Health, Wellness and Tourism: healthy tourists, healthy business ...

that more than 60% of the visitors are at the age of 26–45 and have come on a holiday and
relaxation trip. This indicator is considerably different from the visitors of medical spas where
76% of the visitors were older than 45 years.
On the basis of the results of the first survey, the Pärnu College of the University of Tartu
made proposals to the Estonian Spa Association for the classification of spas and the draft
categorisation criteria for medical spas. By the end of 2008 the categorisation criteria were
approved with a few additions after testing the categorisation criteria for medical spas, the
quality system was completed and the first medical spas were accredited. By the beginning of
2010 the respective categories were awarded to nine Estonian medical spas on the basis of the
medical spa categorisation criteria. Spa hotels use the same rating system as hotels and apply
stars for classification purposes. Stars are used in design alongside the logo of the Estonian
Spa Association.
The system was designed to inform clients of the range and nature of services available. The
fact that the services meet the criteria of the system – and the extent to which they meet them
– is a sign of quality that clients can be guided by in visiting Estonian spas. The quality
criteria (Tabel 1) set out the range of services offered and the requirements for premises, staff
and quality of service. (Spaahotellide kategooriad… 2006; Categories of Spa hotels and
classification…).
The Estonian Spa Association has adopted the proposals made on the basis of the research
concerning the categories of spa hotels, which are the following:
• Category 1. Medical spa hotel is a recognised hotel licensed to provide outpatient
medical care that specialises primarily in various rehabilitation, dietary and medical
spa services.
• Category 2. Spa / wellness spa hotel is a recognised hotel that specialises in various
care, relaxation and other spa services. Such hotels are not required to hold a license
for provision of outpatient medical care. Treatment services are not offered and the
spa services have a relaxing and invigorating nature. Note: The concept of wellness
spa calls for very high quality and level of service, personal service, a varied selection
of spa services and focus on relevant target groups, which means that only hotels that
meet four-star requirements can apply to become wellness spas.
• Category 3. Medical wellness spa hotel is a higher ranked hotel that offers both
medical and wellness spa services. A combination of different categories of spa hotels
is possible if a hotel wants to develop itself as a higher ranked medical wellness spa.