traveler
March 14th, 2006, 04:10 AM
Springs and spa resorts on the rise
Thermal springs and spa resort tourism is enjoying rising demand following amendments to legislation in 2004. As a result, 13,000 new clients used existing spas and wellness centres based on water treatments around the country, says José Manuel Romão, chairman of the Portuguese Spa Association (Associação das Termas Portuguesas). Turnover in the sector has been rising, from €174 million in 2002 to €177 million in 2003 and €180 million in 2004. The spa sector has redefined attractions with spa resorts offering holidays combined with wellness treatment, massages, saunas and general sporting activities in line with the classic attractions of traditional spas in central and eastern Europe. Mr Romão said the explosion of health and fitness centres in the country is now trending towards wellness centres where spa waters are regarded as the “health facilitator par excellence” The initials Spa in Portuguese stand for “health through water”. (“Spa-Saúde Pela Água”). The European committee of spas has chosen Portugal to host the next European Spa Congress between May 16 and 21 2006 at a so far unidentified Spa resort. The sector plans to expand marketing across Europe ahead of the congress. ASTA Atlantida - Sociedade de Turismo e Animação, SA is to open Furnas Spa Hotel, a new 2000 m2 spa resort on São Miguel in the Azores in May 2007. ASTA was established to bid for the gambling concession on the Azores. Following its success it is to build four new units on the Azores as well as the casino and gaming facility. The first project will be the Furnas Spa Hotel in Furnas parish, Ilha de São Miguel. This will involve upgrading the existing, semi-abandoned spa resort and turning it into a 4-star unit designed around the spa spring and spa waters says Rui Moniz, group marketing director. He says the unique selling point for the hotel is that the Furnas area is regarded as the hydropole of Europe offering the greatest number of cold and hot thermal springs and medicinal waters in the entire continent.
Thermal springs and spa resort tourism is enjoying rising demand following amendments to legislation in 2004. As a result, 13,000 new clients used existing spas and wellness centres based on water treatments around the country, says José Manuel Romão, chairman of the Portuguese Spa Association (Associação das Termas Portuguesas). Turnover in the sector has been rising, from €174 million in 2002 to €177 million in 2003 and €180 million in 2004. The spa sector has redefined attractions with spa resorts offering holidays combined with wellness treatment, massages, saunas and general sporting activities in line with the classic attractions of traditional spas in central and eastern Europe. Mr Romão said the explosion of health and fitness centres in the country is now trending towards wellness centres where spa waters are regarded as the “health facilitator par excellence” The initials Spa in Portuguese stand for “health through water”. (“Spa-Saúde Pela Água”). The European committee of spas has chosen Portugal to host the next European Spa Congress between May 16 and 21 2006 at a so far unidentified Spa resort. The sector plans to expand marketing across Europe ahead of the congress. ASTA Atlantida - Sociedade de Turismo e Animação, SA is to open Furnas Spa Hotel, a new 2000 m2 spa resort on São Miguel in the Azores in May 2007. ASTA was established to bid for the gambling concession on the Azores. Following its success it is to build four new units on the Azores as well as the casino and gaming facility. The first project will be the Furnas Spa Hotel in Furnas parish, Ilha de São Miguel. This will involve upgrading the existing, semi-abandoned spa resort and turning it into a 4-star unit designed around the spa spring and spa waters says Rui Moniz, group marketing director. He says the unique selling point for the hotel is that the Furnas area is regarded as the hydropole of Europe offering the greatest number of cold and hot thermal springs and medicinal waters in the entire continent.