Texel can officially call itself a healing seaside resort ESPA has formal confirmed that Texel meets the criteria for a Thalasso Health Destination in accordance with the generally accepted European guidelines. This means that Texel is officially recognized as a destination where health, well-being, and prevention are central, in line with the quality and health standards applied across Europe for Thalasso health regions. The recognition was...

The European Spa Association plays a key role in unifying standards and sharing experience across countries The importance of medical spas and health resorts within European healthcare is growing, especially as chronic diseases affect up to a quarter of the population. Traditional medicine alone cannot meet the long-term needs of these patients, while health resorts offer a unique combination of physical therapy, rehabilitation, well-being, and...

48th ISMH World Congress will be held from 13 to 16 May in Banja Koviljača, Serbia. The ISMH World Congress is one of the most important international scientific meetings in the field of balneology, medical hydrology and climatology. The 48th Congress will bring together clinicians, researchers, academics, and health professionals from around the world to exchange knowledge, present current research, and discuss future directions in...

Medical Spas and Climate Health Resorts Offer Powerful Solutions to Europe’s Growing Health Challenges The Synthesis Report, published in December 2025, has revealed that Europe faces an urgent need to modernise its health systems to cope with rising chronic diseases, ageing populations and workforce shortages. The report highlights four critical priorities for action: prevention of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), digital health transformation, strengthening primary care and...

We are proud to present the inaugural issue of the European Spas Association Magazine, published to celebrate 30 years of European Spas. This special edition embodies our core values: Health, Quality and Innovation. Download the digital version >> From thermal water, climate therapy, and thalassotherapy to mineral waters and modern medical spa trends, the magazine highlights how Europe’s medical spas play a vital role in prevention, resilience, and sustainable wellbeing. In the...

An interview with Dr. Martin Gehlen, Rheumatologist and Chief Physician of the Fürstenhof Klinik, Staatsbad Pyrmont, Germany - Special Jury Winner of the ESPA Innovation Awards in the category Innovative Spa Research 1. “Fibromyalgia patients with severe symptoms are often told nothing works for them. Your three-week programme proves otherwise. What's the key to reaching this particularly difficult-to-treat group?” One very important task of rehabilitation is to...

Karel Kalivoda, Cluster General Manager at the Marianske Lazne on how ONKOFIT-SPA empowers women through gentle guidance, community, and sustainable lifestyle change. ONKOFIT-SPA programme is the winner of the ESPA Special Jury Innovation Award 2025 in category Innovative Health Spa Programme. “Excess body fat increases recurrence risk for breast cancer survivors. How do you talk about weight and nutrition with women who've just been through cancer...

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 Global Tourism Forum to emphasise the role of the healthcare sector and European spas. “This Thalasso Working Group is a benchmark for health and wellness innovation. Because...

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...