Discover Why Bali is the #1 Worldwide Wellness Destination
- Published: Wednesday, June 3rd 2015
- in Travel & Play
In this year’s Worldwide Wellness Destination survey, Bali jumped from the #4 position in 2014 to the top of the list in 2015, mostly because people believe it offers an authentic wellness culture.
Photo courtesy of ONEWORLD Retreats
The second annual Worldwide Wellness Destination survey – conducted by Travel to Wellness (this writer’s online magazine since 2004) and Well-Being Travel, a leading marketing organization focusing on educating the travel agent community on wellness travel – asked respondents this question: If you could travel anywhere in the world for a wellness vacation, what geographic destination would you choose? The second part of the question was: WHY would you choose this destination? Think about it for a moment, what destination would you choose?
The results of the survey are listed here in the order of votes received:
- Bali
- Hawaii
- Costa Rica
- Italy
- Arizona
- New Zealand
- California
- Thailand
- India
- Australia
Wayan Partawan, a senior yoga instructor at the Balinese-owned ONEWORLD retreats in the hills of Ubud, leads Immerse Yourself In Bali, a popular six-day retreat offered several times a year. He tells us “the Balinese people are spiritually connected in everything we do.” He says his parents taught him to pray “practically before doing anything” and he adds that “it gives me harmony and clarity in my every day life and my work.”
Another example of Balinese spirituality is the number of alters – in temples, homes, shop fronts, even, he says, on top of motorbikes. He says offerings “are given at least once a day to thank nature and the gods and are always preceded by prayers.” The Balinese, he explains, “believe in the concept of Tri Hita Karana which emphasizes the balance between nature, humans, and the gods.”
The perceived natural beauty of Bali is another reason why Bali most likely made it to the top of the list. Nature was the number one reason why survey participants selected a particular destination, followed by Culture, Yoga & Meditation, Spas, and Outdoor Fitness Adventures.
The independent, non-sponsored survey polled a combination of Travel to Wellness readers plus visitors to the Well-Being Travel booth at the 2015 New York Times Travel Show.
Anne Dimon
