Spa businesses keen to grow in China and SEA

SPA-related enterprises around the world are aiming to expand their operations to China and South-east Asia to tap into the positive economic growth and slew of hotel openings in the region.

A poll conducted among delegates at this year’s Global Spa Summit in Bali, consisting of top executives and leaders in the global spa and wellness industries, revealed that 30.1 per cent of respondents were hoping to expand their businesses to China. South-east Asian destinations garnered 21.5 per cent of the vote.

Asia Pacific Spa & Wellness Coalition chairman, Andrew Jacka, said: “The Asia Pacific spa market has grown rapidly in recent years, often exceeding 20 per cent growth annually as the middle class expands.”

Intelligent Spa founder and managing director, Julie Garrow, said: “The majority of spa owners and managers in Asia Pacific are predicting double-digit growth in total spa revenue in 2011.”

Mandara Spa president and COO, Jeff Matthews, said: “Spa and wellness is growing fast in China and India, while Vietnam is coming up and is our most promising frontier to expand business.”

On the other hand, Indonesia and Thailand are mature destinations, according to Matthews. “For Indonesia, the growth is more in exporting expertise. We train and send Balinese therapists to Maldives and Dubai, for example.”

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