Wellness Tourism Conference

Nelson, 18-19 September Hawaii Island Wellness Travel Association founding president Susanne Sims has been confirmed as the keynote speaker for the New Zealand Wellness Tourism Symposium, being held at Rutherford Hotel Nelson in September.

Registrations for the inaugural symposium, which will set the scene for the industry's strategic development in New Zealand, are now open.

As well as being the founding president of Hawaii's wellness travel and ecotourism associations, Susanne Sims has also served as Chair of the Hawaii Island Visitors Bureau Spa and Wellness Marketing Committee.

The Ministry of Tourism and Tourism New Zealand will also be presenting at the symposium, examining how wellness tourism fits into the vision of the New Zealand Tourism Strategy 2015, New Zealand's position in the wellness tourism market, and product development opportunities.

The two-day event is being planned by a committee comprising the Nelson Wellness Cluster, Nelson Regional Economic Development Agency, Nelson Tasman Tourism and onCue.

Spa and wellness tourism is a multi billion dollar industry internationally. NZTE is currently carrying out a feasibility study to address New Zealand's position in the global industry.

The draft programme and registrations are available at www.wellnesstourismnz.com.