The Global Wellness Institute (GWI) has announced its curated agenda for the Wellness Travel Symposium, taking place during World Travel Market’s Arabian Travel Market from 24-27 April in Dubai.

The Symposium marks the start of a strategic partnership between the WTM and the GWI and will highlight the growing wellness travel industry in the Middle East-North Africa (MENA), a market growing at a rate of 6.5 per cent each year.

During the Symposium, the GWI will release new research unveiling the fastest growing and leading wellness tourism and spa markets in the MENA region.

“Wellness tourism continues to grow at a healthy clip across the Middle East: roughly twice as fast as global tourism growth from 2013 to 2015,” said Susie Ellis, GWI’s chairman and CEO.

“We’ve put together a future-focused agenda designed to give ATM delegates actionable information they can take back to their businesses to help them maximize the opportunities wellness tourism offers.”

Co-moderator is Dr. Franz Linser, CEO of Linser Hospitality and chair of the GWI’s Wellness Tourism Initiative, who added: “The time is ripe for Middle Eastern hotels, resorts and spas to promote their truly unique wellness assets and move beyond wellness concepts imported from the West.”

The event will include a panel of experts identifying stand-out wellness destinations and spas in the Middle East, an analysis of government’s role in wellness tourism, and a look at the indigenous traditions in wellness and beauty across the Arabian Peninsula - and how destinations can maximise their authenticity and differentiation.

The complete agenda includes: New Research and What’s Trending in Wellness Travel for the Middle East?; From Spa to Wellness: Differentiation Has Arrived; A Glimpse of the Most Stunning Wellness Properties & Spas in the Middle East: Past and Future; The Government’s Role in Wellness Tourism; Middle Eastern Traditions in Beauty and Wellness: Design, the Hammam, Cuisine, Products, Wellness Living and more!