BALNEAL TOURISM

The balneotourism is a traditional part of the tourism as a whole in Bulgaria.The custom of using the healing qualities of the water and the natural resources comes from the ancient Thracians who are regarded to be very crafty healers, knowing the healing qualities of the mineral spa. This tradition found its progress in the following Roman empire and the Thracian ‘’saint’’ springs became famous all around in the empire. Recently people around the world gain a new attitude for active resting and prophylaxis. In Europe the balneocenters become more and more popular because they offer both traditional methods of healing as well as the ancient healing therapy system. Nowadays the comprehension is that a healthy man has to take care of his health. There are some analyses which reveal that the rising life expectancy in the economic developed countries is the reason for the growing importance of the balneotourism. In a narrow connection with this comes the fact that the number of the old people using that specific tourist service has increased a lot. There are not so many countries that can rival Bulgaria in the thermo mineral water diversity. There have been found and surveyed more than 550 fields with 1600 mineral springs with total amount of water to be 4900 liters per second. 66, 7 % is the part of the low mineralized water, 14, 4% is the mineralized water and 17, 9 % goes to the gas water. The diversity of the water chemical content is really amazing. There is a number of mineral springs with sulfide, radon, silica, chlorine – sodium, fluorine, ferriferous and arsenic content, apart of the low mineralized hydro therms. Bulgaria also has a great amount of healing mud and turf – a valuable resource indeed. The diverse mountain relief, the broad coastline, the proximity of the Mediterranean sea and the favorable geographic location of the country create excellent bioclimatic conditions and unique natural combinations for complex influence over the human body. That gives Bulgaria a considerable advantage to the other traditional accepted as balneological countries. We have 18-20% more sunny days compared to the countries from the Central, Northern and Northwestern Europe. Our mountains are protective shield against cold northern winds. We have 10-30 % less cloudy days compared to the Atlantic coastline and some parts of the Mediterranean coastline. The average amount of rainfall is 26-65% less in the spring and summer months. Bulgaria is well protected from the warm winds of the African deserts and from the hurricane power of the deep Mediterranean cyclones. Many of the mineral springs are located in the mountains or in the hills where you have favorable bioclimatic and landscape conditions, near clear crystal water and pine trees – an unique environment with ionizing factors of great physiological and therapeutics importance. Valuable with chemical ingredients mineral springs might be found in valleys with definitely Mediterranean climate. Abundance of thermo mineral water springs and healing mud can be found in the talasotherapeutics zone of the Black sea coastline. For the needs of the phyto- and aromatherapy a great diversity of herbs and plants are successfully used, as well as the healing characteristics of the bee products. Balneohealing in Bulgaria has long going traditions. There are very good specialists working in this sector. The great number of healing and rehabilitating tourist programs is all the time updated with modern and exotic with the pure goal to attract more and more foreign tourists. Thus our balneoresorts gain a new modern look and offer their products to a much bigger group of customers – people who need to be healed and people who are healthy, but need relaxation and rehabilitation from the everyday stress. There are around 102 resorts in the country. 34 out of them are of National importance (5 in the mountains, 10 at the sea) and 68 are of local importance (38 balneohealing, 48 in the mountains, 15 at the sea). Balneological, climatic and mud healing centers at the Black sea coast line – Albena, Golden sands, St.Konstantin and Elena, Sunny beach, Sunny day, Riviera, Sopzopol, Kiten, Primorsko, Ahtopol, Pomorie, Balchik, Varna. Balneological, climatic and mud healing centers in the country – Hisar, Velingrad, Sandanski, Kustendil, Bankya, Pavel Bania, Narechen, Kostenec, Momin Prohod, Bourgas mineral spa, Stara zagora mineral spa, Sliven mineral spa, Bania, Borovetz, Sapareva bania, triavna, Aprilci, Elena, Kotel. Comfortable lodging and service, healing and rehabilitation are offered in a number of balneohotels: “’Dobrudja’’**** in Albena, ‘’Ambassador ‘’*** and ‘’Imperial’’ *****in Riviera, Golden sands, ‘’Palace’’**** and ‘’Marina’’**** in Sunny day, ‘’Grand Royal Hotel Varna’’***** in St.Konstantin and Elena, ‘’Globus’’*** in Sunny beach, ‘’Interhotel Pomorie’’*** in Pomorie , ‘’Sandanski’’**** and ‘’St.Vrach’’***** in Sandanski, ‘’Augusta’’*** in Hisaria, ‘’Velina’’ and ‘’Kamena’’**** in Velingrad. Balneohotels with their high qualified staff offer a wide variety of services and programs such as: classic spa treatment, talasotherapy, classic, underwater and exotic massage, pearl bathtub, helioprophylaxis, healing gym exercises, manual therapy, reflex therapy, traditional acupuncture, acupressure, laserpuncture, Chinese energy hydro massage, ozone and hydrogen therapy, criotherapy, paraffin healing, inhalation, apitherapy, aromatherapy, phytotherapy, mud healing, anti- stress programs, loosing weight programs, balneocosmetics, sauna, solarium, fitness, medicine cosmetics, plastic surgery etc. You can also practice different sports – water sports, tennis, riding a bicycle, jogging, mountain-hiking etc. All balneoresorts are designed for carrying out healing and prophylaxis programs, according to the specific illnesses and all the programs are managed by high qualified doctors. While healing and relaxing the costumers have the opportunity to learn about our culture by participating in different programs inland or at the Black sea coastline. The ancient cultural heritage, the folk traditions, the original Bulgarian cuisine, the preserved nature and the mineral springs and spa centers are our advantages to the modern world and the new millennium.