On October 21, the fifth meeting of experts from the ESPA Thalasso Working Group took place with 19 participants. Among them was the new ESPA President, Dr. Siyka Katsarova, who joined us from Brussels, where she attended a tourism event to emphasise the role of the healthcare sector and European spas. “This Thalasso Working Group is a benchmark for health and wellness innovation. Because we...

An interview with Konstantin Novikov of VR Medical, Czech Republic, Winner of the ESPA Innovation Award in the category Innovative Spa Products Your system is the first MDR-certified VR rehabilitation in spa settings. What do patients typically do in the virtual environment, and how does it differ from traditional physiotherapy? In VR Medical, patients are immersed in carefully designed virtual scenarios that replicate meaningful movements and...

The book is a comprehensive review of thalassotherapy and seawater cure, and the cosmeceuticals derived from marine algae as novel sources of cosmetic ingredients. This comprehensive text offers an in-depth exploration of the research and issues related to the use of seawater and marine environment for therapies, as well as the composition of cosmeceuticals derived from seaweed. With contributions from an international team of experts,...

The third session of “SUBSTANCE: CONTENT & NATURE,” held as part of the ISMH–ESPA Joint Medical Session, focused on the theme “Stress-related disorders: an opportunity for spa medicine.” This session brought together international experts to explore how balneotherapy can address modern healthcare challenges. Opening the session, Prof. Christian-François Roques, President of the International Society of Medical Hydrology and Climatology, delivered a recorded address emphasizing the...

EU countries spent €90.4 billion on preventive health care in 2022, which was the last full calendar year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Preventive health care expenditure in the EU was equivalent to 0.57% of GDP in 2022.  This information is part of the online publication Health in the European Union and, more specifically, is part of the domain of healthcare expenditure statistics. It presents key statistics...

Integrating Mental Well-being into the Spa Ecosystem The 4th edition of Medi Wellness Congress (MWC), held on April 28th & 29th, 2025, at Hilton Geneva Hotel & Conference Centre in Switzerland, brought together more than 130 professionals from across the medispa, medical, innovation and hospitality sectors for an exceptional opportunity of learning, inspiration, and connection. Organised by HaB France, in collaboration with the industry veteran...

Hydrotherapy is a medicine of public utility Organized by the Senator of Puy-de-Dôme Jean-Marc Boyer, under the high patronage of the President of the Senate Gérard Larcher, this day reaffirmed a reality: hydrotherapy is a medicine of public utility, scientifically proven, which must be defended and strengthened. It was an opportunity to reaffirm the essential role of thermal medicine in public health responses to the...

Join the next European Thalasso Exchange! We are also excited to invite you to our next Online Thalasso Workshop, an unmissable event for anyone passionate about the future of wellness. Join us on Wednesday, April 16, from 10:00 to 11:30 am – this is your chance to engage with key industry leaders and gain valuable insights into the cutting-edge developments in Thalasso therapy. Participation is...

ilab - Institute of Spa and Balneology Karlovy Vary is inviting Spa professionals to the "Modern Technologies in Spa Industry 3.0 conference", which will take place on April 15, 2025, at the Imperial Spa in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic. This prestigious event is expanding to an international level, bringing together leading experts, researchers, and professionals to discuss the latest trends, innovations, and advancements in the...

The "State Program for Social Rehabilitation and Child Care," with its subprogram "Children's Rehabilitation/Habilitation," is currently being implemented at the Tbilisi Balneological Spa Resort. This initiative aims to provide specialized services to children with disabilities. At present, 240 beneficiaries, each with different diagnoses such as cerebral palsy, autism, behavioural disorders, Down syndrome, birth trauma consequences, developmental delays, speech delays, inflammatory neuropathies, and more, are...