Can Spa Tourism Enhance Water Resources and Turn Them into a National Brand? A Theoretical Review about the Romanian Case

Alina-Cerasela Aluculesei,Puiu Nistoreanu

doi:10.3390/info12070270

Alina-Cerasela Aluculesei, Puiu Nistoreanu

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/info12070270

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Abstract

The present article includes descriptive research about how water resources in Romanian medical spas could be better promoted to increase their visibility. Romania is one of the European countries with impressive potential in terms of balneology, having a wide diversity of natural factors that allow treating several medical conditions in the same resort. In addition, one-third of the mineral and thermal water springs in Europe are present on the Romanian territory, making Romania one of the most important European destinations in terms of natural spa resources. The present research aims to illustrate how the Romanian medical spas communicate with tourists about the therapeutic water available in five medical spas: Băile Felix-1 Mai, Techirghiol, Băile Tușnad, Sovata and Covasna, having as its main objective to raise the awareness among the spas representatives regarding the necessity of water management implementation. The research is based on primary data obtained from the official websites of the resorts included in the study and in the published scholarly articles that approached the Romanian medical spas.

Highlights

Water resources have always been connected to the development of trade in goods and the mobility of people [1], and are a large part of human existence [2]
The impact of water resources in tourism is well known, there are not many studies that investigate the multiplier role of water resources in the economy and demonstrate their impact on the local communities in areas where water is used in tourism activity, as is the case of resorts with balneology tradition
The main purpose of the present research is to illustrate how the Romanian medical spas communicate with the general public regarding therapeutic water resources used in spa therapies, which is their main approach in this regard

Summary

Introduction

Water resources have always been connected to the development of trade in goods and the mobility of people [1], and are a large part of human existence [2]. In areas where water resources are rich in quantity and quality, they can be used for health and wellness purposes, even turning water into the tourist product itself. This is the case for wellness and spa tourism, where water has been used to heal for millennia. The connection between healing waters and human health has been investigated in more detail over the last few decades [7], amid criticism regarding the impact of waters used by spas on various conditions. Previous research has focused on the impact of tourism on water resources and the need for a more sustainable approach

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