All posts by : EHTTA

In view of the imminent European elections and considering the importance of the constant information work  EHTTA has been carrying on with the European Members of Parliament and institutions mostly since 2015, the EHTTA President Giuseppe Bellandi has prepared a letter to the MEP.

The note is  recalling once more the European MEPS on the importance of including thermalism in the European policies and the programmes of the new mandate starting next June.

“ Our goal is to obtain the recognition of the innovative and cultural quality of European spa cities in order to promote a new plan for the tourism sector, encouraging cross-border tourism within the “Europe destination”.

Among the main projects on which we are working I remember the ATLAS, an ambitious initiative for the study of the Thermal Heritage of Europe, mapping spa towns across the continent, the “Café of Europe”, events to debate about future of Thermalis and Europe and the European Thermal Pass, to network the spa cities through an innovative approach.

Our commitment at European level has actually grown a in recent years: in 2015 and 2016 in Brussels and Strasbourg we presented the Manifesto of European thermalism, setting off a concrete lobbying activity with the European Parliament.  Activities that, with great conviction, we want to continue.

The thermal water and here we arrive in cities indissolubly linked to it represents our identity our past, present and future but it is an element today little considered, little known and unfortunately little respected. The thermal water has an ancient history.Its culture and its therapeutic properties began with the history of man in an unconscious way first, then with an increasing awareness of the therapeutic properties now validated by the scientific evidence” said Giuseppe Bellandi.”

Each year in June, a Training Academy for the Cultural Routes managers and partners is organized in close collaboration with one of the certified Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe.

The Training Academy aims to provide training on specific current issues in the field of cultural heritage management and tourism promotion to Cultural Routes operators. The Training Academy offers hands-on approaches to the selected topic through the participation of academic or professional experts with whom the Cultural Routes operators can have some exchanges of views.

Marion Vansingle, EHTTA Financial Manager, will attend the VIII Training Academy for Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe taking place from 4th June to 7th June 2019 in Visby, Gotland (Sweden).

The themes of this year will be: “Cultural Routes Financing” and “Cultural Routes and Youth”.  The training seminars will explore innovative emerging trends and strategies for funding cultural routes activities and for youth involvmente in cultural, educatuional, tourism and heritage projects. EHTTA will attend workshops with other certified cultural routes as the Hansa, the Viking Routes, TRANSROMANICA, the European Route of Jewish Heritage, the Route of St. Olav Ways, Santiago de Compostela Pilgrim Routes, Via Francigena to Exchange good practices.

Draft programme: rm.coe.int/

The training Academy is organised by the Hansa in partnership with region Gotland and the European Institute of Cultural Routes.

EHTTA was welcomed by The Municipality of Loutra Pozar (Greece) for the General Assembly

Many members were gathered for the Spring General Assembly and the network officially welcomed 7 new members :

• City of Lądek-Zdrój (Poland) – active member
• Region of Afyonkarahisar (Turkey) – associate member
• City of Istiea Aedipsos (Greece) – active member
• City of Archena (Spain) – active member
• City of Baden Bei Wien (Austria) – active member
• City of Luso-Mealhada (Portugal) – active member
• City of Monchique (Portugal) – active member

The Metropolitan City of Bursa took over the membership from the Governorship of Bursa passing this way and  Clermont Auvergne Métropole was admitted as an associate member in last May 2018 in Galaalti but attending their first General Assembly.

EHTTA President Giuseppe Bellandi underlined the importance of 2019 for the growth and definition of EHTTA’s  objectives that will be achieved in the future. He focused on the year 2019 on the celebration of the 10^th anniversary of EHTTA.

The assembly was warmly welcomed by the Mayor of Loutra Pozar, Dimitrios Mpinos, Markos Danas General Secretary of the Hellenic Association of Municipalities with Thermal Springs, and their staff.

EHTTA members were then invited to discover the region and its heritage.

EHTTA was represented at The European Committee of the regions to celebrate the World Water Day, a very precious and exhaustible resource of our planet

A moment to underline the importance of thermal towns in the 21st century: the exceptional particularity of their waters, their sustainable urban development policies and the recovery of cultural heritage. The conference was held in the presence of experts in the sector, Meps, journalists.

The event was organised by Partenalia in cooperation with the European Historic Thermal Towns Association.

The European Historic Thermal Towns Association will be present in two halls at the ITB Berlin in March.

The ITB Berlin is the world’s leading travel trade show and will take place from 6 to 10 March this year. More than 8,900 exhibitors from all over the world present their countries, regions, cities and touristic products.
EHTTA has a stand in the HTI Medical Pavilion and is also visible in the Culture Lounge at the stand of the German Culture Route Partners through.

The possibility of appearing at the ITB Berlin is of great importance for the EHTTA, as it increases the visibility of the network for both partners and tourists. This is done, for example, by presenting all brochures and touristic offers, giving an interview at the ITB Medical Tourism Conference Day , displaying the EHTTA hashtag #thermaltravels on deck chairs and by a Power Point Presentation about all members and tourism packages shown in the Medical Pavilion. There will be interesting meetings with journalists as well as tour operators that are interested in the offers of the Historic Thermal Towns in Europe.  In addition, the network can be expanded by gaining new partners at these meetings. As a result, the network continues to grow and remains successful. It is also important that the EHTTA generates more tourists in order to continue to raise awareness of thermalism and culture in Europe.

Pinterest serves as a social network as well as a visual search engine with which users can discover ideas for their lives and remember them on virtual pin boards.

Other users can also repin uploaded images and share their experiences in form of comments or images under the pin.

On the EHTTA page each member has his own pin board on which different photos are posted. In this way, users can discover the various members of the network and gain first impressions and facts. Pinterest is another important way to increase the visibility of the network among tourists and attract their attention. Ppeople will come across EHTTA on Pinterest and possibly book their next holiday in one of the member cities or book an EHTTA tourism package.

Follow us on www.pinterest.fr/europeanthermaltravels/

As part of Fred. Olsen Travel, one of the UK’s most established travel companies, Fred. Holidays provides outstanding customer service, choice and value for money through our six distinct specialisms.

Bonded by the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) and by the Civil Aviation Authority’s Air Travel Organisers Licensing (ATOL) scheme, you can look forward to your next adventure with the peace of mind that your money is financially protected in the event of unforeseen circumstances.

EHTTA is now promoted on www.fredholidays.co.uk/
Other opportunities will soon be developped.

At the occasion of the Thermal Heritage Day, held in Budapest (Hotel Gellert) last 12.10.2018, was presented the book “Thermal Tourism and Spa Heritage in Europe. The case of  EHTTA”, written by Mario Crecente and Paul Simons (Vice President and President of the EHTTA Scientific Committee, respectively) with the support of the archaeologist Silvia G. Soutelo.

The book includes a definition of the concept of Thermal Heritage as well as an overview of the current state of thermal tourism and spa heritage. Besides, it presents the history, purposes and projects of the European Historic Thermal Towns Association EHTTA that was launched in 2009, and boasts also the honour of being in charge of the development and implementation of the Cultural Route of Historic Thermal Towns – one of just 33 Cultural Routes designated by the Council of Europe.

The book is available for download at EHTTA at https://historicthermaltowns.eu/download/thermal-tourism-and-spa-heritage-in-europe-the-case-of-ehtta-2019/ 

The workshop organized by EHTTA and several partners on “Innovative approaches to urban and regional development through cultural tourism” took place in Caldas da Rainha (Portugal) on 11th January.

The event focused on the latest research regarding cultural tourism and the role of the thermal towns of Europe as pioneers in this issue.
The programm also included a special presentation about the concept of the atlas (EHTTA project), and a Geographic Information System to measure and manage tourism impacts.

An application for European funding was prepared at this occasion.
Thirty experts in hydrotherapy, from nine countries, members and partners of the European Historic Thermal Towns Association (Ehtta), were gathered in Caldas da Rainha.
The aim of this meeting was to exchange and gather ideas that contribute to work on an application for European funds for the development of a Thermal Atlas in Europe. The proposal for this application, will be presented in Brussels on 14 March.
Mondariz (Spain), Bath (in the United Kingdom) and Caldas da Rainha were the first cities to integrate the initiative.

Find out more on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HK-9uuBKKac&feature=youtu.be