On September 27, Lithuania received special recognition at the European SPA and Balneology Congress, which concluded in Druskininkai. Lithuanian health resorts and SPA centers won an impressive seven prestigious international awards, with the event culminating in Europe’s largest mud therapy session.
The Lithuanian wellness sector dominated this year’s “ESPA Innovation Award” ceremony. The “Versmė” sanatorium in Birštonas was awarded for its innovative service management system, “Eglės Sanatorija” received recognition for its newly opened rehabilitation center “CORE” in Vilnius, and “SPA Vilnius” won in three categories: innovations in client feedback evaluation, forest therapy treatments, and advanced management practices. Klaipėda University was also recognized for a study led by Assoc. Prof. Lolita Rapolienė and her colleagues on the effects of natural factors in treating chronic stress. Druskininkai was named the most innovative resort in Europe.
Additionally, “SPA Vilnius,” which won the main “ESPA Innovation Award” grant, was acknowledged for its innovative solutions in wellness programs (C5 category).
Kristina Citvarienė, Executive Director of the Lithuanian Resorts Association, emphasized that these awards are a significant recognition of Lithuania’s wellness sector on the international stage. “Lithuanian sanatoriums and SPA hotels are successfully strengthening their position in the global market. These achievements show that our resorts adapt to the latest trends, meet consumer needs, and apply advanced wellness methods, enabling them to compete with global leaders,” said Citvarienė.
Druskininkai’s mayor, Ričardas Malinauskas, noted that the Congress provided an excellent platform to discuss pressing topics such as health prevention, the development of balneology research, and sustainable resort development.
“We signed a memorandum addressed to policymakers and relevant European institutions, urging them to focus more on resort activities in the long term. I have often emphasized that Lithuanian resorts require more attention from the central government, and this Congress reaffirmed that this is a pressing issue across Europe. Thank you to the organizers for not only choosing Druskininkai as the host but also recognizing our resort in the ESPA Innovation Awards. It’s gratifying that Druskininkai is known and appreciated in the European resort context,” said Malinauskas.
The Congress also featured a record-breaking mud therapy session, during which nearly 100 participants from 27 countries simultaneously applied mud to both hands. The session used 400 liters of sapropelic mud extracted from Lithuanian peat bogs.
This initiative, organized by the National Association of Sanatoriums and Rehabilitation Institutions and the Lithuanian Resorts Association, aimed to draw attention to innovations in Lithuania’s wellness sector and to highlight the country’s natural resources and wellness potential.
According to Assoc. Prof. Lolita Rapolienė from Klaipėda University’s Faculty of Health Sciences, mud therapy benefits not only the skin but also the entire body. “Mud therapy stimulates circulation, reduces inflammation, and promotes healing processes. Moreover, it helps alleviate stress and encourages regeneration,” she explained.
The European SPA and Balneology Congress is the most important annual event in the wellness sector, held since 1995. Professionals from across Europe and beyond gather each year at a different European resort to showcase the unique wellness and balneology resources and infrastructure of host countries.
Experts highlight that health tourism is becoming increasingly important for strengthening and restoring people’s health. According to the “Global Wellness Institute,” this demand is expected to grow in the future, with clients opting for countries that use certified natural resources and science-based methods. Thus, the role of sanatoriums and SPA hotels will become even more critical.
