Associated Technologies

The health and wellness spa industry is associated with a number of other technologies that
impinge on its operation and/or image.

Water quality, and wastewater

Water quality in spas and the wastewater that is subsequently generated are closely monitored
and controlled in all countries with this type of facility in line with standards operating in the water and
food supply industries. Internal purification systems for all hot springs water utilize a range of methods,
including ultraviolet light, hydrogen peroxide dosage, ozone dosage, membrane filters and copper/silver
ion treatments. The entire water usage or that part destined for direct contact with human clients of the
facility is passed through a filtration system in accordance with the local regulations relating to water
purification. Bacterial culture and other forms of testing are usually carried out to ensure that all
systems work properly. Often the result is drinking of water quality, and as such the waters may then be
supplied to the spa client or bottled for sale.

Ancillary uses of the geothermal resources

In certain places the geothermal source water may also be used for power generation and space
heating, horticulture and similar uses. One such establishment, the Suginoi Hotel, has the ubiquitous hot
spring baths, which are used by visitors and residents alike, but there is also a geothermal powerplant
and a large indoor heated bathing and recreation area. The hot springs that supply the Suginoi Hotel are
colorless and transparent, have a slight sulphur odour and the water emerges at a constant 210 deg
Celsius. The hotel, consisting of two towers, has a capacity of 2100 guests, and has 11 meeting rooms,
20 banquet halls, four restaurants, four cafeterias and a wedding ceremonial room. The hot springs are
also used for Acquabeat, a facility that includes water slides, a Jacuzzi dreambath(Ume-no-Onsen),
flowerbath(Hana-no Onsen), outdoor hot spring baths, a wavepool and a thermally heated bowling
alley. The Suginoi Hotel Geothermal Power Plant is rated at 3000KW and its annual generation 18 million
KWh, sufficient to power the hotel during normal periods of operation.

South East Asia

In South East Asia the Taiwanese consider hot springs as one of the most precious gifts that
Earth has bestowed upon them. They call them hot tears of the Earth, and it is very likely that people
have used hot springs since ancient times for their rejuvenating and therapeutic properties. More than
130 hot springs have been discovered in Taiwan with the highest concentration found in the volcanic
north.

The Pacific

The Philippines on the other hand include their geothermal springs, including the famous
Hidden valley springs(Laguna Hotspring Resot Philippines) when promoting the attractions of individual
regions of their Islands. Maquinit Hot Springs, located on a scenic bath in Palawan, Luzon, is the
premium hot spring in the Philippines, while thermal exploration following the 1991 eruption indicated
that Mt. Pinatubo hosted a hydrothermal system that today manifests hot springs at varying degrees of
temperature. Life for local people affected by eruptions of Mt Pinatubo through travel and tourism. The
Kabuhayan sa Turismo Ecotourism Program is designed to create jobs and livelihood for the more than
400 indigenous households whose economic well-being was drastically compromised following the
volcanic eruptions of 1991. Basic income from the program comes in the form of contributions from
local and foreign visitors through conservation fees, guide fees and payment for services such as hot
springs use, the use of 4 x 4 vehicles or for the sale of souvenir items. For example, as part of this project
the Puning hot springs location along the Sacoba River incorporates a restaurant, volcanic sand pool,
bar, five hot spring pools, one plain bathing pool. Mud pack treatment rooms, a mini store, cottages,
restrooms.

Through focused marketing and the carving out of new niches such as the combination of hot
springs and health and wellness, 3 million foreign tourists visited the Philippines in 2007, a rise of almost
20% on the year before. This has continued the reversal of the decline in arrivals that lasted from 1997
to 2003. The country is now on its way to reaching the government’s goal of five million visistors by
2010. In 2007 domestic (16.8 million) and international tourists contributed nearly USD 5billion to the
Philippine economy, 40% more than in 2006(Department of Tourism, Philippines, 2008.)