Sixteen Countries Share Business, Knowledge and Cooperation at Termatalia

>> The 24th edition of the International Thermal Tourism, Health and Wellness Fair reflects the positive momentum of the sector worldwide.
>> 50 experts from 10 countries analyse the role of thermal tourism at the 7th International Water and Health Congress as a driver of rural development and a source of health and wealth.

Termatalia 2026 got underway today at Expourense with a very clear objective: to generate business, share knowledge and strengthen public-private cooperation within the international thermal tourism community. The participation of 16 countries, 60 exhibitors, 50 experts and 15 tour operators demonstrates the positive momentum currently experienced by health tourism worldwide, particularly in Galicia, the province of Ourense and neighbouring Portugal.

The 24th International Thermal Tourism, Health and Wellness Fair was officially opened this morning at an event attended by the Director of the Galicia Tourism Agency, Xosé Manuel Merelles; the Secretary General of Termas de Portugal, Joao Pinto; the Director of Promotion of Porto e Norte de Portugal, Cristina Mendes; the President of the Spanish Association of Thermal Spas and ICTES, Miguel Mirones; the President of the Provincial Council of Ourense and of Villas Termales de España, Luis Menor; the President of the Parliament of Galicia, Miguel Santalices; and the Councillor for Employment, Commerce and Emigration of the Xunta de Galicia and President of the Board of Trustees of the Expourense Foundation, José González.

During their speeches, all of them referred to the positive momentum currently being experienced by thermal tourism and to the commitment of the various public administrations to its development in Ourense, Galicia and Portugal. They noted that the figures recorded in 2025 were the best in history to date and that Termatalia is, in the words of the Councillor, “a key element in consolidating the foundations of a sustainable, profitable and innovative tourism offering and in attracting new operators working in a segment that, in 2025, demonstrated its significant economic potential by generating 232,000 tourists and €74.6 million in expenditure in Galicia.”

For his part, the President of the Provincial Council of Ourense, Luis Menor, stated that thermal tourism “beyond being a tourism driver, thermal baths are becoming an essential public and strategic policy.” He highlighted the trajectory of the Provincial Council’s Social Thermal Baths Programme, which after 11 years in operation has achieved outstanding figures: more than 27,800 beneficiaries, almost 90,000 overnight stays and more than 202,000 thermal treatments provided. Regarding Portugal, the Director of Promotion of Porto e Norte highlighted that thermal tourism in the region grew by 70% in 2025.

The President of Balnearios de España-ANBAL, Miguel Mirones, also spoke at the opening ceremony. He called for the spa industry’s representative body to be taken into account when legislation is enacted that could include thermal tourism among the services covered by the Spanish Social Security system. He also stressed the need to differentiate between the different types of establishments offering wellness-related services, particularly those that use thermal water and those that do not, since the regulations and requirements imposed on thermal spas are considerably stricter than those applicable to other establishments providing water-related wellness services.

The long-standing message repeatedly heard at Termatalia — “the difference is in the water” — remains relevant. Mirones recalled that “a thermal spa is much more than accommodation: it is a driving business, a source of employment, an element of socio-economic development and an ally in preserving population, services and activity. Its ability to integrate health, leisure, nature, culture and local development makes thermal tourism one of the tourism offerings with the greatest potential.”

Professionals from all 16 participating countries attended the opening ceremony. Among them were delegations from the Secretariat of Federal Tourism of the Government of Mexico and SECTUR of the State of Guanajuato; a delegation of mayors and institutional representatives from Ukraine, who are currently visiting Ourense with the support of INORDE; and a delegation of mayors and municipal representatives from the Argentine province of Catamarca.

The former Minister of Tourism of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, Eduardo Sanguinetti, also attended the ceremony. He presented the Director of Termatalia, Rogelio Martínez, with the first Vademecum of the Mineral-Medicinal Waters of Uruguay. This publication was created following the celebration of Termatalia in Uruguay in 2023. Sanguinetti was accompanied during the presentation by the new Consul General of Uruguay in Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria and the Basque Country, Pedro Keuroglian.

BUSINESS ACTIVITIES

The first day of the Tourism Business Workshop was also held today, with the participation of 15 specialised tour operators with purchasing capacity in their respective markets, covering both health tourism and tourism in general.

From Spain, participants include Civitatis, Abies Travel, Hotteo Travel, Maxima Bienestar, Inturismo, Rutas Meigas, Interrías, Turismo Vivencial and Sol VIP, among others. The main specialised wholesalers from Portugal, such as Vefa Travel and INATEL, are also taking part. JAF Travel from the United States, Smartbox from Ireland and Spain, Colombia Sky from Colombia and Eurolatino from Germany complete the list of participants.

The fair’s exhibitors have already held dozens of business meetings this morning, with the aim of encouraging these travel wholesalers to include their destinations and establishments in their travel catalogues for the coming season.

TRAINING

The 7th International Water and Health Congress is one of the main professional highlights of Termatalia 2026. It brings together 50 experts from ten countries who are analysing the evolution of thermal tourism and health and wellness tourism, as well as the main challenges and opportunities facing the thermal tourism, health tourism and wellness tourism sectors.

The programme addresses highly topical issues such as active ageing and thermal tourism, new wellness trends, quality and best practices in thermal establishments, artificial intelligence and university research, medical hydrology, geothermal energy, and the role of thermal spas as drivers of economic and social development in their territories, with particular attention to rural areas. The Congress will also strengthen connections between Europe and Latin America, promoting the exchange of knowledge and experiences.

The first day also included a session on public thermal tourism policies, featuring public and private representatives from Spain and Portugal. Another session focused on the Villas Termales de España, chaired by its President, Luis Menor, and featuring the mayors of Mondariz-Balneario, Cuntis and Archena.

The Network of Thermal Spa Towns of the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP) celebrates its 25th anniversary this year and brings together 76 local authorities from different parts of Spain that share a common element: their mineral and thermal waters. The session emphasised that thermal spa towns are much more than tourist destinations: they are municipalities that have made water a source of health, identity, economic development and quality of life.

MINERAL WATER

Termatalia serves as a platform for the bottled Mineral Water Industry through activities such as the International Water Tasting, which held its 21st edition today. The award-winning waters will be announced tomorrow. The jury, comprising experts from Spain, Portugal and Costa Rica, was chaired by Galician sommelier Mercedes González.

Once again, the Water Bar attracted the attention of visitors on the first day of the fair. They were able to taste different types of mineral water and learn more about them with the guidance of Mercedes González. A workshop was also held today offering a sustainable sensory journey through Costa Rica using mineral water, coffee, cocoa and fruit.

Although the fair has a stronger professional focus, this edition features a comprehensive programme of activities allowing the general public to experience the event by “treating themselves to health and wellness”.

One of the main attractions is the “The Thermal Mystery of Ourense” Roulette, available at the stand of the Provincial Council of Ourense. Visitors can take part, test their knowledge of the province and win different prizes. Another new feature is the tasting of “Thermal Ice Cream” and other varieties carrying the Galicia Calidade seal, available at the stand of the Galicia Tourism Agency.

The fair features several massage areas provided by Centro Shalom and the Association of Beauty and Aesthetics Professionals of Galicia, as well as by students from vocational training centres in Ourense. In addition to involving different companies, Termatalia has also engaged students from vocational training programmes related to wellness and hospitality.

Coordinated by the Galician Centre for Innovation in Vocational Training – Eduardo Barreiros, students from CIFP A Farixa and IES 12 de Outubro in Ourense are carrying out various demonstrations and treatments at the fair.

Termatalia 2026 has the main support of the Xunta de Galicia, through the Galicia Tourism Agency, and the Provincial Council of Ourense. It also has the collaboration of the University of Vigo’s Campus Auga, the Chair of Medical Hydrology–Thermal Spas of Galicia at the University of Santiago de Compostela, ICTES, the City Council of Archena, Galicia Calidade and RENFE as Official Transport, providing transportation to Ourense for professionals travelling to Expourense via Madrid.

The fair will be open tomorrow from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. continuously.

All the information is available at www.termatalia.com and on its social media channels.