13 Aug 2021
Italian Government injects economy with €53m stimulus package to support thermal spa industry’s recovery
BY Megan Whitby
Adults living in Italy can cash in on a €200 (£170, US$235) spa voucher thanks to the Italian Government’s recent €53m (£44.9m, US$62.2m) stimulus package to help kickstart the country’s thermal wellness industry recovery following the pandemic.
Referred to as the ‘Spa Bonus’, the ruling was established as a decree by the minister of economic development Giancarlo Giorgetti this month – a year after plans for the stimulus were originally raised.
In April, Federterme – the Italian Federation of Industries Spas and Hot Springs Healing – attended a government hearing to put forward the industry’s urgent case for economic support.
It explained that Italy is home to 320 thermal spas which generate over €1.5bn (£1.3bn, US$1.8bn) in revenue annually and employ roughly 60,000 employees.
Federterme said the industry had experienced a 70 per cent drop in demand for thermal spas due to the pandemic and its travel restrictions.
“It’s necessary that spa companies are recipients of concrete and targeted interventions which put them in a position to restart alongside the entire economic and social chain,” it concluded.
The new incentive is aimed at all adult citizens residing in Italy, without ISEE limits and without limits related to the family unit.
Citizens can take advantage of one voucher each to pay for or discount a thermal spa service of their choice. Any service exceeding the €200 (£170, US$235) voucher will mean they must cover the excess cost themselves.
Participants will soon be able to select from a list of accredited establishments which is due to be released imminently by the Government.
Citizens will be able to apply for the voucher on a first-come-first-served basis.
Interestingly, Italy is not the first European country to roll out this kind of initiative. Last summer, the Czech Republic was injected with a package worth CZK 1bn (€38.3mn, £34.5mn, US$45.3) to help stimulate its historic health tourism industry, following the impacts of COVID-19.
It offered to pay up to CZK4,000 (€153, £138, US$181) per person for adults visiting from the EU, EEA and the UK, for a self-paid ‘curative, preventative’ spa trip.
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