 |
|
|
 |
16 Sep 2014
Hot springs resort opens in Philippines as part of spa development plan
BY
Helen Andrews
|
Residents of Malabuyoc have been organised and trained as trek guides, massage therapists and maintenance personnel to run the Mainit Springs
photo: http://unitedoutdoorsportsenthusiast.blogspot.co.uk/
The Mainit Springs in Barangay Montaneza, within the Philippine municipality called Malabuyoc, has been transformed into a tourist attraction, nine years after the Department of Energy issued a report saying the natural waters were ideal for spa resort development. In 2005, the Department of Energy reported that the location of the hot springs was ideal for development, since Malabuyoc is near other tourist resorts in the neighbouring towns of Moalboal, Badian and dolphin sightseeing points at Tañon Strait.
While the report found that the heat generated by the springs, situated 126km (78 miles) south of Cebu City, was too low for power generation, it was deemed hot enough for eco-tourism and domestic purposes.
It took eight years before the municipal government decided to organise the community that would run the eco-tourism destination, according to news site newsinfo.inquirer.net. The Malabuyoc municipal government, with the Department of Tourism, has now labelled the hot springs as Cebu’s version of Japan's onsen baths.
The Mainit Springs has three pools of differing degrees of heat. The biggest pool, leading to the Montaneza river, is the hottest pool – whose water temperature is 44°C (111°F). The second smaller pool has a temperature of 36°C (99°F) and the smallest pool is 38°C (100°F). Both of the smaller pools are located in the centre of the Montaneza river.
According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), the warm water could stem from hot volcanic rocks underneath the river, a magma chamber below the river system, or a fault line connected to the nearby island of Negros Oriental where most geothermal plants are located.
Residents of Malabuyoc have been organised and trained as trek guides, massage therapists and maintenance personnel. Mainit Ecotourism Association now has at least 35 members, all of whom are local residents.
The Global Spa and Wellness Summit (GSWS) has identified hot spring spa development as a key trend for the wellness industry. Chair and CEO Susie Ellis has urged national tourism bodies all over the world to classify and capitalise on each country’s individual natural wellness offerings.
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Connect with
World Leisure |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| News headlines |
|
|
 |
 |
|
16 Apr 2024
Planet Fitness has a new CEO – Colleen Keating. She will take up the position on 10 June. The announcement follows a search which began with the
.... more>> |
|
|
|
 |
|
16 Apr 2024
Swiss longevity brand Clinique La Prairie (CLP) has inked a deal with Montara Hospitality Group to operate a resort at Tri Vananda – a purpose-built
.... more>> |
|
|
|
 |
|
16 Apr 2024
UK Active has announced details of its annual health and fitness industry awards ceremony, which will take place in Birmingham on the evening of
.... more>> |
|
|
|
 |
|
15 Apr 2024
Six Senses has announced the grand opening of its first-ever property and spa in the Caribbean, called Six Senses La Sagesse. With a picturesque
.... more>> |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
| Company profile |
|
![]()
Legend by Xplor
Legend by Xplor has been trusted by leading leisure operators for 20+ years, offering a complete end-to-end leisure management solution so operators can run their facilities easily and effectively.
View full profile>> |
|
| Catalogue gallery |
|
|
| Featured Supplier |
|
 |
|
|
|
in this issue
• Virgin gets right to wipe out rent arrears
• Fitness industry mourns passing of Jan Spaticchia
• STA offers mindfulness resources
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
| World Leisure jobs |
 |
Duty Manager (Dry)
Salary: Competitive salary
Location: Bournemouth
Company: Everyone Active
|
|
Swim Teacher
Salary: Competitive
Location: Shipston-on-Stour
Company: Everyone Active
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Diary dates |
|
| Powered
by leisurediary.com |
 |
|
|
|
|
