On October 9, the third online meeting of the ESPA Thalasso working group took place, led by Marlies Sobczak, a board member of ESPA. In this working group, experts from more than 20 countries exchange information and share new research findings.

How it Started: Thalasso Promoters

In 2023, Marlies Sobczak created this working group to promote the Thalasso concept and enhance its marketing, with the first online meeting held in April 2024. The European participant list is growing steadily, with journalist Laura Powell from the US acting as an intermediary for ESPA in North America.

In 2002, the promotion of Thalasso as a therapeutic wellness treatment began in the German seaside resort of Norderney. Key figures such as Willem Loth (Director of Staatsbad Norderney, Germany), Dr. Raschke (Head of Research, Staatsbad Norderney, Germany), and Lourdes Mourelle (member of the FA2 research group, Applied Physics Department at the University of Vigo, Spain) were deeply involved in promoting Thalasso as a growing—yet still emerging—market.

Promising American Markets

Journalist Laura Powell from Tourism Well Defined (a veteran travel and wellness consultant working with ESPA) provided insights into the potential for Thalasso in the American market. “In America, we don’t have medical spas or equivalents of balneology and Thalasso. While hot springs are very popular, and New York is a thermal city, the concept of ‘wellness’ is interpreted very differently here. In Europe, wellness often emphasizes medicinal applications, whereas, for the average American, it’s associated more with vacations and relaxation. Moreover, prices in America are much higher; for example, six days of Thalasso in Saint-Malo, France, cost me €1,000—roughly what you’d pay per day in America.” According to Powell, ‘rebranding’ is needed so that Thalasso facilities cater to broader audiences beyond the traditional wellness market. “Focus on health vacations, oceans, and lakes, and approach North American tour operators in your region.”

ESPA Congress 2024 & 2025

Marlies Sobczak presented a summary of the ESPA Congress held in Druskininkai, Lithuania, in September. This congress attracted 220 experts from 27 countries, with discussions that, for the first time, included climate therapy and Thalasso.

Looking forward, Maret Sukles from Fra Mare Thalasso Spa shared that in 2025, Estonia will celebrate Haapsalu’s 200th anniversary as a spa town. The next ESPA conference is set to be held in Estonia from October 8 to 10, 2025. The German physician Carl Abraham Hunnius, who studied in Estonia, introduced sea air, water, and mud as therapeutic treatments in 1825. Read more…

The tradition of using heat and water as therapy in Estonia goes back even further; the earliest writings on sauna use date back 745 years. Learn more about Estonian sauna tradition and VisitEstonia’s sauna information.

Invitation to the First Thalasso Exchange 2025 in Varna, Bulgaria

Siyka Katsarova, Vice President of ESPA and founder/board member of the Bulgarian Union of SPA, Balneology, and SPA Tourism (BUBSPA), invited everyone to Bulgaria next April. The first Thalasso Exchange event will be held from April 15-17, 2025, at the beautiful seaside resort of Varna.

Measurable Effects of Thalasso

Dr. Varje-Riin Tuulik, affiliated with Tallinn University for over a decade, gave a brief presentation on clinical studies and publications demonstrating the curative properties of sea mud and heat since 1939. Mud also serves as a heat conductor, among other functions. “Musculoskeletal disorders are a significant problem, but Thalasso therapy improves muscle tone and blood circulation—effects that are objectively measurable. For example, it significantly reduces complaints of lower back pain.”

Mr. Wilhelm Loth and Thalasso on Norderney Island, Germany

Thalassotherapy on Norderney – Harnessing the Power of the Sea

Mr. Wilhelm Loth highlighted the importance of balancing knowledge, community well-being, and economic development in Norderney. Attracting suitable staff remains a significant focus. A specialized course for professionals, “Thalassotherapy in Theory and Practice,” will take place from February 21-23, 2025, offering a valuable opportunity for those interested in deepening their understanding of Thalassotherapy and the healing potential of the sea. The course, comprising 16 teaching units, combines theoretical fundamentals with intensive practical experience and covers the use of algae, North Sea mud, and climate therapy. It awards recognized medical training points and is open to various professionals in the healthcare and health tourism sectors.