"Spa City" is considered as any local
authority/city, regardless of size or population, which has been recognized
since its founding as a thermal city, with activities in the city that are
historically associated with healing waters and their effects; which also have
influenced on the development of the city, architecture, tourism and cultural
and socio-economic initiatives.
On 24th and 25th March 2011
within the International Tourism Fair "CroTour" 2011, the first
International Conference about Health Tourism (Health Tourism Industry – HTI)
was held, with the theme "Sustainability and competitiveness of tourism -
health / medical / wellness tourism", and the goal was to spread knowledge
and insights on the topic of sustainable and competitive Croatian tourism. The
conference, among other things, emphasized the need to open opportunities for
faster economic development in the health industry, medical and wellness
tourism which don´t have seasonal character and therefore are extremely
important for the expansion of current tourist season in Croatia, especially in
passive and poorly developed tourist areas.
One of the main conclusions was that the health,
medical and wellness tourism provide additional value to our tourist offer and,
in the 2009 these forms of travel deals have accounted for 1.2 percent of the
tourist industry of our country, and the percentage in the European Union
reaches 20 percent, which implies that we need to invest more in this type of
tourism, but also in infrastructure, offer and advertising.
For a long time it is known that thermal destinations were
used 200 years ago, so we can say that tourism started as thermal tourism. For
this type of tourism it is important to realize how to improve health status of
clients and to use the tradition while respecting the principles of sustainable
development; but the care must always work towards the introduction of new
services, because tourism is developing rapidly, and tourist demand changes frequently.
Led by increasing initiative towards development of selective tourism offer, the city of Daruvar together
with Daruvar Spa launched the future development and cooperation in this
direction by nominating the city of Daruvar for the member of the European
Association of the historical thermal towns (EHTTA) .
International non-profit organization called the
European Association of thermal historical towns (EHTTA) was established to
create a permanent European organization with the aim of forming a network of
cities that can be proud with a long
tradition of thermal waters and rich heritage, in order to preserve their
history, to preserve and protect their cultural heritage as thermal towns, and
with all that what can be defined as a creative and innovative policy of
promotion and improvement. Aim of the association is to strengthen cooperation
among thermal spa´s and cities on the Trans-European level.
"Spa City" is considered as any local authority/city, regardless of size or population, which has been recognized since its founding as a thermal city, with activities in the city that are historically associated with healing waters and their effects; which also have influenced on the development of the city, architecture, tourism and cultural and socio-economic initiatives.
The main principles that need to be satisfied so the
thermal town can become a member of the Association are:
Thermal city has to exploit / use thermal water
(bottled water is not a criteria), or spa and / or wellness center must
function / operate in accordance with the historical tradition.Thermal city must have architectural heritage related
to the thermal spa´s and springs which dates from at least the 19th century,
including one or more buildings (related to the culture of the thermal spa´s)
that are classified as historical monuments.Thermal city must have a tradition of entertainment /
cultural activities: theater, casino, concerts, etc.
Thermal city should offer accommodation in high
quality hotels and a significant number of rooms, which are primarily adapted
thermal town.
The founders of the Association are its members,
members are thermal towns that have the right and duty to participate in
setting goals, managing and developing of the
Association.
In the beginning of 2011, representatives of the
Croatian Chamber of Economy informed that Daruvar and Daruvar Spa - Special
hospital for medical rehabilitation can be nominated as a member of the
European Association of thermal historical towns, as promptly reacted to become
serious contesters. Having completed the initial form of candidacy, they saw
that the city of Daruvar and Daruvar Spa meet all the requirements for
nomination and went in that direction and candidacy was formally filed in front
of city of Daruvar.
City of Daruvar and Daruvar Spa joined in the membership
of EHTTA - European Association of thermal historical towns on 18th November
2011. The decision of admission of new
members was accepted by the Assembly of the International Association during the
session held in the French city Evian. As the only representatives from Croatia
in the Assembly of EHTTA, which was held in the Palace Lumière; attended mayor
of Daruvar Dalibor Rohlik and Daruvar spa´ director Marcel Medak.
With the membership in the European Association of
historical thermal towns, city of
Daruvar and Daruvar Spa entered into an
international network of cities, through which they will promote tourism offer
of EHTTA members.
Except tourism promotion in the company of selected
European cities which had to meet many criteria for entering in EHTTA,
membership in this association brings an advantage in nominating projects for EU structural
fonds.
More information at www.ehtta.eu
DOWNLOAD EHTTA BROCHURE HERE.
