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The main characteristics of Portuguese mineral springs potential
In Portugal 408 springs with mineral water are reported to have therapeutic properties, and
three quarters of them (300) are recognised by the local population as having curative
properties (Sousa, 2006). In the spring of 2010 already 44 such spas were officially being
exploited. However, only 39 were open to the public, two more than in the previous year. The
Central region of Portugal has 20 spas (or 45% of the total), the North has 18 (41%), while
only 14% of the total number of termas are located in the remaining four regions – three in
the Alentejo and one each in Lisbon, the Algarve and the Azores (ATP, 2010; Turismo de
Portugal, 2009b).
It is not compulsory for spas to be registered members of the Associação das Termas de
Portugal, the organisation that defends the interests of the country’s subscribing mineral
springs spas. However, most spas are in fact members, with only the northern termas of
Moledo, Eirogo and Carlão never having joined the ATP. These 3 independent spas (indicated
in blue) and the limits of the NUTS II sub-regions (in green) are also indicated on the map
below. Figure 1 shows the geographical spread of ATP-member spas across the country.
In the Central region, as a matter of fact in São Pedro do Sul, the largest Portuguese termas
are to be found with 17.017 medical spa goers in 2008. The second largest facility with regard
to this kind of public, Termas de Chaves, another municipal company, however, handled
6.374 medical attendants over the same period, only a little more than one third of the number
TERMALISTUR reached. This considerable discrepancy explains why the North only served
25.814 mineral springs spa goers in 2008 and the Centre more than double (58.870) (Turismo
de Portugal, 2009b).
It is also important to note that of the 44 units under consideration (41 ATP members and 3
independent ones), 21 (48%) already renovated their premises since 2000 and that another 5
(11%) will reopen within a short span of time. This year the brochure Saúde & bemestar, in
which 20 innovative and differentiating qualification projects sponsored by Turismo de
Portugal over the last decade are listed in an appealing way, included mineral springs spa
(along with spa hotel) renovation projects with a total investment value between 470.000€ and
20.900.000€ (Turismo de Portugal, 2010b).