As New Zealand announces its first wellbeing budget, matters of wellbeing and happiness are being recognised as essential to the health of democracy and political stability worldwide
By Liz Terry | Published in Spa Business 2019 issue 1
Jacinda Ardern announced her wellbeing budget in Davos
At the recent World Economic Summit in Davos, Jacinda Ardern, prime minister of New Zealand, announced that her government will publish the world’s first wellbeing budget in May this year.
Rather than being an add-on to a conventional budget, the wellbeing budget will permeate all aspects of government finance and have long-term goals and funding.
There will be key priority areas focused on intergenerational change, including living standards, human, social and natural capital, while areas of special concern will be mental health, climate change, digital transformation, social exclusion, health, housing and domestic violence.
Ardern believes neo-capitalism and the move away from kindness in social policy which we have seen in recent decades has created social problems which are giving rise to civil unrest, posing a threat to the world’s democracies and leading to the rise of nationalism, isolationism, protectionism and the abandonment of global institutions.
She said: “At a time when the international rules-based order is under strain and leaders around the world are grappling with understandably dissatisfied constituencies, I hope this wellbeing approach will provide a model which others, in turn might look to.
“I wholeheartedly believe that more compassionate domestic policies are a compelling alternative to the false promise of protectionism and isolation.”
Several governments have appointed ministers for happiness and wellbeing to bring a focus to this important area of policy, but this is the first time a government has opted to orientate all its major policies in this way.
It’s significant to hear our industry being proposed as part of the solution to such fundamental global issues and heralds challenging times, full of opportunities for us to be useful.
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2019 issue 1
Spa Programmes: On the menu
Event saunas, sunlight therapy
and health and happiness retreats
feature in our programming series
Interview: Marc Cohen
Dr Marc Cohen is launching an extreme
bathing retreat and writing children’s
books. He talks to Jane Kitchen
Promotional feature: Vital Tech
Infrared technology is growing in popularity, Vital Tech’s Alexandra Gavsevitch
and Serge Parienti explain how it works
Focus on: Equine therapy
What is equine therapy and how
can spas tap into horsepower?
Kathleen Whyman finds out
Wellness: Chill out
Is going sub-zero the next big thing?
Kath Hudson takes a closer look
at the benefits of cryotherapy
Promotional feature: The Wellness
Noha Khalil of The Wellness discusses how
gym and spa elements are increasingly
coming together through design to
deliver outstanding fitness concepts
An opportunity to reimagine one of the UK’s most recognisable towers has been formally
opened by Rivington Hark, as St Johns Beacon invites operators and partners to shape its
next phase. [more...]
As New Zealand announces its first wellbeing budget, matters of wellbeing and happiness are being recognised as essential to the health of democracy and political stability worldwide
By Liz Terry | Published in Spa Business 2019 issue 1
Jacinda Ardern announced her wellbeing budget in Davos
At the recent World Economic Summit in Davos, Jacinda Ardern, prime minister of New Zealand, announced that her government will publish the world’s first wellbeing budget in May this year.
Rather than being an add-on to a conventional budget, the wellbeing budget will permeate all aspects of government finance and have long-term goals and funding.
There will be key priority areas focused on intergenerational change, including living standards, human, social and natural capital, while areas of special concern will be mental health, climate change, digital transformation, social exclusion, health, housing and domestic violence.
Ardern believes neo-capitalism and the move away from kindness in social policy which we have seen in recent decades has created social problems which are giving rise to civil unrest, posing a threat to the world’s democracies and leading to the rise of nationalism, isolationism, protectionism and the abandonment of global institutions.
She said: “At a time when the international rules-based order is under strain and leaders around the world are grappling with understandably dissatisfied constituencies, I hope this wellbeing approach will provide a model which others, in turn might look to.
“I wholeheartedly believe that more compassionate domestic policies are a compelling alternative to the false promise of protectionism and isolation.”
Several governments have appointed ministers for happiness and wellbeing to bring a focus to this important area of policy, but this is the first time a government has opted to orientate all its major policies in this way.
It’s significant to hear our industry being proposed as part of the solution to such fundamental global issues and heralds challenging times, full of opportunities for us to be useful.
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2019 issue 1
Spa Programmes: On the menu
Event saunas, sunlight therapy
and health and happiness retreats
feature in our programming series
Interview: Marc Cohen
Dr Marc Cohen is launching an extreme
bathing retreat and writing children’s
books. He talks to Jane Kitchen
Promotional feature: Vital Tech
Infrared technology is growing in popularity, Vital Tech’s Alexandra Gavsevitch
and Serge Parienti explain how it works
Focus on: Equine therapy
What is equine therapy and how
can spas tap into horsepower?
Kathleen Whyman finds out
Wellness: Chill out
Is going sub-zero the next big thing?
Kath Hudson takes a closer look
at the benefits of cryotherapy
Promotional feature: The Wellness
Noha Khalil of The Wellness discusses how
gym and spa elements are increasingly
coming together through design to
deliver outstanding fitness concepts
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package
that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
A new immersive attraction designed to transport visitors into the final hours of ancient Pompeii
is preparing to open near the world-famous archaeological site in southern Italy.
Experience design company, BRC Imagination Arts, has completed a transition that sees founder
Bob Rogers pass ownership of the business to four long-serving senior executives, while
remaining actively involved with the company.
Movie Park Germany has opened a new Paramount Pictures-themed attraction as part of its 30th
anniversary celebrations, using immersive storytelling and adaptive reuse to reinforce the park’s
longstanding “Hollywood in Germany” positioning.
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions
that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once
complete, according to prof David Russell, CEO of Therme UK.
Efteling has opened Hooghmoed, a new family drop tower designed to broaden the appeal of its
recently launched Sirene Island themed area and introduce younger visitors to thrill attractions.
A proposed Puy du Fou development near Bicester and Universal Destinations and Experiences’
planned resort in Bedford are emerging as part of a wider transformation of the Oxford–
Cambridge Growth Corridor into a major centre for UK leisure and tourism inv
Shedd Aquarium has opened the Immersion Theater developed in partnership with SimEx-
Iwerks, as part of a wider strategy to enhance the guest experience and create additional
revenue opportunities.
The UK government has announced a temporary reduction in VAT on visitor attractions and
children’s meals as part of a summer cost-of-living support package designed to stimulate the
visitor economy and encourage family days out.
As designer Yinka Ilori prepares for his first solo gallery show in London, he speaks exclusively
to CLADmag about his mission to spread joy, the power of play, and his bold approach to using
colour (including the colours you won’t see in his work).
The government of Thailand is exploring plans for a THB300bn (£6.3bn, US$8.3bn)
entertainment complex in the country’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), with officials
proposing a large-scale theme park and sports destination as part of a broader tourism and
economic development strategy.
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instantprint We’re a Yorkshire-based online printer, founded
in 2009 by Adam Carnell and James Kinsella. [more...]
An opportunity to reimagine one of the UK’s most recognisable towers has been formally
opened by Rivington Hark, as St Johns Beacon invites operators and partners to shape its
next phase. [more...]
