TravelDailyNews: What trends are going to drive the spa industry in India in 2007?

Carina Chatlani: The new spa trends that will drive the Indian market are:

• Medical Tourism – The Truth of an Affordable Health Destination - Medical wellness and cosmetic med spas is a booming business as it fills certain critical gaps in the traditional health care system. Spas tie in with medical tourism as part of the “post-op” recuperative holiday.



• Around 15,000 tourists visited the state of Kerala alone for medical treatment (in 2006). In 2007 more people will travel to India for critical medical and medi-spa experiences, creating a new trend: “medical tourism”. Indian private health facilities offer high quality procedures using state-of-the-art equipment managed by internationally trained doctors.



• Many hotel/resort spas will recognize the new opportunity that medical tourism presents and market themselves as ideal pre- and post-operation stays. Also look for some travel agents to act as LIFESTYLE coaches, helping to plan vacations that include preventive medical procedures and aesthetic med spa treatments as part of the journey.



• The potential for medical tourism may be seriously underestimated. While estimates by CII-Mckinsey are for little over $1bn by '12, the actual opportunity could be far larger. Even a small fraction - 2% of spending on health care in developed countries - could mean a $50bn industry for India.



• With more and more multinational companies setting base in India, India is seeing an increasing number of business travellers combining business with leisure and the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Events) market is growing.



• Women today visit beauty salons not as much to look better as to feel good and have some time for them. They want to pamper themselves and are constantly on the lookout for new experiences.



• Healthcare is the new buzzword for corporate and individual businessmen alike, with many corporate setting up private hospitals under their banner. Private healthcare has grown into a formidable industry with an estimated worth of Rs 80,000 crore (CII estimate).



• The result: hospitals that don't resemble hospitals, machines that were once unheard of in India and services that can match any five-star hotel.

TDN: What kind of problems does the spa industry in India face today?

C. C.: The main problems are:

• Lack of Standards – there are no organisations currently



• Lack of Accredited Training Institutes



• Lack of Accredited Spa’s



• Lack of Uniformity in Traditional Treatments - Every Spa one visits in India do the Traditional Treatments differently, simple therapy like Ayurvedic Massage is done in different manner in different places, for example, Shirodhara is done at any time of the day, where as it is strictly contra indicated in the afternoons.



• No Association to Address Issues & Grievances of the Industry.



• Lack of Government support in promotion of industry except in few cases



• Lack of Awareness in all strata’s of the society



• Shady places working under the name of Massage joints giving a bad name to the profession & Industry.



• People not choosing the Spa Industry as a profession as they would choose any other off course due to the bad name acquired by the Industry due to wrong doings by few.



• Non-sharing, discreet & Orthodox attitude of some Ayurvedic Practitioners not wanting Ayurveda to be used in Spa Industry.



• Many Practitioners looking at Ayurveda as a Therapeutic Modality rather than Lifestyle Management Modality.



• Non Standardized products

TDN: What are the opportunities for the Indian spa industry?

C. C.: Huge opportunity for new Spa’s to open as there are more places with out Spa’s then those having one. More people becoming aware day by day, so the number of Spa Goers increasing every day. More number of Indians taking Spa experiences as overseas travel becoming more & more due to the Business opportunities for India globally increasing. This is resulting in these people looking for similar experience back home. More & more International Spa’s coming to India, creating greater job opportunities in this industry. Many International Spa operators are incorporating Ayurvedic treatments in the Spa’s operated by them, creating greater scope for the Therapists & the Practitioners. World is looking to India in sharing there expertise

TDN: What about the threats?

C. C.: Non Standardized Spa’s not giving uniform Spa Experience to the Spa goers living them confused about the authenticity of the treatments. Traditional Treatments being marketed in the Spa Industry in a cheap manner, not following even the basis concepts of the science. Giving all the Traditional Treatments a ‘Demand & Supply form’, which probably does not help in positive benefits to the guests as it would if the guest is suggested & given the best suited/ required treatment for that guest after a proper health assessment by the practitioner. Non Standardized Training leaving the therapists with lesser International opportunities. Spa word being misused for any thing & every thing from a changing Room with just a Showers, Steam & a Whirlpool / Plunge pool in a Gym to a small salon with a Massage Facility in a small cramped room.

TDN: How the spa association of India is helping the industry?

C. C.: The aim of the Spa & Wellness Association of India is to unite entire Spa & Wellness Industry under one umbrella helping the Industry to be efficient and authoritative. SWAI is addressing the issues resulting from the rapid expansion and grievances related to the Industry and provides professionals with vital educational resources and identify spa definitions. Also, we intend to establish and implement a code of ethics and occupational health & Safety standards.

Furthermore, SWAI is helping industry in India to stand confidently in front of International Giants & still are good enough. Though our Mentoring & Placement Programme will focus on bringing Uniform Training guidelines helping the Spa therapists & other staff to be accredited, accepted & competent to work any where across the Globe.

Also SWAI is focusing on the following areas:

• Spa & Supplier Recommendations



• Accreditation: Help to establish Industry Standards. Benchmarks help consumers to qualify spas.



• Establish Standardised procedures for employment, spa operations, training guidelines and traditional therapies.