NSW will celebrate Global Wellness Day on 14 June 2025, as interest in wellness tourism and experiences surges.

Wellness tourism involves travel primarily focused on maintaining or enhancing personal wellbeing, encompassing physical, mental, and emotional health. It's a growing trend globally, with travellers seeking experiences that improve their holistic health and explore destinations while prioritising their wellbeing.

The global wellness tourism market has been valued at almost $950 billion by the Global Wellness Institute.

Statista predicts wellness tourism will be worth around $US1.35 trillion in 2028, an increase of more than 100 per cent on the market size in 2022.

Data from Big Red Group shows demand for wellness tourism has surged in Australia. In August 2024, Australia’s largest experience network released results from a study that showed the wellness experience category had seen a 228.4 per cent increase in bookings year on year.

Presented by Well Traveller in Australia, Global Wellness Day is a not-for-profit movement celebrated in more than 170 countries. Its mission is simple but powerful: to inspire people to live well, with the belief that one day can change your whole life.

Founder of Well Traveller and Australia’s Global Wellness Day Ambassador Katherine Droga (above) said: “Global Wellness Day is a perfect opportunity to pause, reconnect, and reset our sense of wellbeing. It’s a chance to discover your well place—whatever that means to you—and best of all, it’s free.”

Global Wellness Day activities in 2025 will range from yoga in the park, wellbeing talks, forest bathing, breathwork, pilates, sound healing and equine wellness activities.

In Sydney, three Well Traveller free experiences will take place in Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens.

'Your Morning Ritual On Sydney Harbour' will offer a guided experience to start the day, blending gentle mind-body-movement connection and gratitude practice with Paul von Bergen, head teacher and founder of Billabong Retreat, while taking in the spectacular views of Sydney Harbour.

'Awaken Well: Small Habits, Big Shifts' will see Well Traveller TV host and seven-time world surfing champion Layne Beachley and practitioner of positive psychology and wellbeing Tess Brouwer, co-founders of Awake Academy, host a wellbeing wisdom session in nature on Sydney Harbour.

'Healing Herbs: Harness the Lifeforce of Nature for Wellbeing' will invite guests to explore the Royal Botanic Sydney’s Herb Garden with Jurlique skincare Farm & Tourism Manager Cherie Hutchinson, and discover how herbs and botanicals have been used for centuries to lift moods, heal bodies and nourish skin.

Further north in Byron Bay, 'The Wellness Trail: Sip, Sample, Stroll' at Elements of Byron will start at the Osprey Spa with an immunity tea and hand massage, then attendees will join a guided nature walk through the resort’s native rainforest.

Learn more about Global Wellness Day events here.

The 2025 Wellness Tourism Summit, proudly supported by Destination NSW, will be held in Byron Bay from 4-5 September 2025.

The summit will bring together leaders in the wellness tourism space from around the globe, alongside operators and suppliers looking to grow their businesses or step into this industry. Learn more here.

Destination NSW has created a Quick Tips for Creating Wellness Experiences guide. View it here.