Palanga Town Municipality - member of the European Spas Association

From the 12th to the 15th of May 2005 the European Spas Association (ESPA) held its 10th international congress in Reykjavik, Iceland, where Palanga town municipality became a full member of the Association.

The European Spas Association is an umbrella organization, representing 24 members from 22 countries of Europe.

The European Spas Association's objective is to promote spas and balneology in Europe and to take care that the natural remedies based on mineral water, landscape and climate will be available to as great a number of visitors as possible

The aims of the Association:

• to analyse and monitor the condition of the spas and health resorts in the individual EC member countries;
  
• to stimulate exchange of experience, best practise and know-how;
  
• to establish, promote and improve the standards in all spas and health resorts within Europe;
  
• to stimulate the processes of spa research;
  
• to establish a common framework for collaborative marketing opportunities for ESPA member countries.

The following reports were made on the 10th congress: „Spas and wellness resorts in Europe – prospects“, „Economic effectiveness and profitability of wellness services“, „Japanese tourists in Europe“, „Palanga resort – the summer capital of Lithuania“.

By the resolution of the Congress the 11th congress of the Association will be held in Portugal, whereas the 12th in the resorts of the Baltic States: Pärnu, Jurmala and Palanga. Palanga will also host a meeting of Work groups of the Association in September, 2005.