22.04.23 European Spas AssociationEuropäischer Heilbäderverband
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European Spas Association (ESPA)
„Resort development tendencies in Europe“
22.04.23 European Spas AssociationEuropäischer Heilbäderverband
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ESPA MembersAustria Hungary Poland
Canada* Iceland Portugal
Czech Republic Italy Serbia
Estonia Latvia Slovakian Republic
Finland Lithuania Slovenian Republic
Germany Luxembourg Spain
Great Britain Montenegro* Switzerland
Greece Netherlands Turkey
* Observing member/Guest status
22.04.23 European Spas AssociationEuropäischer Heilbäderverband
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Lobbying
Co-operation with:European Tourism Industry Network (ETIN)
European Travel Commission (ETC) Hotel Restaurants & Cafes (HOTREC)
European Social Insurance Partners (ESIP)
Communication with:Regional Representations of Europe
Council of the European Municipalities and Regions (RGRE)
European European CouncilCommission Parliament of Europe
22.04.23 European Spas AssociationEuropäischer Heilbäderverband
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StatisticsNumber of
Spas2001 2002 2003 2001 2002 2003
Germany(Mineral- u. Moorheilbäder, Heilklimatische Kurorte, Kneippheilbäder u. Kneippkurorte) 265 71.338.137 68.552.308 66.332.972 11.619.045 11.362.903 11.341.777
Germany(Seeheil- u. Seebäder) 48 34.303.796 34.502.403 35.737.856 5.265.106 5.361.952 5.787.913
Estonia 12/2001 16/2002 615.327 740.367 93.188 217.510
France (Thermal) 96 10.354.797 9.758.328 545.334 547.070 546.618
France (Thalasso) 30 1.070.334 1.111.940
Austria 81 18.157.861 18.354.518 werden nicht erfaßt/ not registered
Serbia (without Kosovo) 40 4.319.436 4.258.282 3.887.465 701.212 751.218 675.720
Slovakia 21 3.021.094 2.883.491 208.348 174.934
Slovenia 15 2.377.473 2.403.588 2.425.270 468.004 480.997 495.748
Spain 128 4.320.000 5.400.000 5.832.000 670.000 750.000 820.000
Number of Overnights Number of guests
22.04.23 European Spas AssociationEuropäischer Heilbäderverband
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Demands• curation of health problems 67%• possibility to forget about
the daily routine and stress 53%• intact and clean environment 53%• nice landscape 52%• offer of health improving measures 52%• recommendation by doctors 49%• large variety of treatments 42%• modern swimming pool and fitness
centre 41%
• doing something for the mental well-being 38%
• change and entertainment 37%• large variety of sports 34%• going out in the evenings 34%• special health programmes 34%• active leisure possibilities 32%• cultural offers 26%
source: Survey University for Economics Vienna
22.04.23 European Spas AssociationEuropäischer Heilbäderverband
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Expectations to Spas and Health ResortsWhich criteria must a Spa or Health Resort fulfill for your stay?
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Freizeitangebote / Attraktivit ät / Ausfl üge
Rad - oder Wanderwege
Sehensw ürdigkeiten / Kultur
Atmosph äre / Flair / Umgebung
gute K üche / gesunde Ern ährung
Meer oder See / Badem öglichkeit / Strandn ähe
komfortable Unterkunft / Hotel, Sauberkeit / Hygiene
sch öne Landschaft / Natur / W älder / Wiesen
Sport / Fitness / Pool
sch önes Wetter / angenehmes Klima
Entspannung / Ruhe / Ablenkung / Erholung / Wohlf ühlen
data in %
relaxation / silence / diversion / recovery / wellbeing
nice weather / comfortable climate
sport activities / fitness / pool area
beautiful landscape / nature / forest / meadow
comfortable accommodation / hotel, cleanness / hygiene
sea or lake / close to the beach
good kitchen / healthy food
atmosphere / surroundings
attractions / culture
cycle track / trail
leisure offers / excursions
22.04.23 European Spas AssociationEuropäischer Heilbäderverband
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Main target group Generation 50+
• Monthly spending power: approx. 10 billion € approx. 50% of the spending power of the grown-up population in Germany
• 1/3 of all holidaymakers is over 50 years old
• 40% of this target group are spending their holidays abroad
22.04.23 European Spas AssociationEuropäischer Heilbäderverband
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Tourism Trends for Europe - Demography
• Number of persons in older age categories will rapidly increase
• Seniors will be healthier and have higher disposable incomes
• Many of them will enjoy early retirement schemes
• In view of this development, the number of more experienced senior travellers will increase faster than the development of tourism demand in general source: ETC,
March 2004
22.04.23 European Spas AssociationEuropäischer Heilbäderverband
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Consequences for the tourism sector• Increasing demand for quality, convenience and security• Increasing demand for easy transportation• Increasing demand for more relaxing entertainment facilities
(e.g. golf courses etc.)• Increasing demand for one-person products• More demand in shoulder months• In marketing, less emphasis should be put on age and more on
comfort• The average number of persons per household will decrease still
further, which will result in higher disposable incomes and spending power source: ETC, March 2004
22.04.23 European Spas AssociationEuropäischer Heilbäderverband
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Tourism Trends for Europe - Health
• Health-consciousness will increase still further
• Though increasing health-consciousness will not influence the volume of demand, it will certainly influence the decision-making with regard to destinations, and behaviour during holidays source: ETC, March 2004
22.04.23 European Spas AssociationEuropäischer Heilbäderverband
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Consequences for the tourism sector
• Destinations that are perceived as less healthy will be more quickly avoided than in the past
• The demand for sun-holidays only will decrease still further
• Active or activity holidays will increase in popularity, and the demand for facilities that correspond to this type of holiday will be increasingly preferred
• The demand for „wellness“ products will increase, including spas and fitness centres source: ETC, March 2004
22.04.23 European Spas AssociationEuropäischer Heilbäderverband
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Tourism Trends for Europe - Safety & Security
• Acts of terrorism, regional wars, pollution and other crises have unfortunately become facts of daily life, and influence the need to feel safe and secure
• In tourism, this results in an increased need for safety and security, and in tourists avoiding destinations that are perceived as unsafe source: ETC, March 2004
22.04.23 European Spas AssociationEuropäischer Heilbäderverband
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Consequences for the tourism sector
• The quality of water (in lakes and pools, but also of tap water) will increase in importance in the selection of the destination, and demands betters protection
• The more critical tourist will more quickly make claims if the product offered does not meet up to the expected standards
• The costs for guaranteeing safety and security will rapidly increase
• The industry should be better prepared to meet tourism demand more flexibly in periods of crisis source: ETC, March 2004
22.04.23 European Spas AssociationEuropäischer Heilbäderverband
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General Trends in Germany
• In 2020, life expectancy will be over 80 years
• In 2050, 50% of the population will be more than 55 years old
• All-inclusive holidays are holding around 31 %
• The share of air journeys is at almost 35%
• In Germany, the overall potential of classical cures and wellness holidays is 16 million
22.04.23 European Spas AssociationEuropäischer Heilbäderverband
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Quality Standards for European Spas
• Increasing competition on the European level• Different competence in Spas and Health Resorts concerning Health Tourism• Missing transparency in prices and performances for the customers
(value for money)
Actual situation:
Conclusion: There is a need for coordinated structures and instruments which lead to more transparency in the market and give new impetus for a better competence of the Spas and Health Resorts in Europe
22.04.23 European Spas AssociationEuropäischer Heilbäderverband
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Proposals of ESPA
• Obligatory Fixing of common principles and structures on the European level (credo)
• Labels for Spas, Spa Facilities and Health Resortsin different versions based on a ranking
• Certificates according to ISO 9000/2000 for the therapeutic sections in Spas, Spa Facilities and Health Resorts by recognized companies
22.04.23 European Spas AssociationEuropäischer Heilbäderverband
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- Thalassotherapy -
Definition and Criteria of the European Spas Association
The term thalassotherapy shall be used only if the following definitions and prerequisites apply to it and if the following
measures are given:
• Definition: Thalassotherapy
• Therapeutic location immediately by the sea
• Sea water• Marine products
• Low-allergen and clean sea air
• Heliotherapy • Exposure to the climate and
motion therapy • Associated health-
promoting measures
22.04.23 European Spas AssociationEuropäischer Heilbäderverband
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22.04.23 European Spas AssociationEuropäischer Heilbäderverband
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22.04.23 European Spas AssociationEuropäischer Heilbäderverband
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3rd European Exhibition for Health Tourism from 03. – 05. December 2004 in Cologne
• Organized by: Touristik Aktuell (ta) and theEuropean Spas Association (ESPA)
• Potential: 5 million inhabitants in one of the most important economic regions in Germany
• Visitors 2003: 38,000 visitors including 800 professionals (travel agents etc.) in 3 days
• Exhibitors 2003: 100 exhibitors and sub-exhibitors from15 different countries
Spas- & Wellness- Travel Exhibition 2004 The exhibition no. 1 for health tourism in Europe
22.04.23 European Spas AssociationEuropäischer Heilbäderverband
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50% of the visitors plan a health tourism stay in 2004
2nd Spas- & Wellness- Travel Exhibition 2003
22.04.23 European Spas AssociationEuropäischer Heilbäderverband
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2nd Spas- & Wellness- Travel Exhibition 2003
One of the attractions was the therapy centre “Oase der Sinne”, where the visitors got free spa- and wellness- treatments
22.04.23 European Spas AssociationEuropäischer Heilbäderverband
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2nd Spas- & Wellness- Travel Exhibition 2003
Partner 2003 was the Hungarian Tourist Office with 18 Exhibitors
22.04.23 European Spas AssociationEuropäischer Heilbäderverband
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Spa Magazine 1/2004
ESPA is publishing once a year the Spa Magazine “Bäder- & Wellness- Reisen” in the biggest spa market Germany with 95,000 copies in total
22.04.23 European Spas AssociationEuropäischer Heilbäderverband
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European Tourism - Facts & Figures
• GDP: Tourism produces directly 5% and indirectly 12% of European GDP
• Arrivals: 401.5 million (2003) (+0.4%)
• Market share: Europe‘s share of global tourism arrivals:57.8% (2003; 1990: 61.5%) Share of global tourism receipts: 54.8% (2003; 1990: 54.5%)
22.04.23 European Spas AssociationEuropäischer Heilbäderverband
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European Tourism - Facts & Figures
• Our guests: Europe 88.1%, America 5.8%, Asia-Pacific 3.7%, Africa &
Middle East 1.0% (2002)
• Spending: EUR 620 per arrival (2003)
• Employment: 6.8 - 8 million jobs (indirectly 20 million) 4.2 - 5% of total employment (2002)
• Enterprises: About 2 million firms active in the tourism branch.