KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 16 (Bernama) -- While visiting a spa, a necessity in today's
world, one scarcely pauses to think what the word means, only interested in
what it offers.
Spa or 'Solus Per Aqua' (in Latin) means therapy using water.
Originating centuries ago, spa therapy is unique and exclusive where it utilises the concept of using water as a form of therapy.
In the old days, water from natural hot springs was used to rehabilitate tired limbs and cure wounds. Now, the local spa industry has expanded to include beauty care centres.
Malaysians are now aware about 'hydrotherapy' which they believe is able to boost health. Now, many Malaysians are heading to spas in efforts to boost their health.
Demand for spas and their services is also on the rise. People visit spas to detoxify their bodies, apart from boosting their immune system.
Spa therapy is also believed to be able to reduce stress, high blood pressure, as well as asthma and migraine.
TOURISM
Tourists visiting Thailand and Indonesia waste no opportunity to visit the local spas. Hence, the spa industry in both countries has boosted the economy.
Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen has expressed her confidence that the local spa industry is capable of attracting tourists who are looking for quality and affordable spa services.
Aware of this, the ministry is holding the Spa Therapy Training Programme to produce more local spa therapists.
Currently, the country's spa services sector needs 1,650 spa therapists but only 1,300 of these vacancies have been filled. Out of these spa therapists, only 520 or 40 per cent are locals.
According to Dr Ng, there were 147 premises offering spa services nationwide last May and the ministry has accorded 101 of these premises with the rating of three to five stars.
PERCEPTION
In Malaysia, the spa industry has been growing rapidly over the past five years with more licensed centers opening in hotels and tourist destinations.
However, the rather negative perception by the local society has hampered efforts to recruit locals as spa therapists, leaving the spa operators no choice but to seek foreigners such as those from China, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam to do the job.
According to feedback from industry sources, the spa industry is a sector capable of generating income and jobs for the nation.
"When foreign tourists visit the country, they put up in hotels and use the spa services and this contributes to the nation's income," says a spa operator at a hotel here.
"Hotels that also offer spa services show an increase in the occupancy rate. Thus, the spa services industry is picking up," he says.
HEALTH TOURISM
According to assistant Secretary 2, Industrial Development Division of the Tourism Ministry, Nadia Monira Mohamed Taib, the performance of the spa business is on the rise and capable of generating more income for the country.
Statistics show Malaysia as having the potential to become a competitive health tourism destination where in the year 2000 a total of 175,000 tourists from Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia and Singapore visited Malaysia for its spa services, an increase of 127 per cent as compared to the previous year.
The local spa industry is seen as having massive potential and can act as the catalyst to produce a professional work force that can push the industry on to the international stage.
-- BERNAMA
Spa or 'Solus Per Aqua' (in Latin) means therapy using water.
Originating centuries ago, spa therapy is unique and exclusive where it utilises the concept of using water as a form of therapy.
In the old days, water from natural hot springs was used to rehabilitate tired limbs and cure wounds. Now, the local spa industry has expanded to include beauty care centres.
Malaysians are now aware about 'hydrotherapy' which they believe is able to boost health. Now, many Malaysians are heading to spas in efforts to boost their health.
Demand for spas and their services is also on the rise. People visit spas to detoxify their bodies, apart from boosting their immune system.
Spa therapy is also believed to be able to reduce stress, high blood pressure, as well as asthma and migraine.
TOURISM
Tourists visiting Thailand and Indonesia waste no opportunity to visit the local spas. Hence, the spa industry in both countries has boosted the economy.
Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen has expressed her confidence that the local spa industry is capable of attracting tourists who are looking for quality and affordable spa services.
Aware of this, the ministry is holding the Spa Therapy Training Programme to produce more local spa therapists.
Currently, the country's spa services sector needs 1,650 spa therapists but only 1,300 of these vacancies have been filled. Out of these spa therapists, only 520 or 40 per cent are locals.
According to Dr Ng, there were 147 premises offering spa services nationwide last May and the ministry has accorded 101 of these premises with the rating of three to five stars.
PERCEPTION
In Malaysia, the spa industry has been growing rapidly over the past five years with more licensed centers opening in hotels and tourist destinations.
However, the rather negative perception by the local society has hampered efforts to recruit locals as spa therapists, leaving the spa operators no choice but to seek foreigners such as those from China, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam to do the job.
According to feedback from industry sources, the spa industry is a sector capable of generating income and jobs for the nation.
"When foreign tourists visit the country, they put up in hotels and use the spa services and this contributes to the nation's income," says a spa operator at a hotel here.
"Hotels that also offer spa services show an increase in the occupancy rate. Thus, the spa services industry is picking up," he says.
HEALTH TOURISM
According to assistant Secretary 2, Industrial Development Division of the Tourism Ministry, Nadia Monira Mohamed Taib, the performance of the spa business is on the rise and capable of generating more income for the country.
Statistics show Malaysia as having the potential to become a competitive health tourism destination where in the year 2000 a total of 175,000 tourists from Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia and Singapore visited Malaysia for its spa services, an increase of 127 per cent as compared to the previous year.
The local spa industry is seen as having massive potential and can act as the catalyst to produce a professional work force that can push the industry on to the international stage.
-- BERNAMA
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