The first health tourism offerings were spas — the Alpine bathing tradition dates back more than 3,000 years. 36 spas, spas, health resorts, hotels and clinics are now organized in the Swiss Association of Spas and Kurhäuser. For President Max Nadig, rehabilitation is far more interesting than prevention. And that is down to the guests, as he explains in an interview.
With emerging health tourism, spas and health resorts are becoming providers of modern health services. Are companies ready for this?
Max Nadig: Guests expect high quality. You only entrust your own health to companies that radiate expertise. Our members must meet the association's own criteria in order to meet the quality regulations required in healthcare. Anyone who does not do their “job” properly as a guest will quickly be off the market.
Where do the guests or patients come from?
Max Nadig: The majority of the guests come from Switzerland. For stays aimed at restoring health, the guest chooses a familiar environment with short distances to get there.
Are these primarily older patients or also younger generations?
Max Nadig: It is older guests in particular who treat themselves to a health break. Younger people are trying to restore their health on an outpatient basis, i.e. at home. Whether this is always the more efficient way remains to be seen. Treatment and rehabilitation away from everyday life have traditionally been highly valued by older people, but are not used enough by the younger generation.
Do foreign patients play an important role?
Max Nadig: Foreign guests are rather rare, as health insurance funds co-finance more generously in many countries than in Switzerland. In addition, offers abroad are of very good quality and the cost level in medicine and the hotel industry is also lower. So why come to Switzerland and thus forego health insurance contributions?
How do you differentiate yourself from spa services?
Max Nadig: The focus of spa, spa and in particular rehabilitation is on the medical approach, which is at most secondary in wellness.
Your association underlines the importance of spas and health resorts for keeping costs down in healthcare. How does that work?
Max Nadig: As is well known, staying in a hospital is rather expensive. We can admit patients from hospitals very quickly after a procedure and provide professional care and recovery in a more cost-effective environment.
The age pyramid is changing more and more towards an ageing of Switzerland. Does that make you happy?
Max Nadig: This is certainly a factor that will generally increase demand for cures and health resorts in the future. Older people are more susceptible to illness per se and also take the time to get healthy in the long term.
What makes the industry's model companies stand out?
Max Nadig: Being close to the guest with their individual medical and physical needs is the way to success.
The Health & Tourism conference focuses on health tourism in the Alpine region. How many of your businesses are actually in the mountains?
Max Nadig: Very few of the businesses are located in traditional mountain regions; rather, the health resorts are located in the foothills of the Alps. The spas are naturally located close to natural healing springs, whether in the Alps or in the midlands.
Is the location in the Prealps or Alps more of a location advantage or a disadvantage?
Max Nadig: The pre-alpine region offers excellent climatic conditions, combined with good transport connections to urban agglomerations. However, natural local healing springs are also particularly important regardless of their location.
Rehabilitation and, increasingly, prevention are mentioned as business potential, especially for companies in the mountains. Where do you see the greater opportunities?
Max Nadig: For me, the opportunity in the rehabilitation and curative sector is significantly higher than in prevention. The demand for preventive services remains cautious, as the awareness of investing money and even holidays for one's health is still severely underdeveloped among the population. Exceptions confirm the rule.
Max Nadig
Max Nadig (65) is a management consultant and president of the Swiss Association of Spas and Kurhäuser, who informs potential spa guests about the spa and thermal spa offerings in Switzerland and promotes good legal framework conditions for member companies.
Max Nadig will be a speaker at the 5th “Health & Tourism” conference. www.udir.ch
Health & tourism
The “Health & Tourism” conference is a private initiative for the Alpine region. It is aimed at service providers from tourism, healthcare and industry as well as decision makers from politics and associations and aims to highlight opportunities and market opportunities for health tourism development in the Alpine region.
Organizer/ Media contact
Christian Gartmann AG, St. Moritz
+41 79 355 78 78
christian@gartmann.biz