was derived from a survey of accommodation managers of health and wellness properties to determine visitor arrivals and service usage by wellness visitors.

Total clients serviced by these providers as estimated to be 2.2 million over a 12 month period, while the number of clients who were visitors was 1.03 million.

Thus, there are about 1 million wellness tourism visits annually, excluding local residents. A significant proportion (44%) of these are tourists visiting day spas. Visitors to spa resorts/hotels, especially in regional areas, account for almost half (46%) of the 1-million wellness tourism visits. The number of visits to lifestyle resort/retreats is tiny by comparison and the number of visits to spiritual retreats also very small.

The profile of a wellness tourist is well educated, more likely to be female, with a relatively short travel career as a wellness tourist, and younger than originally thought, most likely between 26 and 45 years. Analysis of the NVS data on the basis of origin, destination and trip duration suggests that wellness tourism in Australia is primarily an intrastate short break travel experience (72% of overnight trips).

This was particularly the case for travellers in Victoria. There was however a significant proportion of health and wellness travellers visiting Queensland from interstate (around two thirds of overnight wellness visitors in that state) who are likely to be visiting the retreat properties located in that state in addition to the resorts that offer health and wellness activities as a value-add.

Medical Tourists

Data from the National Visitor Survey indicates that over the period 2006-2008 there was an estimated average of 1.04 million medical purpose domestic trips per annum. The majority of these trips are likely to involve travel to a hospital or medical centre from a regional area to access services that are not available in the local area.

While there are a significant number of people travelling within Australia to receive medical procedures, the vast majority of these are not medical tourists. However, the anecdotal evidence also suggests that current demand is not large but that there may be potential for future growth.

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www.crctourism.com.au/BookShop/BookDetail.aspx?d=697

By Cornelia Voigt, Jennifer Laing, Meredith Wray, Graham Brown, Gary Howat, Betty Weiler and Richard Trembath