Thermal Tourism Congress announces 2025 programme

The European Historic Thermal Towns Association (EHTTA) has announced that the 2025 Thermal Tourism Congress will take place in Budapest, Hungary from June 4-6.

Hosted by Budapest Spas in partnership with Ensana Hotels — and with the participation of UN Tourism — the International Congress will bring together leaders from the thermal tourism sector.

The event is being held at Ensana’s Thermal Margaret Island Health Spa Hotel, which has its own thermal water springs.

With a strong focus on tourism, heritage and experience, the 2025 Congress will provide a space for dialogue on the evolving landscape of thermal destinations.

Sessions and speakers

The educational programme will feature more than 25 speakers from 15 countries, discussing the challenges, the market and the future of thermal destinations.

Sessions titles will include ‘The ugly truth of operating thermal destinations’ and ‘The Tik-Tokisation of thermal bathing’.

Wellness specialist Raffaella Dallarda will chair a session discussing investment into thermal hospitality, with panellists including Andrew Gibson, chair of the Wellness Tourism Association, and Nike Schroeder, project lead at Palazzo Fiuggi.

The programme will bring together industry leaders, policymakers, investors and researchers to explore the latest trends, opportunities and challenges in thermal tourism.

Ildikó Szüts, CEO of Budapest Spas, said: : “It is a great honour that Budapest, the spa capital of the world, is co-hosting this prestigious congress.

“In 1937, the International Bath Association was founded and the first Balneology Congress organised in Budapest. It was stated that there’s no city more deserving of a permanent seat on the association. We hope this event will be as successful as the first one – proving that thermalism is eternal.”

The Congress will be accompanied by the Mayors’ Summit, which welcomes mayors from spa town from around the world to discuss their challenges and foster connections.

A B2B workshop will offer an opportunity for travel trade to meet thermal destinations and key European stakeholders, including national tourism boards. The workshop will take place at Széchenyi Bath on June 4.

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