Balneary Tourism in a Historic and Religious Perspective
Author:Drd. Ianc Teodor
JEL:
DOI:
Keywords:History;
Religion;
Balneary tourism;
Balneary and medical tourism;
Balneary resort;
Mineral waters;
Natural therapy.
Abstract:
People’s concern on getting value
to the therapeutic properties of natural
health factors to heal or only cure illneses
or pains is quite old.
Homer is considered to be the first
who praised the qualities of bathing in
treating different kinds of illneses and
Hipocrates (460-370 B.C.), was the
initiator of natural therapy.
Religion claimed, throughout
times, the importance of water for
treatment, health and cleanliness.
Around thermal and mineral
springs or areas with therapeutic mud, in
the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries were
developed health oriented settlements,
that, nowadays became modern health
spas, which assure the scientific
valorification, under medical supervision,
of the therapeutic values of natural health
factors.
Nowadays health tourism is no
longer a privilage of wealthy people and
has become one of the most complex
social phenomena, with important
implications in national economy and in
international economic relationships.