G. Patoulis: “Greece, in the level of development of thermalism, has an international leadership role and Lesvos can become a global pole of attraction”
The leading role that Greece can play in the field of Thermal Tourism was highlighted in the context of an interesting Workshop held in Lesvos, on Saturday 20 April 2024, at the Mythical Coast Hotel, in Mytilene, with the participation of notable representatives of the scientific, political and business world of the country.
The event was organized by the Greek Health Tourism Council (Elitour), in collaboration with the Global Doctors’ Hippocratic Institute, under the auspices of the Region of North Aegean, the Medical Associations of Athens & Lesvos and the Academy of Thermal Medicine.
The speakers emphasized the great potential of thermal tourism, which has seen a growth of approximately 90 billion dollars, with an average annual growth rate of 18% until 2025.
They referred to the recent operation of the “Hippocrates” Model Spa Unit in Polichnitos, Lesvos and the great thermal quality wealth of the North Aegean Region.
According to the speakers, there are 36,000 registered hot springs facilities in 130 countries worldwide, with new projects feverishly developing in the global market. This investment trend is growing steadily in the US, Europe, New Zealand and Australia, and has been gaining momentum in China and Japan for years.
In the investment sector, hot springs are gaining increasing interest from investors who understand the business value of both the attraction of a day visit and a stay.
The European Association of Thermal Springs has praised the thermal wealth of Greece and has called on the scientific world and the tourism industry to cooperate more than ever before, in order to recognize the treatments of spa therapy as a real and valuable specialty of International Medicine, contributing to human immunity.
The proceedings of the Workshop were opened by G. Patoulis, President of Athens Medical Association, Elitour, Global Doctors’ Hippocratic Institute, who stressed among others the following:
“Greece, at the level of the development of thermalism, has an international leadership role, as characterized by the European Association of Thermal Springs, due to the quality and the extensive number of our thermal springs, compared to the rest of the European countries. We want to believe that the place they deserve in the consciousness and choices of international travelers of Spa Tourism, will soon win and the unique thermal value of Greek hot springs and spa towns, with leading among them, Lesvos. The President of the Elitour added that the development and landscaping of the spa towns, such as the spring in Polichnitos, will contribute significantly to the ability of Lesvos to send the global message of attracting visitors.
Greetings were given by Mr. Kostas Moutzouris, Regional Governor of North Aegean Region, Charalambos Athanasiou Member of Parliament of Lesvos Nea Dimokratia, Vassilis Kontozamanis former Deputy Minister of Health and candidate for the European Parliament Nea Dimokratia, Panagiotis Proventzas President of the Medical Association of Lesvos, Panagiotis Christofas Mayor of Mytilene, Aphrodite Vati Deputy Mayor of Tourism of the West Lesvos, Theodoros Tryfon , President of PEF, Theodoros Koletis, Vice President of PEF, Evangelos Myrsinias, President of the Chamber of Lesvos, Katerina Gavala, Ophthalmologist, President of the Medical Association of Kos, Konstantinos Kouskoukis, President of the Hippocratic Academy of Medical Medicine, Michael Koutsilieris, President of the Hellenic Society of Reproductive Medicine, Antonios Polydorou, Secretary General of the Global Doctors’ Hippocratic Institute & Ambassador of Greek Tourism, Panagiotis Zafeiriou, President of the Secondary Education Committee of the Municipality of Mytilene, Theodoros Kouskos, President of Optimum Target Group. Panagiotis Paraskevaidis, Member of Parliament of Lesvos PASOK-KINAL, Mr. Nikos Kouvelas, member of the Board of Directors of Elitour, Mr. Gregory Kyriakou, member of the Board of Directors of Elitour, Mr. Nikolaos Karytis, President of the Regional Section of Lesvos Chios Samos of the Panhellenic Association of Physiotherapists, Mrs. Myrsini Gavala, President of the Lesbian Association of Autoimmune Diseases “HOS” and Vice President of the Association “ELPIZO” of Sclerosis Patients and Friends of Multiple Sclerosis Patients as well as many residents of the island.
Interesting speeches were made by the following:
Mr. George Patoulis, President of the Athens Medical Association, the Greek Health Tourism Council, the Global Doctors’ Hippocratic Institute:
ELITOUR – Medical Tourism, Present and Future.
Konstantinos Kouskoukis, Professor of Dermatology, Lawyer, President of the Hippocratic Academy of Medical Medicine:
Thermal Tourism -Thermal Medicine – Wellness.
Nikolaos Zouros, Professor, University of the Aegean, President of the Global Geoparks Network:
Geology and Geothermal Potential
Konstantinos Eleftheriadis Researcher, Head of Radiation Laboratory, IPRETEA, NCSR Demokritos:
Thermal springs and natural radiological properties.
Katerina Kousouri, Head of the Department of Special Forms of Tourism, Ministry of Tourism:
Ministry of Tourism – Thermal Tourism.
George Kakoulidis, Member of the Board of Directors of the Greek Health Tourism Council, Head of the Financing Sector:
The role of entrepreneurship in the development of Medical Tourism. Opportunities and Challenges for Greek Businesses
Michalis Koutsilieris Professor Emeritus of Medicine, University of Athens, President of the Hellenic Society for Assisted Reproduction Medicine, President of the State Scholarship Foundation:
Primordial Cells and Physiology of Aging, Physiology Laboratory of the National Academy of Sciences as an International Training Hub for Medical Tourism.
Anthony Polidorou, Honorary Professor of the Gr. T. POPA Medical School, University of Athens, Greece. Iasi Romania, Secretary General of the Global Doctors’ Hippocratic Institute, Ambassador of Greek Tourism:
The Contribution of Thermal Hydrotherapy to Cardiovascular Diseases
George Stefanakos, Pulmonologist, Tuberculologist:
The Contribution of Thermal Hydrotherapy to Respiratory Diseases.
Arnaoutoglou Despina, Dermatologist:
Thermal Medicine, Complementary Therapy in Psoriasis.
Anastasia Koilou, Graduate of Nursing, Technological Educational Institute of Athens, Master’s degree in Nursing, PhD:
The Contribution of Nursing Staff to the Thermal Springs.
Dimitrios Zachariou, Physiotherapist of the University of Karolou Czech Republic, Vice President of the Regional Department of Physiotherapy of Lesvos, Chios, Samos:
The Role of the Physiotherapist in Thermal Tourism – Thermalism
In the framework of the event, the President of Elitour George Patoulis and the Organizing and Scientific Committee of the Workshop visited the Thermal Springs of Lesvos. In the presence of the Mayor of West Lesvos Mr. Akis Veros and the Deputy Governor of Health and Transport Mr. Kostas Astirakakis, they visited the hot spring Polichnitou and then the thermal spring Therma, where they had the opportunity to learn about their important beneficial properties.
