Before the outbreak of COVID-19, the trend of health care was increasingly capturing people's interest. The pandemic further amplified the global health consciousness as individuals recognized that one of the key ways to combat invading pathogens is to strengthen oneself, building the best possible defense and boosting immunity. Achieving this requires discipline and knowledge to consistently nurture and care for our bodies, as good health takes time to cultivate.  

Another factor making health care increasingly important is that many countries around the world are gradually entering an aging society. According to the United Nations (UN) data from 2020, the global population aged over 60 years averages about 13.5%, or approximately 1.049 billion people, and is projected to rise to 21% or 2.1 billion by 2050. In Thailand, data from the National Economic and Social Development Office in 2021 indicates that we have around 13 million elderly people aged over 60, or about 20%, which is higher than the global average. It is estimated that in the next 10 years, by 2035, Thailand will reach a peak aging society with 28% of the population over 60 years old. This will undoubtedly have widespread impacts on the economy, society, and family levels.  

“This is a significant issue,” said Dr. Amp - Dr. Tanupol Virulhakanarun, President of the Bangkok Association of Health Rehabilitation and Obesity Education (BARSO) and Chairman of the BDMS Wellness Clinic. “As the elderly population increases and the birth rate declines, the working-age population also decreases, leading to heavier burdens on those who work to support not just their spouses and children, but also their parents and even grandparents.”  

 

In 2021, Thailand's birth rate fell below the death rate, which has broad implications from small to large scales. As the workforce diminishes, the potential to drive the country forward also decreases. Tax revenue will decline, leading to increased reliance on foreign labor. Therefore, it is better to plan for the health of ourselves and the elderly in our homes to ensure they can live longer, healthier lives, free from debilitating diseases and capable of self-care.  

Another factor prompting many people to focus on health care before falling ill is the rise of diseases caused by our own actions, known as 'non-communicable diseases (NCDs).' This group of diseases has motivated people worldwide to pay more attention to their health.  

Dr. Amp explains, “NCDs are like silent killers that creep in, manifesting in various forms such as insufficient sleep, accumulated stress, poor diet, and lack of exercise, along with exposure to toxic environments, alcohol, tobacco, and PM 2.5 dust.”  

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2020, 71% of global deaths were due to NCDs, amounting to 41 million people. In Thailand, in 2019, 76.58% of deaths were attributed to NCDs, exceeding the global average, equating to 351,880 people. “If we calculate simply, every hour, 44 people die from NCDs,” Dr. Amp expressed his concern.  

NCDs include various diseases primarily caused by multiple factors, including genetics, environment, and lifestyle. However, the aspect we can change starting today is our 'lifestyle,' which depends on our behavior. The NCDs include:  

1. Stroke (ischemic or hemorrhagic) - This disease is the leading cause of death among NCDs in Thailand.               
2. Diabetes
3. Hypertension
4. Heart disease
5. Various types of cancer
6. Respiratory and lung diseases
7. Lastly, obesity.  
 
From all the information provided, it is clear that the “health care trend” is growing globally. The Global Wellness Institute (GWI) estimates the value of the global wellness economy has significantly increased over the years. The global health market value in 2017 was $4.2 trillion, which rose to $4.8 trillion in 2019, averaging a growth of about 6-7% annually for several years. However, during the COVID pandemic, travel became more difficult, with many countries closing travel routes and restricting movement to control the disease, causing the overall value of the health business trend that had been increasing over the past decade to drop to $4.4 trillion in 2020.  
 
 
Despite the overall economic value declining, there are still four sectors that continue to grow against the trend, even during the COVID-19 pandemic:
  1. Wellness Real Estate - This sector grew to $275.1 billion in 2020, an increase of 22.1% from the previous year. Although the hotel business was heavily impacted during the pandemic, many properties in both hotel and residential sectors adapted to focus more on health, such as installing air purifiers, sanitizing, or modifying spaces to accommodate the elderly. This principle has led this sector to grow globally by 22.1% last year.
  2. Mental Wellness - This sector focuses on mental health, stress reduction, quality sleep, meditation, and other practices that help care for the mind. It is a new but rapidly growing sector, valued at $131.2 billion in 2020, with a growth of 7.2%. This sector has also thrived during COVID, as people sought ways to manage and relieve stress. The sooner mental health is addressed, the better.
  3. Public Health, Preventive and Precision Medicine - This sector emphasizes preventive health checks and body care before illness to understand disease risks and plan optimal self-care. This sector grew globally by 4.5%, with a value of $375.4 billion in 2020.
  4. Healthy Eating, Nutrition, and Weight Loss - This sector relates to healthy foods, low-fat, low-sugar, low-sodium, weight loss, and organic foods. In 2020, this sector was valued at $945.5 billion, growing by 3.6%.
 
These are the four sectors that have grown even during the COVID-19 pandemic, while the sector that saw the most significant decline in value is Wellness Tourism due to travel restrictions and disease control measures.
 
 
 
Wellness Tourism 
 
Next, Dr. Amp will delve into Wellness Tourism to provide a deeper understanding of what wellness tourism entails.  
 
The value of Wellness Tourism in 2018 was as high as $617 billion. In the following year, 2019, it grew to $720.4 billion, representing an annual growth of 8.1%, surpassing the average overall growth of the wellness business sector at 6.4%. However, in 2020, the COVID-19 control measures reduced the market value to $435 billion, a drop of 39.5%. It is anticipated that in 2021, the value rebounded to $652 billion, reflecting a growth of 20.9%.  
 
Dr. Amp commented, “If the country reopens or the pandemic can be controlled, and the risks decrease, welcoming tourists will certainly help revive the wellness tourism trend.”  
 
According to the Global Wellness Institute, wellness tourism is expected to experience a significant leap in growth over the coming years, averaging a growth rate of 20.9% per year, with the value of this sector projected to exceed $1 trillion by 2027. With this knowledge, operators can prepare themselves accordingly.  
 
From the Global Wellness Institute report in 2018, the growth rate of wellness tourism in Asia was the highest in the world, increasing by 33% from 194 million trips to 258 million trips within two years. Similarly, Thailand, a leading tourist destination for various groups, will leverage wellness tourism as a key asset to enhance the tourism industry’s potential, attracting high-spending tourists who stay longer and spend more per trip than regular tourists. According to the Global Wellness Institute, health tourists spend approximately 50,000 baht per trip, which is 53% higher than regular tourists. It is certain that once the COVID-19 pandemic ends, many countries will push for the wellness tourism market even more.  
 
“Imagine this: Thailand has many advantages. If we can expand our tourism market and create incentives for tourists to visit and spend more in our country, the money will circulate more in the economy, benefiting the country in many sectors,” Dr. Amp stated.  
 
Data from Kasikorn Research Center in 2017 indicated that Thailand had 12.5 million health tourists annually, generating revenue of 409 billion baht and creating 530,000 jobs. Thailand ranks 4th in Asia for wellness tourism, following China, Japan, and India, and is the 10th fastest-growing country in the world, with potential to climb higher if it plans to accommodate health tourists from around the globe effectively. Thailand also has other attractive factors for health tourists.  
 
1. Research from Johns Hopkins University ranks Thailand 6th in the world and 1st in Asia among 195 countries for health security index.  
 
2. Thailand is a Medical Hub for global medical services, with a high number of JCI-accredited hospitals, ranking among the top 5 in the world, giving tourists confidence that in case of unexpected events, the quality of healthcare in Thailand can take care of them or their families.  
 
3. Thailand ranks 2nd in the world as a desired destination for wellness tourism, following Australia, according to the Wellness Tourism Initiative 2020.  
 
4. Bangkok has been ranked as the number one city in the world for workation, where people can work while traveling, according to Holidu Magazine UK, followed by Chiang Mai and Phuket, which ranked 10th in the world.