The Bled Water Forum is currently leading several international initiatives focused on:
• New frameworks for drinking water quality
• Mineralization and classification profiles
• Source protection and public water excellence
• Advanced certification systems for institutions and facilities offering high-quality drinking water
• Education and development of water sommeliers and water technologies

We strongly believe that the European spa sector – with its deep heritage, scientific knowledge, and operational expertise – represents one of the most advanced real-world applications of mineral and natural waters for health, wellbeing, prevention, and medical tourism. This makes ESPA a natural and essential partner in shaping the future of water standards.

Together, we aim to co-create:
Global quality standards for drinking and spa waters
Classification and mineralization frameworks connecting health, wellness, and public water systems
A new certification system for destinations and facilities offering exceptional drinking and mineral waters across hospitality, spa, medical, and public environments

This cooperation will connect scientific, regulatory, and operational perspectives into a coherent European and global reference framework for water excellence.

Bled Water Forum in June, with a dedicated panel or keynote on:

More information about the Bled Water Forum: https://bledwf.com/

We look forward to shaping the future of water—together.

The importance of medical spas and health resorts within European healthcare is growing, especially as chronic diseases affect up to a quarter of the population. Traditional medicine alone cannot meet the long-term needs of these patients, while health resorts offer a unique combination of physical therapy, rehabilitation, well-being, and patient education, making them an effective complement to classical treatment.

For medical spas to be fully integrated and recognised, Prof. Carpentier stresses the need for rigorous scientific evidence. Treatments must be evaluated with methodologies comparable to pharmacological research – randomised studies, control groups, and blinded assessments wherever possible. Only strong scientific validation will convince insurance providers, ensure affordability for all income groups, and prevent spa therapies from becoming a luxury accessible only to the wealthy.

“While artificial intelligence may support healthcare delivery, it cannot replace the human relationship essential in chronic disease care. Europe’s diversity in spa practices is both a challenge and an opportunity, and the European Spa Association plays a key role in unifying standards and sharing experience across countries,” says Carpentier.

Looking ahead, Carpentier sees two priorities: significantly more research and better education for medical professionals, including integrating balneotherapy into medical training.