European Spas

03/11/2025

🌿 Advancing the Mission of Healing Climates and Sustainable Wellbeing 🌿

The relationship between climate, nature, and human health stands at the core of our mission. The healing effects of ancient pine forests, the pure mountain air, and the unique natural energy of places such as the green heart of the Rhodope Mountains, Pamporovo-Chepelare, are invaluable assets for Europe’s future of health and sustainability.

We are pleased to announce the opening of a new representative office in close cooperation with Mr. Boran Hadijev, Mayor of Pamporovo–Chepelare, and under the leadership of our President, Siyka Katsarova.🌿 Promoting Healing Climates and Sustainable Wellbeing 🌿

Our Secretary General and Zhivko Ivanov, Vice-President of Български съюз по балнеология и СПА туризъм expressed strong support for this important step, emphasizing that:
“Climate change must also be approached from the other side — by preserving and promoting the few remaining places with naturally healing environments.”
Through this initiative, we reaffirm our commitment to protecting and advancing the concept of healing climates, raising awareness of their importance for prevention, longevity, and overall well-being.

27/10/2025

We had the great honor of welcoming Mrs. Tilly Metz, Member of the European Parliament from Luxembourg, for an official visit and exchange on the medical competencies and therapeutic value of European medical spas and health resorts. 🇪🇺💧as a best case MONDORF Domaine Thermal.

The visit was expertly organized by Csilla Mezösi, Secretary General of the European Spas Association, and Mrs. Metz was guided by Mr. Fränz D’Onghia PhD, Director of the Health Department, and his excellent team. They provided an in-depth presentation of our medical and preventive health programs. The visit included demonstrations of 🧎‍➡️kinesotherapy, the innovative David health exercise, and 🏃‍♂️‍➡️prevention program, discussions with a 🥬 chef-nutritionist, and insights into 💦 hydrotherapy, mud treatments, and CO₂-healing water therapies.

As Vice-President of the new Public Health Committee (SANT) in the European Parliament, Mrs. plays a key role in shaping EU health policy. Her visit opened new doors for dialogue between the medical spa sector and European decision-makers.

A big thank you to Mrs. Metz for her openness and genuine interest, and to the team at Mondorf-les-Bains for showcasing the complexity of European spa medicine and wellbeing!

21/10/2025

🙏 Thank you very much to Mr. Reza Soltani and the Institute of Tourism for the kind invitation and excellent organization.
Today, the focus is on health and sustainability — how we can use natural remedies and the power of nature to create a greener, healthier model of tourism.
👉 Follow the Tourism World Summit and the presentation of our President, Dr Siyka Katsarova, live online: https://lnkd.in/eDbPc9tP
🎙️ Key Highlights from Dr. Katsarova’s remarks:
1️⃣ Why can Europe’s medical spas and natural remedies play such an important role in preventive healthcare?
2️⃣ How can medical spas and health resorts help Europe — and the world — respond to today’s big health challenges like stress, chronic disease, and mental health?
3️⃣ Europe as a ‘Health Powerhouse based on Nature’ — what does that vision mean?
💧 A big step forward for Europe’s leadership in natural, evidence-based health and wellness.

20/10/2025

📢Just a week after her election, Siyka Katsarova PhD; the new President of the European Spas Association, has officially begun her mandate — exactly as she promised during her address, she starts in Brussels.
We are proud to share that she has been invited to participate at the highest level of this year’s Global Tourism Forum Annual Meeting 2025, taking place 20–21 October in Brussels.
Following the kind introduction by Ujhelyi István dr., UN Tourism Ambassador to the European Union, and the official invitation signed by Mr. Bulut Bagci, President of the World Tourism Forum Institute, Dr. Katsarova will join as a distinguished panelist in the session:
💦🩺 “Medical Tourism: Shaping the Future of Global Wellness and Health Travel.”
Under the theme “Redefining Tourism in a Changing World,” the Forum will bring together UN Tourism, Heads of State, Ministers, investors, and industry leaders to explore new pathways toward sustainable, inclusive, and health-driven tourism.
✨ A remarkable recognition of Europe’s leadership in spa medicine, wellbeing, longevity, and medical tourism — and a strong step forward for our shared vision of a healthier, more sustainable future.
Български съюз по балнеология и СПА туризъм

11/10/2025

Quickest on the news as always — has all the winners of the Innovation Awards! 👏🚀

בטקס נוצץ שנערך בהאפסלו, אסטוניה, במבנה היסטורי, הוענקו פרסים לחדשנות בתחום הספא, הבריאות והוולנס. ב...

11/10/2025

🏆 The moment we’ve all been waiting for!
We are proud to announce the winners of the ESPA Innovation Awards 2025!
One of the most anticipated and dazzling highlights of the European Spas and Balneology Congress is undoubtedly the ESPA Innovation Awards Ceremony. This year, the prestigious event took place in Haapsalu, Estonia, at the enchanting Kuursaal (Resort Hall) — a venue that perfectly captured the elegance, innovation, and excellence of the European spa and wellness sector.
✨ Congratulations to all the winners and special award recipients!
🏆 Category C1 – Innovative Spa Destination
Montel Terme Milano, Italy
🏆 Category C2 – Innovative Medical Spa
MEDICAL SPA "Narva-Jõesuu", Estonia
🏆 Category C3 – Innovative Spa Design Hotel
Gradiali Medical SPA & Wellness Spa Area, Lithuania
🏆 Category C4 – Innovative Spa Concept
Aukštoji Liškiava, Wellness and Leisure Residence, designed by E77 Lithuania
Special Jury Award: “Kids’ Republic” – Innovative Spa Concept, Hot Springs Banya, Bulgaria
🏆 Category C5 – Innovative Health Spa Programme
Inspiro Medical Center, Bulgaria
Special Jury Award: Oncology Rehabilitation Programme, Ensana Mariánské Lázně, Czech Republic
🏆 Category C6 – Innovative Spa Products
VR Medical, Czech Republic
Special Jury Award: Mineral-Rich Water Spray, Värska kuurortravikeskus Sanatoorium, Estonia
🏆 Category C7 – Innovative Spa Education
SpaEdu by Wellandia, Romania
Special Jury Awards: Institute of Spa and Balneology - educational strategy that bridges scientific research and clinical spa practice, and the Czech and Slovak Spa Association for a publication advancing knowledge and excellence in hashtag .
🏆 Category C8 – Innovative Spa Research
The Masak System by beScored, France
Special Jury Award: Multimodal Fibromyalgia Rehabilitation, Fürstenhof Klinik, Germany, Bad Pyrmont
👏 Congratulations to all the winners and nominees for their outstanding contributions to the future of spa, health, and wellbeing in Europe!

Photos are coming later, credit Markus Sein

09/10/2025

Few impression of todays congress

09/10/2025

08/10/2025

✨ First Day of the Annual Congress of the European Spas Association in Haapsalu! ✨An excellent start, thanks to the outstanding organization and warm hospitality of our hosts in , Estonia.
We are proud to announce the election of our new President, Dr Siyka Katsarova PhD, and First Vice President, Thierry Dubois — along with the re-elected members of the ESPA Board. Congratulations to all! 👏
Special congratulations to Haapsalu, winner of the Best Tourism Film of the Year at ITB 2025, and to our colleagues celebrating significant milestones:
🎉 30 years of the European Spas Association (ESPA)
🎉 200 years of the Haapsalu Health Resort
🎉 70 years of Heilsostofnun
🎉 30 years of Royal Spa
A wonderful beginning to a congress that honors our shared history, celebrates innovation, and strengthens the future of Europe’s medical spa community. 💧🌿

01/10/2025

Trigger Points, Strategies & Priorities in Health, Wellbeing, and Prevention
Our opening day brings together leading voices to explore how policy, innovation, and natural resources can shape the future of health and spa medicine:
✨ Digital Health & Medical Spa Integration
with Anke Andrea Sponer (Deggendorf University of Applied Sciences) – showcasing cooperation with the WHO and the potential of digital transformation for preventive healthcare and medical spas.
♨️ Climate Resilience & Energy Efficiency in Spa Regions
with Thorleikur Jóhannsson (Verkís Consulting Engineers, Iceland) and Markos Danas (EHTTA) – strategies for greener spa destinations, from geothermal innovation to the Interreg Europe GreenSPAS project on climate change adaptation.
🌊 Blue Health & Thermal Resilience
with Sara Vandamme (Ghent University) – cutting-edge research on marine ecology, public health, and climate-responsive design for future wellbeing.
🌱 Estonian Expertise
Jaanus Terasmaa (Tallinn University Haapsalu College) presents new findings on the quality and composition of Estonia’s curative mud deposits.
This day sets the tone for meaningful discussions on how digitalization, climate adaptation, and natural healing resources can work together to shape sustainable health and well-being in Europe’s spa regions.
https://europeanspas.eu/congress/ in partnership with Visit Haapsalu Gharieni Group L'Institut Sothys

30/09/2025

👉 Today marks the start of the 365 Tourism Conference in Opatija, led by the dynamic organizer Ivana Kolar.
The opening session set the stage with the European Forum: Europe in the Global Tourism Landscape, where leaders from the European Parliament, Nikolina Brnjac, European Commission, European Travel Commission, and the Minister of Tourism and Sport in Croatia Mr. Tonci Glavina and global industry shared visions on resilience, sustainability, and partnerships that transcend borders.
Tomorrow, the spotlight will turn to
"BUILDING THE NEXT (HEALTH) TRAVEL ECONOMY"
Beyond profit, what does it mean to create tourism with purpose and meaning?
🎤 Speakers include:
Siyka Katsarova PhD, Vice President, European Spas Association (ESPA)
Simone Zagrodnik, Executive Director, European Historic Thermal Towns Association (EHTTA)
Dijana Domonkoš, Co-founder & CEO, Crew Media
Thomas Bömkes, CEO, Diversity Tourism & ITB Berlin – ITB Medical Tourism
👩‍💼 Moderator: Tine Murn, Co-Founder, New Deal Europe
💡 Online participation is free! contact: info@turizam365.com
Health tourism is more relevant than ever as we shape a travel economy built on meaning, wellbeing, and long-term value.

06/06/2025