The 5th Pan-Hellenic Conference of Thermal Medicine closed its works at Kamena Vourla, Central Greece Region, with the participation of distinguished scientists from Greece and abroad, officials, and authorities of the government and Regional government of Greece and Cyprus. The conference has been co-organized by the Hellenic Academy of Thermal Medicine and the European University of Cyprus and held under the auspices of the Central Union of Municipalities of Greece, and the scientific auspices of the Academy’s President, Konstantinos Kouskoukis.
Central speaker at the conference was the Regional Governor of Attica G.Patoulis, a protagonist in the national effort for the development of Greece’s Health Tourism, President of the Central Union of Municipalities of Greece, President of Athens Medical Association, and President of the International Health Tourism Center.
The conference, titled “The Thermal Medicine contribution to Health Tourism “, highlighted the new trends and developments in Greece and internationally of Thermal Medicine and Wellness Tourism, which constitute the two dynamic pillars of Greece’s Health Tourism development.
At the opening speech of the conference Professor Konstantinos Kouskoukis, President of the Hellenic Academy of Thermal Medicine explained what the goals of a national strategy for Thermal Tourism in Greece should be, underlining:
“The timing brings a unique opportunity for this blessed geophysically place of the world, that’s Greece, to become a Global Health Resort- medispa, not only for the elderly and patients with chronic diseases but also as preventive medicine, always under the medical supervision of experienced and internationally acclaimed doctors. The international interest for thermal therapies is growing internationally.”
The millions of tourists visiting annually Greece, and a significant number of international Wellness travelers as well, become year-by-year more excited with the idea of thermal therapy in the ancient and natural spas of Greece, some of which have been the first Medical Tourism destinations in the world since antiquity.
“Greece’s traditional and historical knowledge of Thermal Medicine is unique”, said the Regional Governor of Attica, G.Patoulis, noting that the international Wellness and Thermal community expect from our country to lead the way in the development of today’s modern science and practice of Thermal Medicine, which finds its oldest routes in Greece.
“A visit in a hot spring during the vacations of the millions of travelers, who visit our country and Attica, should be well promoted, so as to help Thermal Medicine gain secondary Wellness travelers, who would choose the hot springs of Greece as primary Thermal Travelers next time, and become repeat tourists subsequently”, highlighted Mr. Patoulis.
The Greek State has acknowledged and institutionalized Thermal Medicine as a Complementary Medicine, while the specialty gains scientific ground internationally. The institutional and legislative framework for Thermal Medicine and Thermal Tourism was also discussed, as well as the investment opportunities for Greece’s Thermal springs, which are of extended number throughout the whole country, with a special geological and mineral composition, targeting specific diseases, each one.
The Regional Governor of Attica condemned “the bureaucratic practices of the State that frustrate”, he said, “the development of Thermal Medicine and Thermal Tourism in Greece, and which led today to a tragedy: the risk of the shut down of Loutra Pozar.”
The Pozar springs, a worldwide known Thermal Tourism destination in Northern Greece, are a member of the European HistoricThermal Towns Association (EHTTA).
“Ironically”, Mr. Patoulis said, “the EHTTA had announced that in March its next general assembly would take place in Loutra Pozar.”
“This destroys Greece’s credibility on a critical moment for the development of Health, Wellness, and Thermal Tourism, when the international community expects from our country visible results.”
“Pozar is not the only case. Polychnitos in Lesvos, the hottest thermal spring of Europe, has also been shut, as is the Apollonia hot spring in Northern Greece, the springs in Ikaria, and two springs in Attica, the Methana sprigs. For those last two, the Attica hot springs in Methana, I can assure you that they will open soon”, Mr. Patoulis emphasized.
On this point the Regional Governor of Attica thanked for his contribution the President of the Hellenic Academy of Thermal Medicine professor Kouskoukis for his work to complete the full study for the re-opening of the Methana thermal springs, and generally, for his tireless contribution to the national effort for the revival of the Hippocratic knowledge and the enhancement of Greece to a therapeutical and educational hub of Thermal, Wellness and Science.
The 5th Pan-Hellenic Thermal Medicine Conference was attended by Greek and foreign scientists, and speeches were addressed by Konstantinos Kouskoukis, Professor of Therapeutic Medicine, and President of the Thermal Academy of Greece, the Regional Governor of Central Greece, Theofanis Spanos, the Mayor of Kammen Vourla, Ioannis Sykiotis, the Mayor of Ambelokipi-Menemeni. President of the Central Union of Municipalities of Central Macedonia Lazaros Kyrizogou, Gerasimos Yamoulakis Central Committee of Tourism Development of the Central Union of Municipalities of Greece, Vice-President of the World Council of Greek Doctors Konstantinos Pandos, Petros Mamalakis,Secretary-General of the International Health Tourism Center and ELITOUR, and many scientists from Greece and abroad.
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