SlovAqua Vitae

The initial event of SlovAQUA VITAE was the Tourism Business Forum on the 18th of January ’07 at the International Tourism Fair Slovakiatour ’07 in Bratislava.  

The forum was initiated by SBBC and organised in co-operation with INCHEBA, ZMOS (Association of towns and villages of Slovakia) and Department of Tourism at the Ministry of Economy of Slovak Republic. The forum was focused on health spa and its business opportunities ( talks presented – see enclosed document). 

At the same time from 17th till 20th January ‘07 selected journalists from British media had the opportunity to participate at the “SlovAQUA VITAE info tour” and experience the health spas first hand. The Press trip was organised in co-operation with Slovak Tourist Board.  

The tour started in Bratislava and headed straight to ‘Mecca of Rheumatism’, the most famous therapeutic spa in Slovakia – Piestany (www.spapiestany.sk). The spa is specialised in curative spa treatments for rheumatic diseases and disorders of locomotive organs.  

Trencianske Teplice (www.slktn.sk) was the next spa presented to the journalists. Surrounded by beautiful nature and peaceful parks nested in the valley of Carpathian mountains, this spa specialises in similar ailments to Piestany and has currently become of an interest to investors.  

The tour continued up northwest to Rajecke Teplice (www.spa.sk) where the neurological diseases, inflammatory and degenerative diseases of the locomotive apparatus, non-tuberculosis illnesses of breathing and occupational diseases are among the indications treated.  

Last but not least important the journalists were shown around the most hip aqua resort under Tatra mountains, Aquacity Poprad (www.aquacityresort.com). This resort is more focused on leisure and wellness than curative procedures, however its highlight to fit this tour was the cryotherapy centre used for treatment for syndromes of fibromyalgia, arthritis, chronic pains, sclerosis, osteoporosis, cellulite and depression.  

After a 3-day info tour the journalists took a direct flight from Poprad back to London.  

The Tourism business forum at ITF Slovakiatour has gained media attention in Slovakia, and has been covered in the main evening news on TV JOJ.  

Interviews with David Hodgson, president of SBBC and Katarina Kulinova, manager of the SlovAqua project, were broadcast on the Slovak Radio’s Radio Journal.