Proceedings World Geothermal Congress 2010 Bali, Indonesia, 25-29 April 2010 The Importance of Natural Geothermal Resources in Tourism Patricia Erfurt-Cooper PO Box 5016 Torquay 4655 Queensland, Australia
[email protected] Keywords: Balneology, Geothermal Resources, Geoparks, 2. HISTORY OF GEOTHERMAL SPRINGS AND Geotourism, Hot Spring Spas, Health and Wellness Spa THEIR USE Tourism, Natural Hot and Mineral Springs, Thermalism The history of geothermal spas and hot spring use has worldwide origins which date back to the earliest ABSTRACT civilisations. Individual regions and peoples developed and The use of geothermal or hot springs dates back several used their geothermal bathing facilities in a range of ways thousands of years. Thermal bathing facilities exist in many suitable to their individual needs. Countries like Japan, New countries and have a significant and longstanding reputation Zealand, France, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Tunisia, Italy, for successful health and wellness treatments based on the Germany and Iceland have a significant and longstanding use of geothermal waters sourced from natural hot springs. reputation for health and wellness treatments such as Over time hot spring spas and resorts have come and gone, balneology and hydrotherapy (thermalism) based on the use but since the wellness movement has taken a firm hold in the of geothermal water sourced from hot springs. In every late 20th Century, many hot spring spas, some after years of country that has been investigated natural hot springs have decline, have undergone modernisation and redevelopment historically been attributed with therapeutical benefits due to of their facilities. Today health and wellness spa tourism is their individual mineral compositions.