Global demand for professional services increases in the area of health & wellbeing tourism

Rising Demand in Health & Wellbeing Tourism

As the international peak body for Forest Therapy, INFTA recognizes the rising demand for professional training and services in the area of health & wellbeing worldwide.

According to the latest report on The Global Wellness Economy: Country Rankings released February 2022, the global wellness economy reached a staggering turnover of USD 4.4 trillion. Wellness Tourism alone reached the immense amount of USD 436 billion in 2020. With the pandemic largely behind us, experts forecast a rise of expenditures in health & wellbeing, particularly among the adult and senior populations in industrialized countries.
 
Global Wellness Economy 2020
Global Wellness Economy 2020
 
Thus, INFTA’s international experts have developed a new training module which caters for the rising demand of Forest Therapy, Shinrin-yoku and “forest bathing” in health & wellbeing tourism. You can now become qualified and certified by INFTA as Forest Therapy Tourist Guide (FTTG).
 
 

Benefits of being a Forest Therapy Tourist Guide

This unique and world’s first Forest Therapy Tourist Guide training…

INFTA’s FTTG training is continuously monitored and evaluated by our international experts.

Dr. Dieter Kotte, Honorary Associate Professor, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Australia and President of INFTA Germany supervises and quality controls this important and innovative training module.

couple meets a tree
tourists enjoy the health benefits of Forest Therapy
 

The FFTG training is directed towards clients in the hospitality and health & wellbeing sector in the Asia-Pacific and Middle East/Africa.

The FTTG training is also suited for individuals who wish to learn new skills, gain competencies and qualifications to meet the rising demand for upmarket health & wellbeing services.

The FTTG training is particularly recommended for people operating and working in the tourist sector in India, Indonesia, Nepal, Malaysia, The Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam. These countries offer the finest of tropical and sub-tropical forests and nature, perfectly suited for the upmarket and eco-friendly health & wellbeing tourism.

 

The photo taken at the Wellness Tourism Summit 2022 at The Tweed, New South Wales, Australia, shows  INFTA’s President, Susan V. Joachim, together with the Dr. Paulo Benito S. Tugbang (Director, Office of Product and Market Development, Philippine Department of Tourism, Manila, Philippines), Katherine Droga (Chair, Global Wellness Institute, Sydney), Eleanor A. Palima (Tourism Officer, Philippine Department of Tourism, Sydney Office).

Susan Joachim talks about the history and health benefits of Forest Therapy and forest bathing to Dr. Nick Carr, host of House of Wellness, Channel 7, Australia.

Since 2019, INFTA Forest Therapy Guides conduct weekly Forest Therapy walks at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne and Cranbourne.