Sub-Saharan Africa is the fastest growing region for wellness tourism according to research from SRI International’s Global Spa and Wellness Monitor report, which showed growth of 186% for wellness tourism in the region from 2007 to 2013.
In second place, was the Middle East-North Africa with a growth rate of 134%. Europe and North America currently have the highest wellness tourism numbers with 216 million trips to Europe and 172 million trips to North America in 2013.
Globally, the report said wellness tourism was a US$494 billion (R5,5 trillion) industry, based on domestic and international trips classified as either primary or secondary reasons for travel, as well as all travel expenditure. 
North America saw US$195 billion (R2,2 trillion) in revenue from these trips last year, the highest amount of wellness tourism revenue of any continent. Europe saw US$178 billion (R2 trillion) in revenue, while Asia had the third highest revenue of US$84 billion (R949 billion) and 152 million trips.
Sub-Saharan Africa is the world’s fastest growing region for amount of trips taken there. Last year, tourists spent US$3,2 billion (R361,5 billion) on wellness experiences in the region, a 57% increase from the previous year. Sub-Saharan African countries welcomed tourists on 4,2 million wellness trips in 2013.
Research showed that robust economic growth and an increasing middle class with an interest in relaxation, beauty treatments and health maintenance have supported rapid expansion of the day-spa market, particularly in high-growth economies such as South Africa, Ghana, and Nigeria. 
For the region’s spa market, South Africa, Kenya and Seychelles were the top-three countries in terms of revenues received, and South Africa, Kenya and Mauritius had the highest revenue for the region’s wellness tourist market.
The Global Spa and Wellness Monitor report can be found here.