Spa Research Centre

How can we measure the socioeconomic impact of spa tourism on regional development? We addressed this question together with a team of researchers from the Faculty of Economics at the University of West Bohemia during an internal workshop held as part of the Spa Research Center project. There is a wealth of publicly available secondary data describing economic development, the labor market situation, demographic trends, developments in tourism, and, for example, the level of […]

A professional article entitled "The Role of Physiotherapists in Spa Care" was published in the peer-reviewed journal Florence. The article focuses on the importance and specifics of the work of physiotherapists in spa facilities, their role in comprehensive spa rehabilitation care, and interdisciplinary cooperation in the spa environment. The text reflects current trends in spa treatment and contributes to the professional debate [...].

We are pleased to announce that our new professional article entitled "The Potential for Implementing Innovative Technologies in Czech Spa Care" has just been published in the peer-reviewed journal Rehabilitácia (Scopus, 3Y Impact Factor: 1.421). The article focuses in particular on: the role of innovation in ensuring the long-term sustainability and competitiveness of spa care, an overview of newly developing technologies with significant therapeutic potential, the importance of synergistic […]

More than three decades after the closure of the Balneological Research Institute in Mariánské Lázně in 1993, a major milestone for Czech spa treatment is approaching. The Karlovy Vary Institute of Spa and Balneology is launching the first ever clinical study focused on objectively measuring the effects of comprehensive spa rehabilitation care, which will be carried out in cooperation with the Mariánské Lázně Medical Spa. The study […]

In April this year, we welcomed colleagues from the Institute of Balneology (Institut du Thermalisme), which operates at the University of Bordeaux, to our institute. This meeting followed on from a long-standing professional dialogue and mutual interest in cooperation in the field of balneology and spa medicine. This visit was followed by a personal visit by our team to the French workplace, which enabled us to examine in detail […]

The MERKÚR conference is organized annually by the Faculty of Commerce of the University of Economics in Bratislava and is aimed at doctoral students and young researchers. It offers a space for sharing current research topics and establishing professional contacts. Our colleague Daniel Bečvář, in collaboration with Lenka Pekarovičová, a doctoral student at the host faculty who completed a professional internship at our Institute, presented a paper entitled "Indicators [...]

A new scientific article has been published in a professional journal focusing on the use of virtual reality technology in spa treatment. The study summarizes the results of a project to implement VR in spa care, which was launched in 2021 and has now resulted in this significant scientific output. We have thus become the first facility in the Czech Republic to collaborate with VR Medical […]

We have successfully presented the progress to date of the strategic project Spa Research Center (CLV), funded by the Fair Transformation Operational Program, at a meeting with representatives of the Karlovy Vary Region, the Ministry of the Environment, and the State Environmental Fund. The evaluation confirms that the project is meeting its key objectives and developing according to the planned schedule. The interim evaluation highlights positive results: the project is running according to schedule […]

Our director, Ing. Alina Huseynli, MBA, was invited by the Federation of Trade Unions of Uzbekistan to attend an international conference focused on spa treatment, balneology, and healthcare, which took place in Tashkent. As part of the professional program, a strategic project called the Spa Research Center was presented, along with selected research activities. The presentation focused on linking traditional spa care with research [...].

Did you know that while the number of spa accommodation facilities is declining in Bavaria, it is growing significantly in Czechia? This trend was discussed at the XB-CON 2025 international conference in Františkovy Lázně, where we, together with the Faculty of Economics of the University of West Bohemia, presented the latest results of the Spa Research Center project. What did the research show? Doc. Jaroslav Dokoupil and Mgr. Daniel Bečvář presented a comparison of spa locations in […]

At the invitation of our Lithuanian partners, we participated in a healthcare forum in the city of Palanga. Our Lithuanian colleagues have been consulting with us for some time about their intention to establish a research institution similar to our Institute. Therefore, the Vice-Chairman of the Institute Council, RNDr. Tomáš Vylita, Ph.D., spoke at the forum and presented our entire journey, from the initial concepts to a fully functioning research infrastructure. […]

We have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Association of Hotels and Restaurants of the Czech Republic and the Faculty of Education at the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen. The memorandum represents an important step towards the systematic interconnection of higher education, research, and practice in the field of spa treatment, medical wellness, and healthcare. The main objectives of the cooperation are: to support and develop study programs at the Faculty of Education of the University of West Bohemia, especially in the fields of kinesiology […]