​CONFERENCE ON HEALTH TOURISM ON THE CROATIAN ISLANDS

 18 May 2018

Vela Luka, the Island of Korčula

Korkyra Hotel

 PROGRAMME

FRIDAY, 18 MAY 2018

10.00 - 11.00       Official Opening:

 Ruža Tomašić, Member of the European Parliament - HOST

Katarina Bikić, Mayoress of Vela Luka – HOST

Vjeran Filippi, President of LAG 5 - HOST

Nikola Dobroslavić, Prefect of Dubrovnik-Neretva County

Damira Bojić, Head of Kalos Specialized Hospital, Vela Luka

A representative of the Croatian Chamber of Economy

A representative of the Croatian National Tourist Board

Marija Vučković, State Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Croatia

Milan Kujundžić, Minister of Health of the Republic of Croatia

Gari Cappelli, Minister of Tourism of the Republic of Croatia

11.00 - 11.15       Coffee Break

11.15 - 12.30       PANEL 1: HEALTH / SPA TOURISM

Health tourism is considered to be the type of activity in which an important place is given to expert and controlled use of natural healing remedies, physical therapy procedures and organized physical activities aimed at maintaining and improving physical, mental and/or spiritual health of tourists, in order to improve the quality of their lives. Certain conditions are to be provided, such as natural healing remedies, appropriate hospitality, medical, paramedical and other facilities, medical supervision and health tourism infrastructure.

Spa tourism includes complex health and tourism activities which take place in natural spa resorts, where an important place is given to the treatment of and rehabilitation from various illnesses and conditions, as well as recovery from and prevention of disease, with the expert use of natural healing remedies and physical therapy procedures and rehabilitation.

Moderator: Leila Krešić-Jurić, Executive Director EHTI Summit / HTI Conference

Participants:

Frank Psaila, Permanent Secretary Ministry for Gozo, Malta

Damira Bojić, Head of Kalos Specialized Hospital, Vela Luka - HOST

Jai Verma, Senior Executive & Global Head B2G, Cigna, Dubai, UAE

Cristiana Chivulescu, Fontana Kuur-EN Medische Wellness Reizen, Netherlands

Géraldine Mahieu, Head of Unit, Labour Market, Health and Social Services

Structural Reform Support Service, European Commission

12.30 - 13.30       PANEL 2: WELLNESS / WELLBEING TOURISM

Wellness tourism was mentioned for the first time at the end of the 1980's when the Austrian spa Bad Hofgastein used the words "magic wellness" in its brochure in 1989. Wellness tourism offer, apart from accommodation in tourist facilities premises, also encompasses various types of massage, cosmetic care, programmes based on healing, alternative medicine, saunas, swimming pools, recreation, healthy food, and programmes for spiritual health or personal rest and development.

Wellbeing tourism differs from health/spa tourism with regard to the motive of tourists' arrivals. Thus, health/spa tourism includes curative therapies while wellbeing tourism aims to prevent illness and restore good health. Besides keeping up vitality and health, it also involves pleasure and luxury.

Moderator: Leila Krešić-Jurić, Executive Director EHTI Summit / HTI Conference

Participants:

Krisztina Boros, DG GROW F4 Unit at European Commission (Tourism, Emerging and Creative Industries)

Nenad Starc, PhD, Scientist Emeritus

Vjeran Filippi, President LAG 5

Claudia Wagner, Managing Director, Fit Reisen, Germany

Nedjeljko Pinezić, A representative of the Association of Family Accommodation at the Croatian Chamber of Economy

Ivana Kolar, CEO and Founder Julius Rose Ltd. Business consulting

13.30 - 13.45       Coffee break

13.45 - 14.30

Tajana Huzak, Assistant to the Minister of Regional Development and European Union Funds of the Republic of Croatia

Marija Roglić, Head of LAG 5

Maja Jurišić, Head of Islands' Movement

Mirko Prlenda, Director of Dubrovnik Veritas Ltd. Mljet, presentation: EU Project on Mljet

Mladen Varenina, Secretary of the Island's Parliament

Sandra Martinčić,Thalassotherapia Opatija

14.30 - 15.00       Conclusions