All posts by : EHTTA

The first Executive Council meeting of the European Association of Historic Thermal Towns took place between 18th – 19th January in Enghien-les-Bains (France). Participants had the opportunity to attend a fundraising workshop focused on EU Structural Funds, brainstorming potentials projects that may contribute to boost EHTTA’s labour on the safeguarding and protection of European thermal heritage. The session was followed up by a discussion on the work programme and agenda for 2017, addressing EHTTA next public events – HTI conference in Rovinj (Croatia) and Intercare Medical Tourism Trade Fair in Milan (Italy) – and the celebrations of the 30th anniversary of the Council of Europe Routes Programme, marked this year.

On the 19th EHTTA representatives also attended Les Thermalies, France’s most important professional fair on thermalism and wellness, where they held a press conference with the support of the French Ministries of Culture and Communication and Tourism. “We are pleased to hold this very first Executive Council of our association in Enghien-les-Bains, a place not only well-known for its mineral hot springs waters but also for its creativity, as it has been designated a UNESCO City of Media Arts. It is a perfect example of how health, wellness and culture go hand in hand in our member spa towns” said EHTTA President Giuseppe Bellandi.

Congratulations to the newly elected President of the European Parliament, Mr A. Tajani

The European Historic Thermal Towns Association welcomes the election of Mr. Antonio Tajani as the new President of the European Parliament, confident that this decision is a step ahead in the valorization of European cultural heritage as a tool for sustainable development. As Commissioner of Tourism (2009 – 2014), he was a key actor for the implementation of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes, boosting the cooperation between the Council of Europe and the European Commission which has made possible for this programme to keep growing year by year.

“We know that President Tajani has taken into particular consideration our project and our network of thermal towns, as well the Council of Europe Cultural Routes Programme. We had the opportunity to share with him the celebrations of European Tourism Day in 2010 (Brussels) and 2011 (Budapest), where he explicitly mentioned our thermal route and EHTTA as a model of good practice for sustainable and tourist development of territories” Bellandi said.

The European Historical Thermal Towns Association will hold a press event at Le Carrousel du Louvre on January 19th

The European Historical Thermal Towns Association, responsible for the eponymous Cultural Route certified by the Council of Europe, will take part in Les Thermalies, one of the leading professional event dedicated to wellness and thermalism in France. The international network will hold a press conference and presentation at the fair, scheduled for January 19th, at 14.30 h, at Le Carrousel du Louvre (Paris). The purpose of this meeting is to present EHTTA actions and prospects for 2017, with particular emphasis on the the preparations for European Cultural Heritage Year 2018.

EHTTA Honorary president, Mr. Christian Corne, and Financial Manager, Mrs.Marion Vansingle, will be the speakers introducing the labour of the association, which works for the valorization and recognition of the European thermal culture. They will be joined by the Responsible for Cultural Itineraries from the French Ministry of Culture and Communications, Mr. Phillip Denis-Fee, who will discuss the presence of the European Cultural Routes programme within the French context, highlighting the contribution of the EHTTA to the promotion of French thermal heritage, gathering key agents such as the Fédération Thermale et Climatique Française (FTCF) or the Route des Villes d’Eaux du Massif Central. Mr. Michel Playe, responsible for the tourist office of Enghien-les-Bains, will also take part, proving insight into the experience of this French town, its benefits and possibilities for international positioning. More information about this international association which represents almost 40 historic thermal spa towns in 13 European countries will be available at the Enghien-les-Bains stand in Les Thermalies.

Travel agents, journalists, wellness stakeholders and authorities are welcomed to join EHTTA event on Thursday, January 19th, at 14.30 h at Les Thermalies (Carrousel du Louvre – Paris) – Salle Mezzanine Dali

La version française à télécharger ici

The stories, buildings, culture, festivals and healing mineral-water springs integral to European thermal heritage will be showcased for the first time at the World Travel Market fair to be held in London on 7-9 November. The European Historic Thermal Towns Association, responsible for the European Cultural Route of Thermal Towns of the Council of Europe, will have a pod at the WTM Wellness Lounge, a dedicated area for the spa industry, which is open to visitors on the 9th November.

The impressive Nouveau building of Berzieri Spa, in Salsomaggiore Terme – one of the most famous spas of Italy, will be the venue chosen for the next General Assembly of the European Historic Thermal Towns Association on October 19th. Delegates from member spa towns will attend this two-days meeting, a great opportunity for networking and sharing experiences but also to follow up last news on the development of EHHTA work programme.

The European Historic Thermal Towns Association (EHTTA) took part last week in two important  worldwide tourism exhibitions:  the International Exhibition of Thermal Tourism, Health and Wellness Termatalia,  in Coahuila, Mexico; and the 6th Business  Conference “’Tourism Market of Southeast Europe – SEET 2016”, in Belgrade, Serbia.  The Association was invited in order to bring its expertise in managing a cultural route certified by the Council of Europe that comprises almost 40 destinations in 13 different countries.  Two great opportunities in terms of visibility, allowed the Association not only to exchange and learn about experiences of health tourism in South America, Asia and Europe, but also to meet and share its passion and understanding of Europe’s unique thermal spa culture with a great number of experts and stakeholders.

Termatalia is one of the biggest specific professional forums for thermal and wellness tourism today, acting as a “bridge” between Europe and South America connecting spa destinations. It’s not the first time that the Association has attended this fair, as once every two years it is held  in Ourense (Spain) –   one of EHTTA’s founder members-  but this edition’s figures, with more than 30 countries represented, has bena major hit in terms of visibility for the network, participating not only as exhibitor but also as a key-note speaker in the  11th International Meeting of Thermal Cities.

On the other hand, representatives from EHTTA also travelled to  Belgrade, Serbia, to attend the  6th Business ‘Tourism Market of Southeast Europe”, an event endorsed by the national  Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications of the Serbia Republic. EHTTA was invited as part of the panel “Competitiveness of Thermal, Medical, Wellness & Spa Regional Tourist Offer” and also participated in the dedicated roundtable: “Economic development and promotion of Thermal Destinations of South East Europe”. It was an opportunity to present the network to the government of  the Republic of Serbia, state member  of the Council of Europe, and to strengthen cooperation with organizers who are planning future editions of the fair.

Next stop – Levico Terme

The European Association of Historic Thermal Towns will be a partner for the upcoming World Hydrothermal Organisation Congress, that will take place the 20-21 October in Levico Terme, Italy. This meeting, under the topic “Thermalism in the third Millenium” will be open to all the organizations and spa centres operating worldwide in the industry, providing an open forum for discussing new challenging facing the sector. President of EHTTA Scientific Committee, Paul Simons will be a speaker on recent innovations in spa architecture, the EHTTA President, Mr Giuseppe Bellandi will also attend the conference.

Check complete agenda for the OMtH Congress at its website: www.omth.com

MEPS from Italy, France, Greece, United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Croatia or Portugal, among others, attended last 15th September a meeting at the European Parliament in Strasbourg where the European Historic Thermal Towns (EHTTA) had the opportunity to present its work as a Cultural Route certified by the Council of Europe. The international non-profit association introduced its latest project, the Thermal Atlas; a ambitious initiative on the study of European thermal culture developed by EHTTA Scientific Committee.

EHTTA, the European Historic Thermal Towns Association is delighted to be launching its new brochure at a presentation for MEPs at the European Parliament in Strasbourg next week.

This presentation will be an opportunity to launch EHTTA new brochure, showing the versatility, creativity and aspirations of this international non-profit association. Communications Manager for EHTTA, Catherine Lloyd said, “We needed a new brochure to reflect the fact that EHTTA has grown from 26 members to nearly 40 members in the last three years, and to include our newest members. We wanted to go for a look which would really show off our towns – their history, architecture, culture and of course the thermal water sources themselves, and we feel that this brochure, designed and printed by Buckland Media in the UK will be a fantastic advert for the Association and its members.”

The presentation to MEPs will take place on Thursday 15th September at the European Parliament Building in Strasbourg, and is hosted by MEP Francisco Millán Mon, co-President of the Intergroup “European Tourism Development, Cultural Heritage, Ways of St James and other European Cultural Routes”, MEP Silvia Costa, President of the Committee on Culture & Education of the European Parliament, and by Mr Giuseppe Bellandi, President of EHTTA and Mayor of Montecatini.

Between  19 and 28 August  EHTTA member Caldas da Rainha (Portugal) held the Frutos Fair 2016, one of  its  most popular festivals during the year. The European Historic Thermal Towns  was invited to join this event that celebrates  the best of regional horticulture industry and local cuisine, offering cookings, demonstrations, workshops but also music and family entertainment. Committed to the promotion of healthy lifestyles and wellbeing, the fair featured a health&wellbeing space where EHTTA had  an information stand, showcasing the wide and rich spa culture this Association promotes across Europe.

The key role that historic thermal towns should play in the construction of a European tourism destination committed with sustainable development, culture and well being will be discussed at the European Parliament in Strasbourg next 15th September. The European Association of Historic Thermal Towns is organizing a presentation hosted by MEP Millán Mon, co-chair of the European Parliament Intergroup on European tourism development, cultural heritage and the Way of St James and other Cultural Routes, and MEP Silvia Costa, President of the European Parliament Committee on Culture and Education.

The presentation will increase the visibility of an international network which has been working for understanding and safeguarding of European thermal heritage for almost seven years, and will be open to Members of EU Parliament, tourism stakeholders, researchers and journalists, as well as delegations from the EHTTA member cities. Representatives from the Council of Europe and the European Institute of Cultural Routes will also take part, supporting a network which in 2010 was certified as Cultural Route by the Council of Europe.

At the event, EHTTA will showcase the very first pilot of the Thermal Atlas project, an ambitious initiative for the study and dissemination of the Thermal Heritage of Europe. Lead by this association and developed by its Scientific Committee, the Thermal Atlas aims to become the most complete resource on thermalism in Europe, building an essential database on the natural, cultural and intangible resources that have made of thermal towns key actors in the history and identity of Europe, places devoted to well-being, health, culture, art and landscape.