Mira Gorgieva and Kiril Popovski: THERMAL SPAS IN ______

Under the auspice of: Division of Earth Sciences

Chapter 1.5 THERMAL SPAS IN MACEDONIA

Mira Gorgieva, Kiril Popovski Geothermal Association of Macedonia Ð MAGA

(Kocani)

L E G E N D Spa location

Fig. 1. Location of the spas in Macedonia

Summary made in this paper. It’s evident that the approach to this economy sector should Even with a long tradition in me- be generally changed in order to reach dical use of thermal waters, Macedonia possible benefits. Orientation towards in- doesn’t have active thermal spas. A short troduction of recreational activities looks summary of the situation, experience, pro- as one of the feasible and economically blems, benefits of use and perspective is justified solution. ______1 International Workshop on BALENOLOGY AND “WATER TOURIST CENTERS ______

Fig.2. Ruins of the Roman Bath in Bansko Ð

Introduction Acidic thermomineral waters and sulphu- ric, jodic, radioactive, fluoric waters. Lar- Appearance of the very large number gest is the participation of the acid waters of thermal and mineral waters over a such with the mineralization between 500- small territory as is Macedonia is connec- 5,000 mg/l, most of them with excellent ted to its diverse geological composition curative characteristics. Radioactivity of and continual tectonic processes over the some of them is significant, as it is in past. Four main tectonic compositions can Kezovica Spa (43.7 ME), Kosovrasti Spa be identified, all with completely different (33.79 ME), Banja-Kocani Spa (26.75 composition and evolution of the relief: ME), etc. - Serbian-Macedonian Massif The use of thermal waters for medical - Vardarian zone purposes has been known from the ancient - Pelagonia Massif, and Greek and Roman times. Particularly Ro- - West Macedonian zone. mans used to built luxury baths for public Thermomineral waters with different and private uses (Fig.2). After the decli- physical and chemical characteristics ap- nation during the mediaval times, the same pear above the rifts lines between them. intention has been followed during the Temperature of the thermal waters long Turkish occupation with establish- differs, depending on the location and ment of numerous public and private geothermal field in question. Highest is the baths. After the First World War a more temperature of the water in Bansko Spa systematic approach to the problem has (73¼C), then in Banja Ð Kocani (55¼C), been taken (chemical analysis, medical in- Kezovica Spa (54¼C), Katlanovo Spa vestigations, etc.), however without buil- (40.5¼C), Spa (38.6¼C), Negorci Spa ding modern spa centers. The existing 7 (38¼C), Spa (31¼C), etc. spas have been built during the period The same is with the flows on disposal, between 1960 and 1980. After that, a new i.e.: Debar Spa (91.2 l/s), Kosovrasti Spa period of stagnation began, as a (68.8 l/s), Bansko Spa (35 l/s), Kumanovo consequence of the economical and other Spa (3,34 l/s), Kezovica Spa (5.4 l/s), influencing factors in the country and the Negorci Spa (1.8 l/s), etc. whole region. During the recent 2 years From the chemical point of view, some new initiatives to recover the thermal flows can be divided in two groups: situation are in flow. ______

2 Mira Gorgieva and Kiril Popovski: THERMAL SPAS IN MACEDONIA ______

Fig.3. Bath for medical treatment (Negorci Spa) 1. Curative characteristics waters and carbon/acid waters are used against problems of circulation of blood, Curative characteristics of the spas are stomack illnesses, high blood pressure etc. mainly connected to the chemical compo- The cold alkalin and radioactive waters are sition of thermal waters but also to the cli- used against stomack and urinal illnesses. matic characteristics of the spas location. Banja Spa is 6 km far of the town Debar Spa is located four km far from Kocani and is also known from the Roman the town Debar, near to the Albanian bor- times. It has sulphur type thermal waters der. It is at 780 m above sea level, below with low mineralisation and radioactivity. the Krcin and Desat montains. Climate is It is curative against rheumatic, skin and moderate but can be quite cold during the female illnesses, inflammation of joints, winter months. Thermal waters are of sul- musculs and veins, stomack, gall and urinal phur and iron type, depending on the sour- illnesses. ce in question. The first ones are used for Kosovrasti Spa is also near the town baths for curing rheumatism, ishias, ecze- Debar, near the Albanian border. It is very mas and female illnesses. The second ones near the Debar lake, at the height of 550 is used for drinking and baths and cure gas- m above the sea level. The spa is about tric, kidney and urinary, bronchial astma, 700 years old, like the Debar Spa. It was diabetis, giht, and anemia illnesses. That is very famous during the Turkish times, one of the older spas in Macedonia (about when was beautifully arranged. Thermal 700 years). waters are very much sulphurized but also Katlanovo Spa is the oldest and most with carbonates. Some of them are of high known spa in the country, lasting from the radioactivity. They are curative against ancient Greek times. In the Roman time it ishias, rheumatism, female and other il- was very important regional medical cen- lnessses. ter. Spa is located 15 km near (ca- Kumanovo Spa is about 3 km far from pital of Macedonia), near the highway to the town Kumanovo, near the railway line Greece and in an isolated location in the to Belgrade. Mineral waters of calcium- mountain, with clean air and calm atmos- magnesium-iron type are curative against phere. Several springs produce thermal wa- stomack, kidney, liver, urinal illnesses and ters of suphur-jod type but also alcaline- high blood pressure. It is located in a beau- carbon-acid type. Sulphur-jod waters are tiful surrounding with many recreational used for baths against rheumatism, para- possibilities. lysis, neuralgia, female illnesses, diabetis Negorci Spa is located at the far South and consequences of injuries. Hot alkalin of Macedonia, near the town Gevgelia. Cli- ______3 International Workshop on BALENOLOGY AND “WATER TOURIST CENTERS ______

Fig.4. Indoor pool for medical treatment (Negorci Spa) mate is typically Mediterranean. Waters There are also additional 19 thermo- are curative against rheumatism, ishias, ne- mineral springs in the country, convenient uralgia, paralysis, female and skin illnesses. for balneological uses. However, the plans The spa is known from very old times but to establish several new spa capacities it was arranged in 1903 by the local Tur- have been disturbed with the recent po- kish pasha and later on after the Second litical and economical destroying of the World War. country. Bansko Spa is located below the moun- tain Belasica, in the Bansko. The 2. Energy use of thermal waters in spa was known in ancient Greek and Ro- spa centers man times but later on abandoned. Then, 300 years ago it was renewed by the Turks Temperatures and flows of thermal and is in use continually until now. The waters in spa centers in Macedonia, at biggest spa center is hotel “Tsar Samuil” least of the known springs and wells, allow but there are also several small hotels and energy uses in only some of them, i.e. in resthouses. Thermal waters are the hottest Bansko, Negorci, Katlanovo and probably ones in Macedonia (75¼C) and is of iron- in Debar and Kosovrasti.. sulphur type. It is curative against rheu- Presently, the following uses and acti- matism and ishias. vities are known: Kezovica Spa is located at the suburb In Bansko Spa, the water is used to of town Shtip in East Macedonia. It’s heat a greenhouse complex of 3.2 ha, ho- known from very long ago but there are tel “Tsar Samuil”, and a number of small no data about the real its origin. Thermal plastic houses. It is also used for sanitary waters of chlorid-hydrogen type with quite warm water preparation for the hotels in high radioactivity (43,7 Mach) and high the vil-lage and the recreational swimming temperature (66¼C). They are curative a- pool in the hotel “Tsar Samuil”. gainst rheumatism, joint inflammations, In Negorci Spa, all the spa complex is female illnesses, some skin illnesses, etc. heated with thermal water and all the warm sanitary water supply.

______

4 Mira Gorgieva and Kiril Popovski: THERMAL SPAS IN MACEDONIA ______

Fig.5. Indoor swimming pool (Hotel “Car Samuil” – Bansko

Fig.6. Plate heat exchangers in Hotel “Car Samuil” – Bansko

The best illustration what econo- above 300.000 US$/year by substitution of mically means such use of geothermal heavy oil with geothermal energy. In the energy is the case of the hotel complex case of Negorci Spa, it’s above 100.000 “Tsar Samuil” in Bansko. They are saving US$/year. ______5 International Workshop on BALENOLOGY AND “WATER TOURIST CENTERS ______

Fig.7. Geothermal heating elements (Negorci Spa)

Fig.8. Geothermal heating elements (Negorci Spa)

Presently, there is an action in Katla- The World Bank pre-feasibility study novo Spa to introduce geothermal heating resulted with a very positive economical ex-cept the use of heavy oil. Above justification of the necessary investments. 200.000 US$/year savings are expected. When the other spas are in question,

______

6 Mira Gorgieva and Kiril Popovski: THERMAL SPAS IN MACEDONIA ______

NUMBER OF BEDS IN MACEDONIAN SPAS

1. Katlanovo Spa 470 2. Debar Spa 282 3. Negorci Spa 260 4. Bansko Spa 160 5. Kumanovo Spa 72 6. Kocani Spa (Banja) 130 7. Kezovica Spa 105 8. Kosovrasti Spa 100

TOTAL 1.579

Table 1. it’s difficult to expect any serious c) Engagement of beds is very low over engagement before resolving the problem the year (Diagram 1). Quite high con- with necessary investments in reconstruc- centration during the summer months, it’s tions of buildings and infrastructure, after becoming very low during the others. ten years absence of proper maintenance. d) Only some spas are really “attractive” In any case, Debar Spa and Kosovrasti Spa for guests (Katlanovo, Debar and Bansko). have temperatures and flows of geo- Note: Bansko has much higher parti- thermal water enabling serious energy pro- cipation than the presented one in Dia- jects composition. However, due to the gram 2, where the presented data are quite very aggressive character of the waters, old. Not only the medical reasons are the quite expensive technical solutions should reason for that. The influence of the be introduced, conditioning careful studies location, quality of accommodation and in order to define technically and econo- facilities on disposal should not be mically feasible solutions. neglected. The case of Negorci Spa is very much illustrative. After getting a new 2. Problem of introducing recreati- (very active one) manager two years ago, onal contents in the spas exploi- introducing the geothermal heating facili- tation ties and rearranging the environment, guests from Greece returned back and the Number of beds of Macedonian spas is annual engagement of beds increased and quite small (Table 1). However, for such a its distribution over the seasons more small country, even that can be a good bu- equalized. siness. However, presently it is not because The above listed leads to several im- of several reasons: portant conclusions: a) Technical state of the spas facilities is a) Absolute must is to reconstruct the very bad after ten years absence of regular spas projects and facilities. However, with- work and maintenance. Neither the medi- out their privatization, it is not possible to cal equipment is contemporary, nor the get investors for that. Presently, state still facilities (accommodation, restaurants, in- doesn’t have a proper orientation how to frastructure, etc.) can attract normal perform it. Offered partial solution with people to spent some money there, except “freedom” to offer service also to custo- for proper medical reasons; mers who are not using the “support” of b) Prices, paid by the social insurance, are social insurance are not attractive for fo- so low that cannot cover the cost of work. reign investors. On the other hand, bad technical state of b) Introduction of new contents is neces- the facilities doesn’t allow to introduce hi- sary in order to make the stay in spas at- gher prices for guests who pay for the tractive also during the winter months. stay. Very illustrative is the case of Hotel “Tsar ______7 International Workshop on BALENOLOGY AND “WATER TOURIST CENTERS ______

ENGAGEMENT OF AVAILABLE BEDS OVER THE YEAR MONTH OF THE YEAR 100%

90%

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0% I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII

Diagram 1.

SPAS 40% 1974

30% 1. DEBAR SPA 2. KATLANOVO 20% 3 NEGORCI 4. BANSKO 5. KOSOVRASTI 10% 6. KOCANI 7. KEZOVICA 0% 8. KUMANOVO 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Diagram 2. Samuil” in the early 90ties. The indoor season preparation and training of sports- swimming pool and the night bar have men of the country. In addition, that’s been the main attraction for young guests happening during the late autumn and from , Greece and Strumica who winter months (normally weak engage- filled the hotel during all the weekends in ments of spa’s capacities) and they are autumn, winter and spring months. paying a double price than the one recog- c) Change of the approach to the spa bu- nized by the social insurance. siness in the country is necessary. Even It’s evident that the experience of the proper and attractive medical services more developed countries should be fol- are not enough to enable a profitable busi- lowed, i.e.: ness with them. Social insurance is simply a) Together with the privatization of the not able to cover the costs of it, at least in social insurance to perform the privati- a poor country like it is Macedonia now. zation of the thermal spas, too. Under the The case of Negorci Spa is very illustrative present conditions of political and econo- what can be done. By reconstruction of o- my organization of the country, it’s not ne of the accommodation blocks (with possible to perform any normal mainte- proper central heating and small pool with nance or profitable business with the exis- warm water for refreshment) and arranging ting capacities. Any kind of development a simple terrain for sporting activities, the is simply not feasible. spa became a regular location for out of ______

8 Mira Gorgieva and Kiril Popovski: THERMAL SPAS IN MACEDONIA ______b) Even attractive for a group of con- - Existing spas are in very bad state due sumers (older people), medical treatment to the economy situation in the country cannot offer an all year around engage- during the last ten years. All of them need ment of the capacities. This group of large reconstruction and renovation works. customers normally look to avoid absence Investors for such activities cannot be of home during the winter months. In found in the country, i.e. foreign addition, it’s a group of customers which investments are the onliest possibility to doesn’t spent money aside of the essential perform them. costs (accommodation and simple food). - Existing use of the spas for medical c) In opposite, young people look for treatment only cannot guarantee their possibilities to have pleasure recreation proper future. Poor social insurance during the parts of the year when the cannot pay the real costs of work of the nature doesn’t offer such possibilities. spa centers. Much higher contribution of Indoor swimming pools, recreation centers guests coming as normal tourists should be offering “water” activities for “free” ensured. evening hours, pleasant restaurants and - The above said can be reached only by bars nearby, lovely parks for day and introduction of new contents which shall evening love walks, etc., particularly if made the spas attractive not only for elder located near the big town concentrations and ill people but also for the normal or highway connection roads can be a good families and young people. base for attractive business. This group - Enriching the existing offer of easy spend money for pleasure. recreational activities by introduction of d) Introduction of an aggressive modern trim and body building centers and marketing must be an obligatory part of centers for out of season preparation of the business of such “water” centers. It’s sportsmen is one of the very prospective necessary to make it very carefully in possibilities. order to keep the “normal” spa clientele - For the spas with convenient locations (medical treatment) and, in the same time, (Katlanovo Spa, Bansko and Negorci Spa) to get the new one (recreational introduction of “water” centers can be the activities). Proper explanation that they real long term solution for profitable are not “mixed” but kept strictly divided business. Realized studies show excellent must be given but in that way that it’s economical feasibility based on existing evident that the peaceful atmosphere for market of guests from home and the first group is guaranteed but easy neighboring countries. possibilities to “fill” the atmosphere of the second group are on disposal. Elder Literature people likes to have the younger ones around, it’s making the pleasant Batev Toma: Thermomineral springs in atmosphere for them, too. Macedonia as Factor for Development of Spa Tourism, Proceedings of the Pedago- gical Academy “Goce Delcev”, Stip 1979 (in 3. Conclusions Macedonian) Jovan Markovic: Spas of Jugoslavia, Turisticka Following conclusions can be extracted stampa, Belgrade 1980 (in Serbian) of the elaboration made in this paper: Cesen SpA: Geothermal Energy in Macedonia Ð - Republic of Macedonia is reach with Technical and Economical Feasibility for geothermal resources offering possibilities Reconstruction of Existing Projects and for development of a large spa business. Opening a New Development Process, However, presently, only 8 spas exist in World Bank Study, Genova 2001 the country and no development is Kiril Popovski, John Lund: Geothermal Energy present. Resource of Macedonia, U.S.A./Macedonian scientific study, 1996/1999

______9 International Workshop on BALENOLOGY AND “WATER TOURIST CENTERS ______

Fig.9. Hotel “Tsar Samuil” in Bansko

______

10