COOPERATION OF LITHUANIA RESORT CITIES AND THEIR DEVELOPMENT TENDENCIES

1. COOPERATION OF LITHUANIA RESORT CITIES AND THEIR DEVELOPMENT TENDENCIES Jurgita Kazlauskienė General Secretary of National Resort Association of Lithuania April, 2008 Jurmala

2. Lecture contents: • History • Present situation of Lithuania resorts • Healthiness concepts in Lithuania • Natural therapeutic recourses of Lithuania • National Resort Association of Lithuania • Aims • Membership • What is done • What’s to be done

3. Druskininkai, Birštonas, Likėnai (Smardonys) curative effects are known from the 13th - 14th century. Treatment of patients with mineral water was applied as early as in 18th century.

5. Recreational areas

7. Analysis of Natural Resources • In the analysis of natural resources that have an effect on SPA and wellness activities, means of application of therapeutic resources in SPA and wellness development are provided in detail and evaluated, according to European Spas Association (ESPA ) requirements. • Lithuanian Resort Association initiates the principles of regulation of natural therapeutic resources: • Climatotherapy • Balneotherapy • Pelotherapy • Thalassotherapy

8. Analysis of Natural Resources Number of mineral water borings

9. Analysis of Natural ResourcesMineral Water Resources There is enough natural resources in Lithuania for development of much more intensive recreational and tourism activities, but at the moment there is not enough research on exact estimation of quantity of mineral water resources, opportunities of exploitation and utilization, etc. There is also too little attention toresort natural resources research, in order to estimate the effect of natural factors (mineral water, therapeutic mud, climate benefits to health, recreational plant areas, etc.) on human health.

10. Main trends of Health Resort medicine • health promotion • prevention of disorders • early health resort rehabilitation • health resort tourism • Spa treatment • health resort ecology

11. National Resort Association of Lithuania was established in March 2007. • From 2007 National Resort Association is an official member of European Spas Association (ESPA). • www.visiteuropeanspas.com

12. NRA objectives • To represent the joint interest of Health Resort Treatment, Spa and Wellness Tourism aiming at their development as a priority sector of economics; • To contribute to the protection, development and efficient use of the Lithuanian natural resources: mineral water, medical mud, clime, etc.; • To create conditions for solidarity and cooperation of the interested public institutions, organizations and enterprises for the development of Health Resort Treatment, Spa and Wellness Tourism in Lithuania; • To establish connections with the central and local bodies of public authority with the aim of improving the legislative and legal regulations in the field of Health Resort Treatment, Spa and Wellness Tourism; • To develop new marketing, advertisement programs for the use of mineral water, medical mud, climate and other natural resources, directed to prophylaxis, treatment, rehabilitation and wellness;

13. To give opinion, proposals and recommendations during the discussion and implementation of nationally significant investment projects, concerning the touristic industry, territorial planning, urbanization and the structure of resorts territories; • To collaborate with related organizations in Europe and worldwide as well as with international and leading foreign educational institutions in the field of Health tourism; • To popularize the legislation and experiences of the European Union in the field of Health Resort Treatment, Spa and Wellness Tourism; • To popularize the activity of the Association through Lithuanian and foreign means for mass information.

16. Pleasure for your body and soul! • Natural local remedies • Qualified prevention • Physical therapies • Rehabilitation • Spa treatment • Wellness • Recreation • Cultural and entertaining programs • Healthy food • Healthy holiday

17. International conference „Sanitas per aqua“ in Lithuania 12-10-2007 Birštonas

18. SPA conception • The term is derived from the name of the town of Spa, Belgium, where since medieval times illnesses caused by iron deficiency were treated by drinking chalybeate (iron bearing) spring water. (British Journal of Haematology, 2003, 122, 554–562) • Spa industry development in Europe for a long time was based on people interest into mineral water resources and their impact to the health, together with different view, taste and temperature then ordinary water. • Today SPA – body, mind and soul entertaining sector.

19. Territorial SPA Development Scheme

20. “SPA service” ? • SPA (sanitas per aqua, health through water) service– procedures performed and/or supervised by qualified specialists in specially equipped premises, that should be performed using water, and that are dedicated for improvement of physical and psychological health, prevention of possible illnesses, relaxation, stimulation of wellbeing, beautification and pampering of the body.

21. SPA IN TOURISM HEALTH CARE SYSTEM New Spa impact SPA SERVICES ENTERPRISES AND INSTITUTIONS SANATORIUMS, TREATMENTS, REABILITATION CENTRES SPA servicesHealth care services

22. INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR FOR BALTIC STATES „THALASSOTHERAPY - NEW HEALTH TOURISM OFFER IN BALTIC STATES“ 13-14 of October, 2008 Palanga, Lithuania

23. OUR PARTNERS • National Spa Associationwww.spa-asociacija.lt • Institute of Tourism Development www.tpi.lt • Lithuania Health Resorts Research Centrewww.lktc.lt

25. Thank you Jurgita Kazlauskienė el.paštas: info@kurortuasociacija.lt