THE SERBIAN SPA CONGRESS

The 20th Serbian Spa Stock Exchange - Congress took place on May 25 - 26, 2009, in Vrnjačka Spa, organized by the Serbian Spas and Resorts Association and under the auspices of the Ministry of Economics and Regional Development.
In accordance with the Serbian spas preparations for the introduction of the international standards in medicine and non-medicine, the Congress basic topics are International Standards in the Health Care Tourism, The Place of Spas in the EU Health Care Tourism and Thalasso Spa and Wellness Opportunities in the Serbian Health Care Tourism. The topic processing itself is the beginning of the management education in the spas, Wellness and spa centers throughout Serbia and the main guest lecturers were Dr. Sigrun Lang, ESPA President and Mr. Reinhard Petry, ESPA Manager.
Among other important topics, we would point out The Introduction of the Eurospa Quality Seal and Media Promotion Supporting Creation of the Travel Destination Image.
A special place at the Congress belonged to the presentation of the monograph Serbian Royal Spas, published by the Tourist World magazine, as an extremely interesting written document on eight famous Serbian spas with the 'Royal' past: Vrnjačka, Ribarska, Bukovička, Niška, Vranjska, Brestovačka, Koviljača Spa and Sokobanja Spa. Reminding of the Royal period of Serbian history, these documents are the candidacy opportunity of all the eight Royal Spas for the 'Royal Spas' group within the European Spas Association (ESPA). At the monograph promotion, the document was officially handed over to Dr. Sigrun Lang, President of the ESPA.
The Congress operation included, in addition to the representatives of  the Ministry of Economics and the Regional Development, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Infrastructure, the Tourist Organization of Serbia, local Tourist Organizations, Management of the Rehabilitation Centers,  University Professors and journalists, also the lecturers from the Spa Associations of Romania and Slovenia.
As declared by Mr. Vladan Vešković, Secretary of the Serbian Spas and Resorts Association, "the preparations for the Congress 2010 are beginning immediately, since the next year will be the anniversary one for the Serbian Spas and Resorts Association, as it celebrates 40 years of its existence and successful operation". As a support to Serbia, the European Spas Association (ESPA) was invited to have its Board of Directors' meeting in one of the Serbian spas, in 2010.