ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL
Tertiary education courses on thermal bathing are launching in Australia and China
Charles Davidson PHOTO: PENINSULA HOT SPRINGS
Peninsula Hot Springs Group How is the spa industry evolving?
36 spabusiness.com issue 3 2023
PHOTO: PENINSULA HOT SPRINGS GROUP
In the hot springs sector, a key change has been internationalisation – a collaboration of events, research, staff exchange/development and guest education around the world. Organisations such as the Global Wellness Institute and its Hot Springs Initiative and the World Federation of Hydrotherapy and Climatotherapy are spearheading crosscontinent cohesion in the sector. Examples of powerful and joyful events include Soakember, World Bathing Day and World Wellness Weekend. Inroads have been made in education. Hezhou University in Guangxi, China has established a Hot Springs College and is now enrolling students and the Chisholm Institute in Australia is creating a diploma-level course for thermal bathing – it will run a trial for students in 2024 and the full course will be available in 2025. These have been developed in partnership with the industry and are the first formal tertiary education programmes to focus on hot springs. Building careers and happy lives for people working in our sector is the responsibility and obligation of our leaders. The culture and opportunities they create enable employees to ultimately deliver the best possible experiences.