>> Between September 15 and 17, Expourense and the Auga Campus convene the scientific community and professionals of the thermal sector with the 2nd International Congress on Water and Health and with the 4th International Symposium on Thermalism and Quality of Life, in which 60 experts from 10 countries will analyze the challenges of thermalism in the post-COVID era

Analyze the challenges of thermalism in the post-COVID era, present current research on Thermalism and mineral-medicinal waters and promote the business of health tourism at an international level. These are the main objectives of the professional actions that are held around the Termatalia brand and that will continue to position Ourense and Galicia as an international professional training center in terms of hydrotherapy. They will take place between September 15 and 17 in a hybrid format between face-to-face (from Expourense) and virtual (from anywhere in the world). These actions are the 2nd International Congress on Water and Health of Termatalia that is held in a complementary way with the 4th International Symposium on Thermalism and Quality of Life organized by the Auga Campus of the University of Vigo; the Workshop specialized in Health and Wellness Tourism; the 18th International Water Tasting and a training seminar on mineral waters.

TRAINING

Termatalia organizes the 2nd International Congress on Water and Health which on this occasion is integrated with the 4th International Symposium on Thermalism and Quality of Life organized by the Auga Campus of the University of Vigo. For the first time, both events come together in a single common program in which transversal activities alternate with other more specific activities for three days These events, which have brought together the international scientific and research community, will bring together a total of 60 experts from 10 countries (Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Colombia, France, Germany, Greece, Portugal, Spain and Thailand).

The pandemic is, inevitably, one of the topics that will be addressed at these events, both from a medical and a tourism perspective. This will be precisely the common thread of the first session, September 15, of the Congress / Symposium in which the Conference on Medical Hydrology will be held, focusing on the role of spas in health recovery after the pandemic. It is coordinated by the Chair of Medical Hydrology at the University of Santiago de Compostela and by its director, Dr. Juan Gestal, who has become the reference professional in Spain when it comes to talking about COVID-19.

From the Chair of Medical Hydrology they have been working for months with the medical management of the Spas of Galicia to develop protocols for the treatment in these thermal centers of respiratory, dermatological, musculoskeletal and psychological sequelae in patients who have contracted the coronavirus. The results of these works will be presented during this day.

Thursday September 16 will be the day dedicated to Thermal Heritage in the morning session and Tourism and Wellness in the afternoon session. New tourist promotion strategies for thermal and wellness destinations will be analyzed. The change in the needs and preferences of the recent post-COVID consumer offers new challenges to face. This new tourist is now going to request high value-added experiences that promote a healthy lifestyle that combines leisure and rest, but without forgetting prevention and rehabilitation. You will also look for little crowded and quiet places in contact with nature and with a good gastronomic offer, and there where hydrotherapy has its great asset.

The session on Thermal Heritage includes a presentation by the European Association of Historic Cities with Thermal Heritage (E.H.T.T.A), which is currently chaired by the president of the Ourense Provincial Council, Manuel Baltar. This table will present good practices in the marketing of thermal heritage in cities in Greece, Austria and France.

The day dedicated to Tourism and Wellness includes the presentation of outstanding health destinations such as Argentina, the Region of Murcia, Extremadura, the city of Ourense and the GDR-12 Ribeiro-Carballiño Association.

The last day of the congress will be dedicated to the relationship between health and well-being and the analysis of trends in the wellness industry in the post-COVID context. It also includes the presentation of new initiatives, active or planned, around hydrotherapy, such as, among others, the project “A rest on the roads” promoted by the Galician Tourism Cluster. The ingestion of mineral waters and the analysis of the current challenges of thermalism will be the topics that close this Congress / Seminar that will conclude with the awards ceremony of the 18th International Termatalia Water Tasting and also with the recognition of scientific communications / call for papers presented by the researchers.

Registration to attend these events is open and can be done through the web https://congreso.termatalia.com . It has a cost of 25 euros both virtual and in person.

The 2nd International Congress on Water and Health of Termatalia has the support of the Galician Tourism Agency, the Provincial Council of Ourense and the Department of Tourism and Thermalism of the City of Ourense. In addition, it has the collaboration of the National Institute for Tourism Promotion of Argentina (INPROTUR), the Ministry of Tourism of Uruguay, the GRD-12 Carballiño-Ribeiro, Tourism of Extremadura, Tourism of the Region of Murcia – Costa Cálida, of the Chair of Medical Hydrology of the University of Santiago de Compostela and of RENFE as Official Transporter.

TERMATALIA 2022

Termatalia is an event that brings together professionals from more than 30 countries and Expourense decided to postpone the fair itself until next year in order to guarantee the massive presence of professionals. It will be held in Ourense in September 2022, taking advantage of the double Xacobeo Holy Year to attract tourists to Galicia.