Puerto Plata opens the first wellness centre in a Caribbean airport

Puerto Plata International Airport now has its Green Garden Wellness Lounge, the first wellness centre operating inside an air terminal anywhere in the Caribbean, according to Arecoa. The space opens with a simple idea: travellers should not just wait, they should also take care of themselves before boarding.

There is more to this than the headline. Puerto Plata adds a service we had only seen in big hubs in Europe, Asia or the United States, and it does so at a terminal that handles flights from Canada, Europe and the United States. For the destination, it is a sign that the airport is starting to compete on quality of experience, not just passenger numbers.

The business case is clear. A wellness lounge inside a terminal drives non-aeronautical revenue, extends the traveller's stay and gives the destination an edge over Punta Cana or Samaná. If Puerto Plata consolidates these kinds of services, the premium visitor has one more reason to pick the north coast. It remains to be seen how tour operators respond and whether the model is replicated at other terminals in the country.

• First wellness centre inside a Caribbean terminal
• Located at Puerto Plata International Airport
• Operated by Green Garden Wellness Lounge
• Strengthens the terminal's non-aeronautical offering