All posts by : EHTTA

Congratulations to the members of EHTTA which have been proposed for the serial transnational World Heritage nomination for the “Great Spas of Europe”! Since the idea was first proposed in 2010, the members of the International Steering Group, and the International Working Group for the Great Spas of Europe project have been working hard to determine the criteria for the nomination, and to decide which spas should go forward to the next step of the UNESCO World Heritage nomination process.

The “Great Spas of Europe” are those which were at their most internationally famous, and which were culturally, medically and technically of European importance from the 18th century to the early 20th century, and which still continue as important spa towns today.

Studies which have been made by the International Steering Group of the Great Spas of Europe during the last five years have shown how important Europe’s spa towns have been in the development of health systems, communications systems, and of course the tourist industry. They have also highlighted the development and design of the “therapeutic landscape” in spa towns as part of the traditional cure – a tradition which continues to this day in many spa towns.

The EHTTA members which will go forward to the proposed serial nomination include Baden-Baden, Bath, Karlovy Vary, Montecatini Terme, Spa and Vichy. They are joined by Bad Ems, Bad Kissingen, Baden bei Wien, Františkovy Lázně, and Mariánské Lázně. We look forward to hearing more news about the nomination process as it progresses, although the results of the application will not be known until 2018 at the earliest.

Editors’ note: UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, is responsible for the World Heritage List which now contains over 1000 sites globally, each of which has demonstrated, under the criteria contained in the World Heritage Convention, that they demonstrate qualities and attributes of Outstanding Universal Value.

The next General Assembly of the European Historic Thermal Towns Association (EHTTA) will be held on April 14th in Karlovy Vary at the Hotel Imperial, one of Europe’s most impressive spa hotels, built in 1912. An international delegation of 50 delegates from nearly 30 member spa towns will attend this event, held over 2 days, and comprising the General Assembly, workshops on tourism and communication and a study tour of the Czech Golden Triangle of thermal spa towns.

EHTTA, which represents nearly 40 spa towns and regions across Europe holds its General Assemblies twice a year in order to network between the members and to further develop its work programme. These meetings are also an opportunity to learn more about member towns, and EHTTA is particularly pleased to be able to go on a study tour on this occasion, to learn more about the spa towns of Karlovy Vary, Mariánské Lázně and Františkovy Lázně and Loket – and area known as the “Spa Triangle”.

President of EHTTA and Mayor of Montecatini Terme, Mr Giuseppe Bellandi said: “This is EHTTA’s first visit to the Czech Republic and to the Karlovy Vary Region, and I am very pleased that the Association is able to hold a General Assembly here in one of Europe’s most famous spa towns. We are looking forward to finding out more about the region and its heritage during our study visit, particularly about the many sources of water which made the region so popular for spa visitors. We are grateful to the Mayors of Karlovy Vary, Mariánské Lázně and Františkovy Lázně , and all the staff of the Municipality who have worked so hard to make EHTTA’s visit here a success.”

This is an exciting time for the Association, as EHTTA will welcome several new members during the General Assembly, and will discuss several more applications for membership.

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EHTTA, the European Historic Thermal Towns Association is delighted to announce that it will be taking part in the HTI (Health Tourism Industry) Conference in Vienna. Recognised as one of the largest events in Central and Southern Europe, the HTI Conference, brings together over 300 top executives from the global health tourism sector.

Two EHTTA representatives will be speaking on Day One of the conference, on “Globally Recognised European Destinations of Health”. The EHTTA, which also runs the Council of Europe’s Cultural Route of Historic Thermal Spa Towns, and is a prominent member of the Cultural Routes Programme, is well placed to speak about European Destinations of health. Its 35 members span Europe from Galaalti in Azerbaijan to Caldas de la Rainha in Portugal, and from the Roman city of Bath to ancient spas in Greece. EHTTA is committed to promoting not only the health benefits of its myriad sources of water, but the history and cultural heritage surrounding these historically important towns, all of which still possess significant historic architecture related to their function as spa towns dedicated to the health and wellbeing of their visitors.

Europe’s Historic Spa Towns can be credited with developing some of the earliest forms of tourism, so it is very appropriate that the Association has a presence at the HTI Conference. EHTTA will be very ably represented by LUCA BRUSCHI, International relationships and Communitarian policies at European Historic Thermal Towns Association and MARCEL MEDAK, mag.cin, Director at Daruvar Thermal Spa and President of the Health Tourism Cluster, Croatia.

President of EHTTA, and the Mayor Montecatini Terme in Italy, Mr Giuseppe Bellandi said: “Our Association has grown from small beginnings in 2009 when just six towns sat around the table, to one of increasing importance with over 30 members in 13 countries. We represent towns that all have an important heritage, often dating back to Roman times and beyond, and which are important for the growing tourism sectors of health and wellness. As we grow, the Association is keen to be visible on a wider European stage, not only at exhibitions such as the HTI Conference in Vienna, but also with other cultural routes, and crucially at a political level in Brussels. We are fortunate to have a dedicated and active membership which is working to ensure that the future health and prosperity of these important historic thermal spa towns is assured as much as the health and wellbeing of their visitors!”

Last week (21-24 Jan) the European Thermal Towns Association (EHTTA), which manages the European Route of Historic Thermal Towns took part in the Thermalies Fair at the Carrousel du Louvre.

Now in its 33^rd year, the Thermalies exhibition is probably the most important annual health and wellness event in France, showcasing many of France’s most important thermal spa towns, as well as a number of international partners.  EHTTA, as an association which represents more than 30 historic thermal spa towns in 13 European countries was delighted to have a stand which could publicise the activities of the Association and its members and its activities as a cultural route to over 32,000 visitors.

EHTTA also took the opportunity to hold its Executive Council meeting at the Exhibition, to discuss developments within the Association, including the approval of new applicants to EHTTA, and to prepare for its next General Assembly in Karlovy Vary in April.

President of EHTTA, and the Mayor Montecatini Terme,  Mr Giuseppe Bellandi said:   “Our Association has grown from small beginnings in 2009 when just six towns sat around the table, to one of increasing importance with over 30 members in 13 countries.  We represent towns that all have an important heritage, often dating back to Roman times and beyond, and which are important for the growing tourism sectors of health and wellness.  As we grow, the Association is keen to be visible on a wider European stage, not only at exhibitions such as the Thermalies in Paris, but also with other cultural routes, and crucially at a political level in Brussels.  We are fortunate to have a dedicated and active membership which is working to ensure that the future health and prosperity of these important historic thermal spa towns is assured as much as the health and wellbeing of their visitors!”

The European Route of Historical Thermal Towns at the Louvre in the framework of the 33^rd edition of the Thermalies Fair the EHTTA network showcases the Route to the greater public.

The European Route of Historical Thermal Towns will be present at Thermalies Fair at the Carrousel du Louvre from 21 to 24 January, 2016
The 33rd edition of the Thermalies (www.thermalies.com) represents a new opportunity to showcase the European Route of Historical Thermal Towns to the greater public. With nearly 300 exhibitors and 32,000 visitors, the Thermalies stand out as THE point of reference for health and wellness in France and involve many international stakeholders. It shows new trends in the sector of hydrotherapy, thalassotherapy, spa and balneotherapy.

Cultural routes, a source for new forms of tourism development
During the Thermalies, EHTTA Association (European Historic Thermal Towns Association) will have its Executive Council meeting on the 21^st January, 2016. On this occasion EHTTA will present to the members its new promotion strategy. A strategy based on storytelling, for a better understanding of the European thermal cultural heritage that narrates the thermal Europe as a tourist destination through innovative communication tools

EHTTA Association (European Historic Thermal Towns Association)
The European Association of Historical Thermal Towns (EHTTA) is a network created in 2009 in Brussels, which includes thirty spa towns (among them Vichy – France, Baden Baden – Germany, Bath – United Kingdom, Ourense – Spain, Montecatini Terme – Italy but also Budapest – Hungary, Daruvar – Croatia, Chaves – Portugal and Loutra Pozar – Greece) in 13 European countries, characterized by an emblematic architectural heritage and whose of thermal waters are recognized for their healing properties throughout Europe.

The aims of this European network are to obtain the recognition of innovative and cultural specificities of European spa towns at the European Union, in order to develop the tourist sector in the frame of a new plan, by encouraging cross-border tourism of a “Destination Europe”. EHTTA encourages the development, the economic redeployment of spa towns and the safeguard of their cultural and historic heritage through exchanges of experience and good practices at European level.

All EHTTA towns are integral to the cultural route of the historic thermal towns, one of the 33cultural routes recognized by the Council of Europe, as well as the cultural route of St James Ways, the first to receive this label of European citizenship, exactly 28 years ago.

The City of Bursa (Turkey) hosted the General Assembly of the European Historic Towns Associations, recognized as Council of Europe Cultural Route since 2009. The ancient capital of the Ottoman Empire is located on a stretch of the Silk Road and has a 1500 year historical thermal background. In this international context, two days of meetings, events and study visits took place from 19 to 21 October.