Lesbos is an attraction for Spa Tourism

Greece claims a share of the dynamically growing sector of spa tourism and wellness tourism at a global level, as it has quality and rich natural spa springs.

Spa tourism is recording a global growth of approximately 90 billion dollars, with an average annual growth rate of 18% until 2025.

It is an important part of Greek health tourism, attracting growing international interest from every corner of the world and Greece can play a leading role. It has comparative advantages and what is needed is the cooperation of all the parties involved in order to exploit its advantageous position.

The above was highlighted in a conference held on the island of Lesvos, which is at the top of the ranking of thermal springs.

The day was organized by the Hellenic Health Tourism Council-ELITOUR, in collaboration with the World Hippocratic Institute of Physicians, under the auspices of the North Aegean Region, the Municipalities of Mytilini and Western Lesvos, the Medical Associations of Athens & Lesvos and the Academy of Spa Medicine.

The conference was held on Saturday, April 20, at the Mythical Coast Hotel, in Mytilini, with the participation of representatives of the political, scientific, business world and the Local Government.

Internationally there are registered 36,000 spa facilities in 130 countries, with new projects developing feverishly in the global market. This investment trend continues to grow in the US, Europe, New Zealand and Australia, while it has been gaining momentum in China and Japan for years.

In the investment sector, thermal springs are gaining the interest of investors; who realize the business value of both the attraction of the day visit and the stay.

THE European Spa Association has highlighted the thermal thermal wealth of Greece and has addressed a call to the scientific world and tourism agents to cooperate in order to recognize “spa therapies” as a “valuable specialty” of International Medicine, which will function in addition to classical medicine.

The work of the Conference was opened by G. Patoulis, President ISA, ELITOUR, World Hippocratic Institute of Physicians who emphasized that Greece is the country of health, well-being, longevity and in this triptych we must invest to attract visitors 12 months a year.

“Greece, at the level of thermal development, occupies an “international leadership role”, as the European Association of Thermal Springs has characterized it, due to the quality and the extensive number of our thermal springs, in relation to the rest of the European countries”, said Mr. Patoulis.

He expressed the certainty that Greece with continuous efforts and a strategic plan will be established in the consciousness and choices of international Spa Tourism travelers and the unique thermal value, Greek hot springs and spa towns, including Lesbos will be established on the World map.

Greece has 128 activated thermal springs rich in minerals. However, only 84 have received recognition as a natural resource and of these only 24 have received the Special Operating Mark.

As the speakers pointed out, Greece is among the countries in Europe in terms of quality and uniqueness of natural healing resources, it has unlimited potential for the development of thalassotherapy centers, due to its huge coastline and excellent bioclimate.

Lesbos is an attraction for Spa Tourism

The speakers referred to its recent function “Hippokratis” Model Spa Unit, in Polychnitos Lesvos and in the great thermal quality wealth of the Northern Aegean Region.

It was specifically mentioned that Lesvos has 5 of the 8 recognized natural thermal springs of the North Aegean and the hottest in Europe along with Iceland. The development of Spa Tourism can start from Lesbos and expand to other areas.

Mr. Patoulis noted that the utilization and beautification of spa towns, as it is the spring at Polichnitos, will significantly contribute to Lesvos being able to broadcast the global message of attracting visitors.

The representatives of TA Regional Governor of North Aegean, Kostas Moutzouris, Mayor of Mytilini Panagiotis Christofas ​​and Deputy Mayor of Tourism Lesbos Aphrodite Vati, spoke about the important role of TA in the development of Spa Tourism, but also the bureaucratic obstacles they encounter.

For his part, the adviser to the prime minister on health issues, ND MEP candidate and former Deputy Minister of Health Vassilis Kontozamanis referred to the need for strategic planning for the development of health tourism.

As emphasized by the ambassador of Greek Tourism and the head of the World Hippocratic Institute of Physicians, Antonio Polydoroufor Greece to participate in this growing global market, we need a vision, a plan and a national systematic effort from all the agencies involved.

He even announced that the next conference on Spa Tourism will be held in Kos.

Among others, Lesvos MP N.D. Charalambos Athanasiou, PASOK MP P. Paraskevaidis, PEF President Th. Tryfon, PEF Vice President Theodoros Koletis, Lesvos Medical Association President Panagiotis Provenzas, Lesvos Chamber President Evangelos Myrsinias greeted the conference. , the President of the Hippocratic Academy of Medicinal Medicine Konos Kouskoukis, the president of the Hellenic Society of Reproductive Medicine Michalis Koutsilieris, and the president of the Optimum Target Group Theodoros Kouskos.

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