Power by the sea. New spirit for thalassotherapy – the use of sea water and marine environment.

From November 1st to 5th, the annual congress of the DHV (German Medical Spas Association) took place on the German Wadden island of Norderney. It was an inspirational meeting with leading speakers and topics affecting health resorts and spas such as skilled labor shortage and long covid treatments, services in European spas were discussed, upcoming future tasks were also considered.

Dr Norbert Hemken spoke about the renaissance of the spa industry. Prof. Dr. Klemens Skibicki humorously presented the digital transformation that we are going through. On the first day, the Lower Saxony Spa Association opened the congress, followed by the annual congress of the German Spa Association.

A new cooperation between the European Spas Association and the German Spas Association has emerged, the subject of Thalasso is important for the seaside resorts and Thalasso become the leading theme for lifestyle and health on the island of Norderney. In addition to the clinics, which offer extensive programs, there are many indoor and outdoor Thalasso facilities in the region. It was obvious that this congress took place on Norderney.

ESPA Thalasso project manager Marlies Sobczak took an active part in several forum discussions. She also gave a presentation on the developments and best practices in the Netherlands with a focus on Noordwijk. Private Lecturer Dipl.-Ing. dr rer physiol. Friedhart Raschke spoke about the scientifically based and convincing effect of Thalasso on human health. The President of the DHV, Brigitte Goertz-Meißner, emphasized the importance of the cooperation and the further definition and safeguarding of the Thalasso criteria. In cooperation with Wilhelm Loth, Managing Director of Staatsbad Norderney GmbH and a staunch Thalasso fan, and ESPA Marlies Sobczak, it was agreed to develop the Thalasso health services at European level.