‘Slow travel’ is rising
Wellness‑focused ‘slow travel’ is surging for spring/summer 2026 — luxury rail, cruises with advanced wellness amenities, and immersive multi‑stop itineraries are being promoted as restorative travel experiences. The U.S. is also prepping for a tourism boom tied to FIFA World Cup 2026, with infrastructure and visitation expected to spike through 2027. ( )
Global Wellness Institute’s 2026 Wellness Tourism Initiative names “Cocooning Wellness,” “The Nervous System Reset,” and “In Search of Deep Rest” among its top trends for the year. (globalwellnessinstitute.org: ) Market forecasts put wellness tourism at roughly $974.6 billion in 2025 and project growth to about $1.06 trillion in 2026 — a year‑over‑year lift implying a near‑10% CAGR for the sector. (researchandmarkets.com: ) Rocky Mountaineer’s limited “Passage to the Peaks” luxury route will run during June–July 2026 with one‑ to ten‑day itineraries offered in SilverLeaf and GoldLeaf service levels. (travelpulse.com: ) Belmond’s Venice Simplon‑Orient‑Express has added a “Villeggiatura by Train” Paris‑to‑Amalfi itinerary that debuts May 4, 2026 and pairs overnight rail travel with two‑night stays at Belmond properties. (belmond.com: ) Saudi Arabia’s Dream of the Desert — developed by Saudi Arabia Railways with Italy’s Arsenale — opened pre‑reservations in late 2025 and is slated to begin operations by the end of 2026 with plans for roughly 31 suites (reporting capacity of about 66 passengers) across multiple ultra‑luxury itineraries. (spa.gov.sa: ) (luxurylaunches.com: ) Crystal Cruises announced two “Wellness at Sea” retreat voyages aboard Crystal Symphony for August 2026 (Aug. 17–24 and Aug. 24–Sept. 5) featuring a roster of specialists including wellness ambassador Dalila Roglieri and programming such as sound baths, longevity lectures and two‑day detox programming. (crystalcruises.com: ) Aggregators and travel press list multiple lines expanding wellness sailings in 2025–26 — from Celebrity and Viking to boutique river operators — with offerings ranging from structured retreats and health‑forward menus to on‑board longevity programming. (thepointsguy.com: ) (travelandtourworld.com: ) Oxford Economics and Tourism Economics forecast about 1.24 million international visitors to the U.S. for World Cup 2026, with roughly 742,000 incremental trips tied directly to the tournament. (oxfordeconomics.com: ) Federal and local investments are already being mobilized: the U.S. Department of Transportation committed $100.3 million in Federal Transit Administration grants to help transit agencies in host cities expand service for World Cup matches. (transportation.gov: ) U.S. Travel’s October 2025 forecast expects international visits to the United States to resume growth in 2026 (projected ~70.4 million visits) and identifies the FIFA World Cup and other major events as primary drivers of the inbound recovery through 2027 and beyond. (ustravel.org: )
