A 2025 study from Vanderbilt University Medical Center (on 85,000 predominantly Black and low-income participants) found that just 15 minutes of brisk walking daily were linked with a nearly 20% reduction in mortality. The positive effects of walking have been endlessly documented, but this research revealed that walking quickly delivers health benefits in a very short timeframe. Slow walking for more than three hours daily was…
The Life of Plastic: How Microplastics Contaminate Entire Ecosystems, Including the Food We Eat––The Guardian Microplastics have been found in the placentas of unborn babies, the summit of Everest and the organs of Antarctic penguins. But how do they travel through the world, and what do they do to the creatures that carry them? Since the 1950s, humans have produced in excess of 8.3 billion…
According to the most recent Gallup survey on wellbeing (based on their Life Evaluation Index interviews conducted in 142 countries), more people globally report that they are living better lives, while also becoming more hopeful about the future, significantly more than they have in years. In 2024, a median of 33% of adults across 142 countries rated their lives well enough to be…
How Wellness Policies Can Promote Responsible Tourism By Tonia Callender, GWI research fellow  Wellness in tourism extends beyond a destination’s wellness businesses and services. It also involves protecting the wellbeing of the tourism workforce and the surrounding communities. As global tourism recovers from the pandemic’s impact, many destinations are feeling the strain of overtourism which threatens residents’ wellbeing, bringing noise, congestion and rising costs, while…
2025 Wellness Travel Consumer Survey This initiative regularly measures consumer and industry sentiment around wellness travel. Our research provides valuable insight for the sector into the latest consumer intention, behaviors and key motivations for wellness travel experiences and destination selection. We invite you to complete our 2025 Wellbeing Check In Survey – open until September 30, 2025. All responses are anonymized for analysis. WIN! All…
Wellness Tourism Case Studies: A Deeper Dive into Best Practices and Future Success The Wellness Tourism Initiative is excited to share a series of in-depth case studies that explore how destinations around the world are successfully attracting and driving wellness tourism. These case studies serve as valuable research pieces, offering a comprehensive look at the strategies and tactics being employed by countries, towns, cities, and…
