FEMTEC, Yongtai county government and Tianbang Group signed a cooperation agreement on Nov 19 concerning the International Forum for the Development of Hot Spring Towns and Wellness Centers, in Yongtai county in central Fujian province.

The World Federation of Hydrotherapy and Climatotherapy (FEMTEC), Yongtai county government and Tianbang Group signed a cooperation agreement on Nov 19, which names Yongtai in Fujian province as the permanent host of the International Forum for the Development of Hot Spring Towns and Wellness Centers.

Tianbang will invest 5 billion yuan to build a permanent venue in Yongtai for the annual event.

Giovanni Gurnari, vice president of FEMTEC, recently visited Yongtai to learn about the county’s efforts concerning the development, management and protection of its hot springs.

He said that the hot springs are rich in minerals, and suggested that the county should develop this natural resource as a tourist attraction.

Yongtai will host the forum from Jan 8 to 10 next year, and hot spring experts from around the world will gather in the county and offer guidance concerning the development of Yongtai’s hot spring industry, and a hot spring demonstration base will be established in the county. The authorities also plan to establish training centers to guarantee talents for the industry, with the aim of transforming Yongtai into an internationally recognized hot springs destination.

The local authorities have identified 13 hot springs with a depth of 100 to 200 meters. The temperature is between 32 and 76 degrees Celsius, and the water is rich in potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium and iron, as well as radon (Rn), which is said to be a very rare occurrence in China, and also means that these hot springs have therapeutic benefits.

Edited by Wang Yifei and Niva Whyman