Rotorua is looking to
reclaim its title as the spa capital of the South Pacifi c
“ The real big growth area for the spa industry is health and wellness in locations where hot springs naturally occur ”
Steve Chadwick Mayor of Rotorua New Zealand
I
nternationally the real big growth area for the spa industry is health and wellness in locations where hot springs naturally occur. Globally,
people are living longer and are more focused on wellness and for us, as a country, healthier people means health savings. So the health and wellness benefits of hot spring and spa treatments are a real selling point on many levels. The benefits of geothermal waters and
mud are well known – they can help people with arthritis, general aches and pains, people recovering from injury, it’s good for your skin and for general de-stressing and relaxation. The key is to measure these health benefits. Doing this makes for a more compelling ‘product’ and this is something that we’ll work on figuring out how to do here in Rotorua as we progress. The spa, health and wellness sector
has been identified as a key driver for developing the tourism economy of
Rotorua – one of New Zealand’s iconic tourist destinations. Our district, situated in the heart of the North Island, has a unique geothermal landscape with geysers, boiling mud pools and hot springs that have attracted visitors for more than 100 years. We already have a healthy offering of geothermal bathing and spa treatments. But there’s a resurgence now and Rotorua’s long-term vision is to maximise and expand the spa
and wellness offerings alongside other existing tourism attractions, Maori culture and Rotorua’s status as a top mountain biking destination. Rotorua is well-positioned to take
advantage of this global [health and wellness] trend. But, like other hot spring destinations worldwide, we need to build an international profile. We’ll take inspiration from Beppu, Japan, one of Rotorua’s sister cities that’s recognised internationally for its highly-developed geothermal attractions and hot springs. Rotorua was once known as the spa
capital of the South Pacific and we’re looking to reclaim that title by developing hot springs and spa complexes, building on the fantastic spa facilities we already have. One geothermal area that’s already marked for development is Kuirau Park, on the edge of the inner city, which already has two thermal footpools. Our plans include adding a Beppu-style steam kitchen – a communal cooking and eating area – next to the pools, creating another reason for people to visit the site.
Turn to p30 to read about World Spa – a NZ$10m (US$7.3m, €7m, £5m) hotel and hot spring complex in Rotorua that’s just been announced.
©CYBERTREK 2015
spabusiness.com issue 3 2015 59
PHOTO:
WWW.POLYNESIANSPA.CO.NZ
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