HEALTH is truly wealth when it comes to travelling. As a traveller, a certain level of fitness and stamina is vital to last the distance, to sample as many sights, sounds and experiences as possible.
Spa stands for salus per aqua, which means healing by water.
A regular visit to the spa brings relief from internal ailments, rejuvenates the body and provides oxygen to the skin and joints.
Malaysia provides the perfect backdrop for health rituals with its traditional therapies that are amongst the oldest in the world, diversity of cultures and vast abundance of natural resources. In fact, Malaysia is fast becoming one of the most competitive spa destinations in Asia. Apart from the attractive medical tourism packages, another reason that draws health tourists to the country is the excellent spa vacation packages.
Wellness and spa tourism is not a new phenomenon in Malaysia. Of late, the increasing popularity of health spas in Malaysia has provided an avenue for lucrative investments in promoting health tourism packages.
According to a survey by Intelligent Spas, the number of spas in Malaysia has grown more than 200 per cent since 2002. There are more than 170 spas currently operating and earning an average RM1,000 ($312) per day in sales. The industry in Malaysia is still growing and it is expected to reach 250 outlets by 2011, according to Euromonitor International 2007 Country Sector Briefing.
Changes in lifestyle and the increased level of health consciousness have led many individuals, especially working executives, single women and couples, to visit spas.
There is a growing number of foreign and domestic tourists visiting day spas for relaxation and treatments. More premium spas have appeared at various resorts such as Langkawi, Penang and Kuala Lumpur. Most day spa facilities have also been upgraded to provide a full range of rejuvenating and therapeutic treatments.
Malaysia has great potential to be one of the most talked-about spa destinations in the Southeast Asia region. A great choice of high-quality spa and wellness centres can be found just about anywhere – in city hotels, resorts or simply located within major tourist districts such as the Golden Triangle area in Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur. The natural landscape of Malaysia, such as rainforest, waterfalls, highlands, hot springs as well as riversides, provide the perfect backdrop for a unique spa experience.
Spa Village is an award-winning luxury spa brand, owned and managed by the Malaysian-based YTL Hotels, whose spa concept combines the therapeutic properties of natural local ingredients with age-old healing practices.
From the flagship Spa Village Pangkor Laut, to the ones in Kuala Lumpur, Tanjong Jara, Cameron Highlands and Malacca, each individual property offers guests an authentic and unique spa experience based on the traditional healing practices of the local area.
The Spa at The Saujana, Kuala Lumpur, opens the door to an intimate world dedicated to the restoration of strength, beauty and balance of body, mind and soul. Visitors get to experience treatments such as stimulating body polishing, romantic bathing ceremony, rejuvenating beauty rituals and therapeutic massage designed to pamper and restore vitality.
Voted the ‘Best Spa in Malaysia’ by the SpaFinder 2009 Readers Poll, the Chi spa at Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa resides in the calm and peaceful city of Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.
This spa offers a unique design concept with its stand-alone ‘spa village’ which sits on an ‘island’ connected to the resort via a private causeway.
Energy, Day Spa at Kuala Lumpur is an award-winning day spa which is a total wellness getaway in the heart of Kuala Lumpur.
And there are many, many more offering everything from botox to reflexology.