On 20 February, the first online knowledge exchange this year on the theme of Thalasso took place. ESPA board member Marlies Sobczak (Netherlands) and director Wilhelm Loth of Staatsbad Norderney (Germany) guided the program.

The premiere of the first international meeting under the motto ‘Thalasso, health by the sea’ can be described as a complete success. Several representatives of spas, tourism professionals and medical doctors from a dozen different countries came together for an inspiring exchange to give Thalassotherapy a stage at the European level. Wilhelm Loth: “I am pleased that so many experts will be able to exchange ideas regularly in the future and learn from each other on the topic Thalasso. This will give Thalasso further significance, and I am grateful to be part of this initiative. The healing powers of the sea play a traditional, lucrative and medically important role for many coastal destinations and islands in Europe. Together, we will move this issue forward.”

All participants endorse that Thalasso has a long history in Europe. In Estonia, e.g. it is still a day-to-day practice, as Maret Sukles – director of the Fra Mare Hotel, explained. Modern research increasingly demonstrates the beneficial effect of combining sea air, minerals and salty water. Professor Dr. Raschke (G) presented the effects of Thalasso on the immune system, and Prof. Dr. Z. Karagülle underlined the research results on climate influence.

Opportunities

Thalasso combines tourism and health. Claudia Wagner, manager of tour operator Fit Reisen: “We have been offering classic health treatments and Thalassotherapy for over 40 years. The beneficial treatments with mud, algae, seawater and sea air administered during Thalassotherapy are a proven remedy for stress and a wide range of illness symptoms. It is much more than wellness and has recently become increasingly popular.”

With these meetings, the ESPA work group aims to create a platform that combines expertise and builds a strong foundation to meet future challenges. The concept of Thalasso deserves a more prominent place among the general public and in healthcare. Brussels has launched the EU4Health program (2021-2027) to promote health and prevent diseases. Our member Sven Aerts is the contact person for Brussels.

The ESPA work group wants to work on better awareness and positioning of Thalassotherapy, promote knowledge exchange, and an even higher level of research and therapies, as well as find funding for this and/or generate more profitable turnovers. 

Our plan for 2024 includes the following:

• Quarterly Teams Meeting

• Meetings that cover specific Thalasso subjects

• Contribute to ESPA E-library

• Contribute to social media/website