World Travel Market 2014 will launch its first comprehensive programme to support the fast-growing wellness tourism sector.

The sector is growing at pace of nine per cent annually, according to WTM, compared to the travel and tourism industry’s per cent.

The WTM Wellness Tourism programme, organised by Spafinder Wellness 365 – the world’s largest media, marketing and gift company for the wellness industry – and in association with the Global Wellness Tourism Congress, takes place across three days of World Travel Market 2014 with some of the leading executives and experts from the sector sharing their experience and insights.

The first session on Tuesday November 4th will explore what Wellness Tourism is and why it is growing faster than the wider travel and tourism industry. 

The session will include findings form the latest research in the sector.

The second session on Wednesday November 5th looks to define both Medical Tourism and Wellness Tourism, which are often confused.

It will look at the opportunities in both sectors and how they can work together.

The third session on Thursday November 6th will look at how national and regional governments as well as private sector businesses have successfully integrated wellness tourism into their marketing campaigns.

Spafinder Wellness 365 Managing Director John Bevan said: “I am excited by this opportunity to increase the exposure of the Wellness Tourism industry to the wider global travel industry at WTM.

“The sector offers a wide range of opportunities for the travel and tourism industry to benefit from and World Travel Market - with more than 50,000 senior industry executives in attendance agreeing more than £2 billion in business deals - is the perfect platform to help grow the sector further.”