Health & Wellness Industry Report, Issue 2: Thermal Hot Springs

Rupesh Penkar and Bell Tanyatanaboon of Bangkok-based Horwath HTL Health and Wellness explore the background of the global hot spring industry and its economic performance to determine the industry’s strengths, opportunities, and future trends.

‘Hot springs are known historically as the first “spas” with roots tracing back to 3,000 B.C., alongside the beginning of ancient civilizations. The natural thermal springs of the Indus Valley, located in modern day Pakistan were the first evidenced multi purpose use hot springs (Erfurt-Cooper & Cooper, 2009). Many early civilizations were well aware of the benefits of water both heated and mineralized, the Romans, Egyptians, and Greeks were engaging in bathing practices that were well ahead of their time and that then largely died out in the following centuries. The Population of China and Eastern Asia, however, has long recognized the use of hot springs as a healing and health resource and their use continued throughout.‘