Africa Wellness Congress aims to accelerate continent’s burgeoning wellness industry
The first Africa Wellness Congress is set to take place on 13-14 October at the Es Saadi Marrakech Resort in Morocco, marking a significant step in the development of the continent’s wellness industry. Organised by HAB France, the event carries the theme “Pioneering investment and business in Africa’s Wellness Industry.” It aims to bring together a diverse group of stakeholders—investors, hotel and spa professionals, wellness experts, architects, and policymakers—to explore, discuss, and strategise future wellness markets across Africa.
The Congress programme is designed to foster meaningful collaboration and innovation, featuring keynote speeches, panel discussions, pre-arranged meetings, and ample networking opportunities. According to the event organisers, the gathering will draw industry leaders and specialists not only from Africa but also from Europe and the United States. Among the confirmed speakers are Hamid Bentahar, president of Morocco’s National Confederation of Tourism; Kent Richards, founder of Wellness World Global and active member of the Africa Wellness Initiative based in the UK; and Mariane Akwenye, Namibia’s founder of Nomad Wellness and chair of the Africa Wellness Initiative. Their participation highlights the global dimension and pan-African collaboration effort behind the event.
This inaugural congress also benefits from the support of the Global Wellness Institute’s Africa Wellness Initiative, along with backing from Morocco’s National Confederation of Tourism and other industry partners such as Luxe Radio. HAB France, known for publishing the French trade magazine Beauty Forum, adds considerable expertise to the event, drawing from its extensive experience in organising wellness and spa sector conferences including the Medi Wellness Congress and Forum de l’Esthétique et du Spa.
The timing of the Africa Wellness Congress is opportune, as the continent increasingly embraces wellness as a crucial sector for sustainable growth, tourism enhancement, and economic diversification. Industry data indicate that wellness tourism is a rapidly growing market worldwide, and African destinations are keen to capitalise on this trend by raising standards, attracting investment, and integrating wellness services into their hospitality offerings.
While this Congress focuses on in-person engagement in Morocco, it is important to note that another wellness-related event, the Africa Wellness Summit, is scheduled to take place virtually on 11-12 October. The Summit aims to unite African wellness voices globally under the theme “The Cradle of Wellness Remembered,” and features different speakers, including wellness practitioners and authors, providing a complementary platform for exchange and visibility of African wellness traditions and innovations.
The Congress will also occur in a month rich with sectoral and regional events addressing health, sustainability, and women's empowerment in Africa, underscoring the continent’s dynamic agenda around wellbeing and development. For example, the Africa Sustainable Health Conference and the Africa Health Collaborative Convening, both scheduled in October, focus on health and wellness sustainability, while the Africa Women Conference in Ethiopia highlights empowerment and inclusion themes relevant to wellness and social wellbeing.
By assembling a broad spectrum of expertise and perspectives, the Africa Wellness Congress promises to be a pivotal forum for shaping the future of wellness as a flourishing sector in Africa. This platform aims not only to advance business and investment but also to foster collaboration that honours the continent’s unique cultural and ecological wellness heritage.
Tickets for the Congress are currently available through its official website, with expectations that the event will set a benchmark for future annual gatherings dedicated to the growth of Africa’s wellness industry.