Termatalia overcame the crisis and closed its more international edition
More than 3.000 professionals of the sector had 500 business meetings during the celebration of the fair
Termatalia, International Fair of Thermal Tourism, closed its doors of its ninth edition after three days being the main point of attention of the health tourism and the thermal industry in the world-wide level. 241 exhibitors of 31 countries, thirty tour operators, a hundred of travel agents of Galicia, Spain and North of Portugal and more than 3.000 professionals of the sector, took place in Termatalia. Therefore, the numbers of this year exceed the numbers of the last year.
Termatalia had in this edition, the premiere of a new Virtual Business Centre that was sponsored by the IGAPE (Galician Institute of Economic Development). This centre allowed that the International TT.OO. Business Stock Exchange had more than 500 business meetings between tour operators and exhibitors. It is calculated that 15.000 people came to the fair.
The International Fair of Thermal Tourism was sponsored by the Galician General Secretary of Tourism and these data evidence that the state of health tourism is great and it has became a future sector. In its ninth edition, the International Fair of Thermal Tourism has been consolidated as an international business centre of the sector. Furthermore, Termatalia increased the development of two fields: the tourist one, with the aim of promote the commercialization of thermal vacancies; and the industrial one, because the fair had the participation of manufacturers, capital good importers, suppliers and representatives of the bottled water market from Europe and Latin American.
International Participation
31 countries of 4 continents (Argentina, Germany, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Egypt, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Estonia, France, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Jordan, Latvia, Lithuania, Mexico, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Romania, Russia, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey and Uruguay) took place in Termatalia. As a result of this, the fair closed its more international edition in which highlighted the important presence of Latin America that each year incorporates the participation of new countries to the fair. Because of this reason, Mexico will be the guest country in the edition of 2010.
It also was highlighted the participation of the guest country of this edition, Turkey, that came to the fair with an integrated delegation by representatives of the Turkish government, employers and specialized mass media.
The thermal tradition of Centre Europe was present in the fair through the European Association of Spas (ESPA) and of the 9 integral countries of the project of European cooperation “A country, an opportunity” promoted by the INORDE.
Business Actions
- International TT.OO. Business Stock Exchange: with the support of the Galician Institute of Economic Promotion (IGAPE), the aim of the Business Stock Exchange of Termatalia 2009 was to sell thermal vacancies of the exhibitors companies that were represented for the international destinations. Spanish travel wholesalers and from other European countries, with a highlighted presence of Italy, Russia, Germany and Latin America took part in the Business Stock Exchange. The last one was represented by tour operators coming from Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Mexico, countries in which the demand of the product "Health Tourism" begins to grow, especially in the segment "PREMIUM".
- Trade missions:
- Russian TT.OO organized by the Trade and Industry Chamber of Ourense.
- Travel agents and wholesalers that came from Germany, Italy and Portugal. This action was promoted by Turespaña and Turgalicia.
- Capital goods importers: co-sponsored by the Foreign Trade Institute (ICEX), this mission brought capital good importers that were well-known as “Opportunity Markets” in Europe and in America. For example, Turkey, Romania, Mexico and Chile.
- International Journalists: co-sponsored also by ICEX, this mission allowed the visit to the fair of specializing mass media journalists from Turkey and Mexico.
Besides, Termatalia caused the interest of companies of different countries that programmed special missions with delegations of professional of distinct sectors of health tourism such as of the organised by the Latin American Association of Spa or a delegation of employers of Thermal Springs of Chile, Turkey, Peru, Colombia, Hungary or of the Portuguese islands of Azores.
- Travel Agencies: Termatalia 2009 wanted to promote the product “Health Tourism” into the professionals of the travel agencies in order to train the sales representatives that are in contact with the final client with the different offers of the product (thermalism, talasotherapy and spa). The aim was that these agents translated qualified information to the users and increased the sales of this product of the distinct regions and countries exhibitors of the fair. This action had the collaboration of Coasts Galicia and of the IGAPE, and brought to Termatalia more than 100 agents of Spain and Portugal.
Furthermore, it was the first time that Termatalia had a Centre of Virtual Businesses, sponsored by the IGAPE, which allowed the contact between exhibitor companies, professional visitors and participants in the diverse reverse business missions with the aim to contact previously between them and obtain its Diary of On-line Appointments.
IV International Meeting on Water and Thermalism
The aim of the IV International Meeting on Water and Thermalism was to analyze the present and the future of the thermalism from different disciplines (tourist, medical, environmental, legal, economical, etc.). The fourth meeting brought together experts from fifteen different countries to put in common the experiences and projects that are being carried out in this field in Europe, Latin America and Euro-Asia.
This meeting was organized in four journeys that were focus on different fields of thermalism:
- On Thursday, 15th of October was the day on Medical Hydrology. This journey, organized in collaboration with the Galician Royal Academy of Medicine and Surgery, had the participation of the main representatives of this discipline in the international level. For example, the President of the International Medical Hydrology Society, the Dr. Zeki Karagulle, the President of the Spanish Hydrology Society, Dr. Juan Carlos San José, and the President of the French Society of Oral Health, Dr. Philipe Vergnes.
Between the topics that were discussed, it is important to highlight the communication that was given by the Vice President of the French Hydrology Society, the Dr. Pascale Jeambrun, about the duration that must have the thermal treatments to get effective therapeutic results.
All of them achieved the conclusion that we need to defend the mineral-medicinal water like a therapeutic element of first order. Consequently, a spa has to be considered like a sanitary centre. The lecturers of this day highlighted the prescription of the hydrotherapy like a therapeutic alternative for the treatment of some illnesses, because it carries the reduction of drugs, increases the quality of life and it is more economic for the Public Health System.
- On Friday, 17th of October, the session was dedicated to Tourism, Innovation and Sustainability. The General Secretary of the Tourism of the Government of Galicia, Carmen Pardo, opened the journey with a communication that showed the current situation of the health tourism in Galicia. As innovation, the quality rules in thermal, talasotherapy and spas centres were discussed. This journey had the intervention of speakers from Budapest, the Turkish Government, the Portuguese Region Porto and North and from the Azores Islands.
One hand, Portuguese Region Porto and North are working to become in the first wellness destination of Portugal. On the other hand, Azores explained its experience in geothermic energy. Moreover, in the conference of Budapest was showed how to manage the bigger thermal city of Europe.
It was also highlighted the participation of Joachim Lieber, the General Secretary of the European Spas Association as well as the participation of the President of the Latin American Spa Association, Ramón de la Rosa. They analysed the different experiences in health tourism of the two continents. The conclusion was that America tries to follow the European management model of exploitation of the thermal resources.
Besides, in the innovation field the participants spoke about different items such as thermal peloids; scientific fundamentals of the mineral-medicinal waters application to the cosmetic; efficiency and costs optimization of the energetic consumption in thermal and thalaso resorts. It was also introduced an electronic website to dynamize the visibility of the health and well-being product in Gers-Gascuña (France).
- On Saturday, 17th October was celebrated the new Meeting of Thermal Cities in which the Thermalism Councillor of Ourense was the host. The two cities that are world references in the tourist management of their thermal power participated in this session: Badem Badem in Germany and Karlovy Vary in the Czech Republic.
Furthermore, this meeting presented the experience of a thermal company with big weight in Galicia, the group Caldaria. Moreover, the president of Villas Termales (Thermal Villages) of Spain, Francisco Escobedo, presented his new mark of quality. In the afternoon a special session about the thermalism in Latin America was celebrated. Representatives of Argentina, Mexico and Peru took part in it.
As it is usual, at the end of the journeys took place the Thermal Routes. All the visitors could participate in these journeys. On Saturday afternoon, the provincial route organized by the Ourense Institute of Economic Development (INORDE) showed the complementary offer of the thermalism (gastronomy, patrimony, nature, golf, etc.). On Sunday, two routes were possible to do: one between Portugal and Galicia that travelled across the thermal centres of the Portuguese region Porto and North (Monçao, San Vicente y Chaves) and the other called “Water Route” that travelled across Ribeira Sacra and O Ribeiro.
National Congress of Medical Hydrology
Between the innovations that brought the next edition was highlighted the celebration of the National Congress of Medical Hydrology during Termatalia. Organised by the Spanish Society of Medical Hydrology, it treated the binomial Thermalism and Geriatrics, analysing the big challenge of the mineral-medicinal waters in those patients to improve their quality of life, prevent their disability and achieve the maximum therapeutic profit. This Congress gathered the hydrology doctors of all Spain.
Other professional actions
The International Water Tasting reaches every year a mayor diffusion and professionalism. Its aim is to encourage the introduction of the waters list into the restaurants. As a result of this, during the fair a course of hidrosumiller was given by the Associazione Degustatori Acque Minerali (ADAM) of Italy.
The Water Tasting had the participation of brands of distinct countries corresponding to the categories of sparkling water, low mineral water, very low mineral water and natural sparkling water.
The International Water Tasting of Termatalia 2009 was organized by the Galician Association of Tasters and the jury was formed by an international panel of experts coming from Portugal, Mexico and Spain.
WATERS AWARDED IN TERMATALIA 2009:
VERY LOW MINERAL CONTENT WATER:
1st prize: Agua Sana
2nd prize: Bezoya
LOW MINERAL CONTENT WATER:
1st prize: Cabreiroá
2nd prize: Fuente del Val
3rd prize: Fontecelta
NATURAL SPARKLING WATER:
1st prize: Cabreiroá Única
2nd prize: Pedras Salgadas
NATURAL SPARKLING WATER:
1st prize: Vimeiro Sparkle
2nd prize: Mondariz con gas
3rd prize: Agua Sana
Linked to these activities and as innovation of this year, the Galician Association of Tasters organized a commentated course of international waters tasting opened to the public.
Activities aimed at the general public
The main purpose of the activities that the fair organizes aimed at the general public has been to promote and encourage the “Water Culture”. As a result of this, Termatalia recreated a Spa sponsored by Caixanova that introduced to the visitors all the products and services that these kinds of centres offer. This spa was composed by a swimming pool, a relaxation area and different stalls that introduced the last news in medical and aesthetic treatments such as pedicure and manicure treatments, oxygen chamber, armchairs with heating, hydro-massages baths and a Turkish bath. This space also offered a bio-bibliography exhibition from the Dr. Dr. Luis Rodríguez Míguez, Academy Permanent Member of the Medical Hydrology Airmchair of the Galician Royal Medicine Academy and one of the most completed compilations that exists in this matter.
Secondly, the Water Bar, sponsored by Augas de Galicia, offered free tasting bottled waters from different countries. The aim was to promote the different kinds of water that exist and increase its consumption. In this characteristic bar was able to taste: weak mineralization water, very weak, sparkling water, natural sparkling water and water of flavours.
Furthermore, Termatalia spread in the Physiotherapy Area, the types of treatments and applied techniques by the professionals of the physiotherapy in the thermal centres. The visitors of the fair could get a free session given by the members of the Galician Official School of Physiotherapists and students of the University School of A Coruña.
Moreover, people who visit Termatalia could hire during the celebration of the fair “Thermal Health Programmes” in the Galician Spas. It consisted in bonus with important discounts in 5 days stays in these centres and that included hydrotherapy treatments. Another advantage of visit Termatalia was the participation in the draws of free stays in associated centres of Spain and Portugal Thermal Spas.
The different disciplines that Termatalia works let to organize actions such as the Labour Exchange that showed the employment opportunities that this sector in continuous evolution creates. Everybody that required a vacancy in the thermal sector could deliver this CV in this space that was sponsored by the General Direction of Employment Promotion of the Galician Councillor of Employment and Wellness.
Moreover, in the ninth edition highlighted the Workshop about Water Cooking and Water Cocktails Exhibition that was taught by the I.E.S. Hotel Management of Vilamarín.
Health Area
Termatalia 2009 tried to put in value the “therapeutic and sanitary use” of the thermalism through medical prescription. As a result of this, was created the “Area of Health”, a space that joined together different Associations of people affected by certain pathologies, for which are indicated some thermal treatments that will be able to help them to win quality of life.
Innovations in equipment
Converted in the main centre of international business of the thermal sector, the ninth edition of Termatalia assembled the offer of health to world-wide level. As thermal industry concern, the fair presented the last news in equipments, technology and I+D applied to the thermals centres such as hydrotherapy baths; capsules of oxygen therapies with functions from the relaxation to the therapies of dream, of slimming, anti-age or of treatment of the pain or “multispa” baths that offer all the services of a spa in little more than two square metres and are available from the 24.000 euros (shower, lumbar massage, cervical and feet, jet, aromatherapy, hydrotherapy, reproduction of DVD, etc). These types of equipment are already available in luxury spas and hotels all over the world.
Many of these novelties were exposed in the Spa that presented the public all the options that offer the thermal centres. In addition to this, the swimming pool and the relaxation zone, this space presented equipments such as the Turkish bathroom, Finnish saunas, cab saunas, vibratory platforms, heating armchairs, teams of electrotherapy and physio-aesthetic, etc.
Between the favourite areas of the public highlight again the Physiotherapy Area, in where the professionals of the School of Physiotherapist of Galicia and the students of the University School of A Coruña given more than 600 treatments, and the Bar of Waters, where could be tasted more than 20 packed bottled brands of distinct countries.
In could not be assessed still the figure of business achieved in this edition, but taking in consideration the increase on the participation of tour operators and importers as well as the strong presence of supplier companies, it is calculated that the figure achieved surpass the one of the previous year, that fluctuates from 35 million euros.
Between the activities that took place on Sunday, highlighted the thermal routes planned inside the IV International Meeting on Water and Thermalism in which the participants could choose between the transborder route to visit spas of Porto and North Region Carry and North of Portugal or visit the province of Ourense (Verín and Ribeira Sacra).
V International Meeting of the Ecology of the Water
Termatalia received the V International Meeting of the Ecology of the Water that in this occasion was dedicated to “Water and Information. The key factors to get a new reality”. This meeting was coordinated by Goio Iturregui and Eva Moreno, from Water Friends Institute, a not governmental organisation, which main aim is to create spaces of cooperation, in which learn to understand and share the complexity of the reality.
The managers of this Meeting were in Termatalia in the area called “Space of Trend”, a point of meeting from different disciplines that collected new technical treatments and investigations linked to the water and its relation with the health. All this actions was completed with interactive exhibitions, applications with electrolysis and workshops of biomusic or meditation, between others.
Support of the sector
This fair had the support of the main international associations of the thermal sector. In this edition, took part one more time the European Spas Association (ESPA), integrated by more than 20 countries and which collaboration is very important.
Inside the Peninsula, Termatalia had again the support and presence of Spas of Galicia, of the National Association of Spa of Spain (ANBAL), of Thermal Villages, of the National Association of Urban Spas and of the Thermal Springs Associations of Portugal. Furthermore, in this edition took part the Latin American Association of Spa.
With this professional bet, Termatalia acted as a driving force of the sector to place this leisure and health alternative to world-wide level and win more part of the market.
All the relative information to the fair is updated in www.termatalia.com, space devoted exclusively to this event. All those who are interested can subscribe to the Electronic Bulletin to receive on time the novelties of the fair.
