HONOLULU -- Health and wellness tourism, a growing niche market in
Hawaii's visitor industry, is about to move out of the realm of the
specialized few and become an integral part of the Hawaii vacation
with the formation of the Hawaii Wellness Tourism Association,
according to tourism officials.
Linking health and wellness with tourism in Hawaii is "long
overdue," said Tony Vericella, president and CEO of the Hawaii
Visitors and Convention Bureau.
"We now know it has endless opportunities and endless benefits,"
he said. "And it ties extremely well into Hawaii's reputation as a
rejuvenating place and a healthy state. Hawaii is really returning
to its roots."
The association was founded by eight HVCB board members
representing four island counties. It now claims 30 members and
said it is seeking participants from the healthcare, government and
visitor industries.
Its mission, according to tourism officials, is to designate
Hawaii as the "health state," to train travel agents to capitalize
on health and wellness tourism as a profitable industry and to
reach out to other interested agents.
Scheduled for completion by the end of the year, the travel
agent training curriculum will enable agents to market the concept
and provide detailed, accurate information to clients.
It's all part of Hawaii's effort to diversify and sustain its
tourism base, said Frank Haas, director of tourism marketing for
the Hawaii Tourism Authority.
The tourism authority funded the publication of the Call to
Hawaii, a new wellness guide that lists 300 health and wellness
providers, including acupuncturists, and can be used as a reference
for travel agents.
But according to co-author Linda Crites, the guide is more than
a list of spas.
"It's not just a litany of places to go," she said. "It's a very
unusual guidebook. It is a description of how you can have a
transformative experience."
Agents who want more information about the book or travel agent
training in wellness tourism can call (808) 223-2533 or e-mail the
association at [email protected].
The Web site, at www.hwta.net, should be up and running within the next
few weeks.