Italy’s spa industry worth €719m

Italy’s spa industry was worth €719 million last year, according to Federterme, the Italian federation that represents the curative thermal and mineral water industry.

Indeed, spa tourism remains a popular sector in Italy, with a report at the 2013 Global Wellness Tourism Congress revealing that wellness tourism is directly responsible for 1.8 per cent of the world’s GDP (as of 2012) and is set to grow 9.9 per cent in the next five years.

Dawn Cavanagh-Hobbs, founder of family-run company Appassionata, which offers luxury fractional ownership holiday homes in Italy's beautiful Le Marche region, explains the continuing attraction: “There's something about an indulgent spa break that is truly holistic. You emerge feeling refreshed in both body and spirit - there's really nothing quite like it. We have two spas near to us in Le Marche, which our owners love to visit. The spa at Sarnano, 45 minutes away, is famous for its thermal waters and use of volcanic mud treatments, while a little closer to us is the wonderful Q-bo wellness oasis, the highlights of which have to be the Turkish bath suite and the salt cave. Many of our owners also make use of the local beautician in the nearby hilltop town of Montefiore dell'Aso, who is famous for her full body massages.”