BTA :: Medical Tourism Should Be Part of Regional Development - Former Czech Regional Development Minister

Health, spa and medical tourism are not an isolated topic but should be part of the overall ecosystem of regional development, said former Czech regional development minister Petr Kulhanek during the HEALTHXCHANGE 2026 forum in the Golden Sands resort on Tuesday.

Kulhanek emphasized that the successful development of health tourism requires much more than providing medical services. "The overall atmosphere, social life, local economy and public infrastructure are very important," he pointed out, adding that spa resorts should be built as a complex environment supporting life and health.

The pandemic has shown how important the partnership between the public sector and the professional community is, Kulhanek noted. "We have launched instruments that have helped spa resorts overcome difficult times, but it was also a strategic investment in the future," he said and stressed the need for a holistic approach to the relationship between the health sector and the spa industry. "Spa and medical tourism also improve the quality of life of local residents, and this is extremely important for the sustainable development of regions," he said.

The former minister also drew attention to the role of the European Union in supporting the sector through operational programmes, investments in energy efficiency, innovation and research. He cited the development of Karlovy Vary Region as an example, where large-scale investments have been made in medical and spa tourism, scientific projects and infrastructure modernization. "Europe has the potential to be a leader not only in medical spa treatment but also in preventive healthcare, treatment of rare diseases and longevity," Kulhanek said.

The event is organized by the European Spas Association, the Bulgarian Union of Balneology and SPA Tourism (BUBSPA) and the Health Tourism Industry Conference & Expo. The forum is hosted by the Bulgarian Ministry of Tourism and by Varna Municipality. HEALTHXCHANGE Summit takes place in 2026, thus marking the 20th anniversary of BUBSPA.

BTA is the main media partner of the event. Especially for the forum, BTA has prepared the BG Spa - Health Through Water catalogue featuring news from 128 certified spa, wellness, and medical spa centres in Bulgaria, of which there are over 200 in total. Copies of the specialized publication in Bulgarian and English will be provided to forum delegates. The catalogue is available on the BTA website in electronic format in Bulgarian and in English.

/IV/