Italian Government injects economy with €53m stimulus package to support thermal spa industry’s recovery
Adults living in Italy can cash in on a €200 (£170, US$235) spa voucher thanks to the Italian Government’s recent €53m (£44.9m, US$62.2m) stimulus package to help kickstart the country’s thermal wellness industry recovery following the pandemic.
Referred to as the ‘Spa Bonus’, the ruling was established as a decree by the minister of economic development Giancarlo Giorgetti this month – a year after plans for the stimulus were originally raised.
In April, Federterme – the Italian Federation of Industries Spas and Hot Springs Healing – attended a government hearing to put forward the industry’s urgent case for economic support.
It explained that Italy is home to 320 thermal spas which generate over €1.5bn (£1.3bn, US$1.8bn) in revenue annually and employ roughly 60,000 employees.
Federterme said the industry had experienced a 70 per cent drop in demand for thermal spas due to the pandemic and its travel restrictions.
“It’s necessary that spa companies are recipients of concrete and targeted interventions which put them in a position to restart alongside the entire economic and social chain,” it concluded.
The new incentive is aimed at all adult citizens residing in Italy, without ISEE limits and without limits related to the family unit.
Citizens can take advantage of one voucher each to pay for or discount a thermal spa service of their choice. Any service exceeding the €200 (£170, US$235) voucher will mean they must cover the excess cost themselves.
Participants will soon be able to select from a list of accredited establishments which is due to be released imminently by the Government.
Citizens will be able to apply for the voucher on a first-come-first-served basis.
Interestingly, Italy is not the first European country to roll out this kind of initiative. Last summer, the Czech Republic was injected with a package worth CZK 1bn (€38.3mn, £34.5mn, US$45.3) to help stimulate its historic health tourism industry, following the impacts of COVID-19.
It offered to pay up to CZK4,000 (€153, £138, US$181) per person for adults visiting from the EU, EEA and the UK, for a self-paid ‘curative, preventative’ spa trip.
Italy thermal spaCzech government offering discounted spa breaks to mitigate COVID-19’s effect on health tourism
UAE’s first Dior Spa debuts in Dubai at Dorchester Collection’s newest hotel, The Lana
Europe's premier Evian Spa unveiled at Hôtel Royal in France
Clinique La Prairie unveils health resort in China after two-year project
GoCo Health Innovation City in Sweden plans to lead the world in delivering wellness and new science
Four Seasons announces luxury wellness resort and residences at Amaala
Aman sister brand Janu debuts in Tokyo with four-floor urban wellness retreat
€38m geothermal spa and leisure centre to revitalise Croatian city of Bjelovar
Two Santani eco-friendly wellness resorts coming to Oman, partnered with Omran Group
Kerzner shows confidence in its Siro wellness hotel concept, revealing plans to open 100
Ritz-Carlton, Portland unveils skyline spa inspired by unfolding petals of a rose
Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners are just one of the names behind The Emory hotel London and Surrenne private members club
Peninsula Hot Springs unveils AUS$11.7m sister site in Australian outback
IWBI creates WELL for residential programme to inspire healthy living environments
Conrad Orlando unveils water-inspired spa oasis amid billion-dollar Evermore Resort complex
Studio A+ realises striking urban hot springs retreat in China's Shanxi Province
Populous reveals plans for major e-sports arena in Saudi Arabia
Wake The Tiger launches new 1,000sq m expansion
Othership CEO envisions its urban bathhouses in every city in North America
Merlin teams up with Hasbro and Lego to create Peppa Pig experiences
SHA Wellness unveils highly-anticipated Mexico outpost
One&Only One Za’abeel opens in Dubai featuring striking design by Nikken Sekkei
Luxury spa hotel, Calcot Manor, creates new Grain Store health club
'World's largest' indoor ski centre by 10 Design slated to open in 2025
Murrayshall Country Estate awarded planning permission for multi-million-pound spa and leisure centre
Aman's Janu hotel by Pelli Clarke & Partners will have 4,000sq m of wellness space
Therme Group confirms Incheon Golden Harbor location for South Korean wellbeing resort
Universal Studios eyes the UK for first European resort
King of Bhutan unveils masterplan for Mindfulness City, designed by BIG, Arup and Cistri
Rural locations are the next frontier for expansion for the health club sector
Tonik Associates designs new suburban model for high-end Third Space health and wellness club
Why shouldn’t sports facilities be beautiful? Across Asia, architects are creating landmark buildings for the public, discovers Christopher de Wolf