the thalassotherapy and spa market | Italy

1.1 Definition and presentation

The thalassotherapy market refers to all therapeutic and wellness treatments that can be provided using substances from the marine environment (e.g. seawater, mud). Generally recommended for those suffering from fatigue and arthritis, thalassotherapy must be practiced by the sea or ocean (English Channel, Atlantic and Mediterranean).

Spas, on the other hand, deviate from this definition. Synonymous with well-being and luxury, a spa offers the client a moment of calm through beauty treatments and relaxation sessions. While most spas are independently operated, some have been created in luxury hotels.

With more than 32,000 spas, Europe is the leading business area for wellness professionals, ahead of Asia-Pacific and North America. In terms of turnover, the countries that lead this market are the United States, Germany, Japan and France.

In Italy, this market is worth tens of billions of euros and has over 56 thousand employees. Moreover, the market is growing thanks to a new type of consumer. If in the past the typical customer was the Italian senior citizen, now we are talking about foreign tourists and couples under 55, with a medium-high spending capacity.

The market has a large number of operators, around 30 thousand, who must constantly modernize in order to differentiate themselves from one another. It is important to emphasize that this market is closely linked to tourism. Due to the Covid-19 health emergency, the market has suffered a setback due to numerous decrees that have limited the activity of facilities, but it is expected that the market will resume at the end of the emergency.