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7. Wellness is BIG—and We’re Here for It

From day spas to therapist-free treatments and plant-based evolution, the APSWC is steering the wellness industry toward a future rooted in responsibility, inclusivity, and innovation.

In an era where “wellness” has become a global buzzword, one question remains critical: wellness for whom?

For the Asia-Pacific Spa & Wellness Coalition (APSWC), the answer lies not in more massages or luxury escapes but in meaningful reform—where spas nourish not just individuals but entire communities. That conviction was echoed at the APSWC Round Table 2025, held in Jakarta this April, where industry leaders gathered to rethink the very role of spas and wellness centers in modern society.

Who is the APSWC?

Founded in 2007 following an industry roundtable in Bali, the Asia Pacific Spa & Wellness Coalition is a Singapore-registered nonprofit that unites over 1,300 spa and wellness operators, suppliers, and consultants from across the region. With a mission to drive development, visibility, and sustainability, APSWC has become a regional authority and catalyst—bridging traditional healing with modern innovation and business acumen with social purpose.

Their annual Round Table, a closed-door strategic forum, gathers top-level stakeholders—from government bodies to wellness educators and spa directors to media—to collaboratively shape the industry’s trajectory. The 2025 edition focused on four key pillars: community wellness, touchless technology, plant-based nutrition, and the evolving role of day spas.

The Rise of ‘Community Wellness’

“Wellness begins with ‘we’,” and in a region grappling with rising adolescent mental health issues (1 in 7 boys and 1 in 9 girls aged 10–19 in Asia-Pacific now face mental health challenges), the spa sector is being urged to do more than relax—it’s being asked to intervene.

This means:

• Creating safe spaces for emotional well-being

• Integrating mental health literacy into spa manager training

• Hiring CSR leaders to build two-way bridges between spas and surrounding communities

• Supporting local economies through inclusive sourcing and training

The shift is both operational and philosophical. “We can’t serve wellness from an empty cup,” the report states, advocating for wellness leave, internal counselling, and burnout prevention programmes for practitioners themselves. After all, a therapist who’s physically exhausted or emotionally depleted can’t deliver holistic healing.

Touchless Wellness: Fad or the Future?

Pandemic-era staffing shortages accelerated the rise of touchless therapies, from cryotherapy to LED light beds and sound healing to hydrotherapy pods. But far from replacing the human element, the APSWC argues that these technologies can free up therapists to become wellness consultants, providing oversight across multiple stations and therapies.

Culturally, Asia-Pacific’s rich tradition of non-contact rituals—from onsens to herbal steam rooms—already forms a foundation for this evolution. The future lies in building hybrid models that blend the best of both worlds.

Rethinking the Spa Menu: Plant-Based with Purpose

What you serve on a spa tray matters just as much as what’s on the treatment table. Plant-based nutrition is no longer a fringe trend—it’s a climate-conscious, health-forward imperative. And yet, misconceptions persist.

The white paper breaks it down:

• Many plant-based foods (quinoa, tempeh, legumes, chia) are protein-rich

• Not all vegan items are equal—processed substitutes may be bad for personal health even if good for the planet

• Culinary training is essential before integration into wellness menus

The Day Spa Gets Its Due

Long overshadowed by destination wellness resorts, the humble day spa is finally being recognised as a frontline player in wellness tourism. These local sanctuaries offer more than massages—they can become community hubs for yoga, sound bathing, and post-treatment recovery. APSWC recommends greater collaboration between day spas and tour operators, community engagement and youth skill-building and clear therapist certification pathways and optional accreditations (like ASEAN Spa Standards).