ing a wellness tourism programme into the 2014 event to recognise the sector’s 9% annual growth which is faster than travel and tourism as a whole.

The WTM Wellness Tourism programme, organised by media marketing and gift company Spafinder Wellness 365 in association with the Global Wellness Tourism Congress, will take place from Tuesday 4 to Thursday November 6.

Leading experts from the sector will be sharing their experience and insights across the three days.?

Spafinder Wellness 365 managing director John Bevan said: “I am excited by this opportunity to increase the exposure of the wellness tourism industry to the wider global travel industry at WTM.

“The sector offers a wide range of opportunities for the travel and tourism industry to benefit from and World Travel Market?is the perfect platform to help grow the sector further.”

The first session will explore what wellness tourism is and why it is growing faster than the wider travel and tourism industry including findings from the latest research in the sector.

The second session will define medical tourism and wellness tourism, and the third will discuss how national and regional governments as well as private sector businesses have successfully integrated wellness tourism into their marketing campaigns.

World Travel Market head of marketing and communications Micaela Juarez said: “The introduction of a Wellness Tourism programme came from the findings of our post-event research, which showed participants would like more information on this fast-growing sector.

“The programme will bring a new audience to World Travel Market, while also offering existing participants vital information to help grow their bus