Thailand to host Global Wellness Summit 2026 in Phuket
The four-day summit will take place in Phuket from 10 to 13 November 2026, with organisers expecting about 600 delegates and B300 million in local spending.
Thailand will host the Global Wellness Summit 2026 in Phuket from 10 to 13 November, the Ministry of Public Health said on 24 July.
The summit, known as GWS 2026, will be held under the theme “The Science, Art and Soul of Wellness”. Organisers expect about 600 delegates, excluding accompanying visitors, and estimate that the event will generate around B300 million in spending in Phuket.
Public Health Minister Pattana Promphat said Thailand’s selection reflected the country’s potential as a leading global health and wellness destination. He said the government aimed to use Phuket to attract high-end travellers and investors, increase visitor spending and stimulate investment.
Citing figures from the Global Wellness Institute, Pattana said the global wellness economy was worth US$6.8 trillion in 2024. Thailand ranked 24th worldwide, with a wellness economy valued at US$42.7 billion, or about B1.45 trillion, after 10.1% growth. Thailand’s health tourism sector ranked 15th globally, he said.
The minister said the summit would support the economy by promoting Thai herbal products, traditional massage and health services, while also advancing Thai traditional and alternative medicine internationally.
Susie Ellis, chief executive of the Global Wellness Institute, said Thailand was well suited to host the summit because its long-established health traditions were being combined with efforts to develop medical-wellness and preventive-medicine tourism.
The Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine said it was developing Thai Wellness Destinations and Thai Wellness Communities to raise standards among wellness businesses, support model communities and create value from herbs, traditional medicine and local knowledge.
The summit is being organised with eight principal partner organisations, including the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau, the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation, the National Science, Research and Innovation Fund, BDMS Wellness, Chiva-Som International Health Resort and Value Sourcing Co.
