Thai Spa Association is Launched

According to a recent survey independently conducted by the Singapore based Intelligent Spas Pte Ltd, Thailand's Spa industry is worth US$ 85 million. It has seen a growth of 64% over the past three years. During 2001/2002 had a total of 3.3 million visitors of which 80% were International tourists. These are the figure to back up why Thailand is now the Spa capital of Asia if not the World.

As Spas are a growth industry and a source of much foreign income, the Thai Spa Association (TSPA), was officially launched on 3rd March 2003. It took more than a year to pull the Association together. The preparation and groundwork was done by a group of professionals in the industry led by Founding President Naphalai Areesorn who felt that with the rapid growth of the spa industry in Thailand, it was necessary to bring all the players together to work for the good of the industry.

Currently the TSPA has a total of 44 members with 12 in hotel/resort category, 12 day spas, two destination spas, two medical spas and the remainder spa consultants, training schools and suppliers of equipment and products. Now that the association’s registration has been approved it’s hoped that all spas in Thailand will become members.

The aims of the Association are:

1. To promote and protect the spa industry and its consumers, by establishing standards for staffing, training, spa set-up, spa operation, and product and equipment supply.

2. To develop the industry and enhance its professionalism through education and training, and the sharing of ideas and information between members.

3. To be the voice of the spa industry in Thailand, educating the public about the value and benefits of the spa experience, and lobbying government where required.

4. To encourage membership and active participation of spas of every size and kind, and entities actively engaged in supplying goods or services to the spa industry.

5. To provide a network for spa professionals within Thailand, and also to establish and maintain affiliation and co-operation with other spa organizations globally.

The foundation of the Association could not have come at a better time, as the industry is currently facing one of its first hurdles, the imposing of an excise tax by the government on spa services. The association is currently in discussion with various government departments as well as the Senate Committee on Tourism. The result is an agreement in principle of the tax for those spas certified by a joint committee made up of representatives of TSPA and the Ministry of Public Health. The outstanding issue is to find a definition of what is a spa that is acceptable to all parties.

Thai Spa Association, Suite 1809, One Pacific Place, 140 Sukhumvit Road, Bangkok 10110, T (66) 2653 0636-7 F (66) 2653 0635 W www.thaispaassociation.com