In addition to inspiring lectures, discussions and excursions, the congress offers a unique platform for the exchange of expertise, innovative ideas and best practices in the field of nature-based health tourism.This year's congress is co-financed by the EU Interreg project WiWa² (project code 0100027) and Arge Alp.Admission is free. The ‘Healing Power of the Alps’ has been analysed from different perspectives since the first edition of the congress in 2015. In particular, the focus is on the potential of health tourism based on the natural resources of the Alpine region. This year's ninth edition of the specialist congress is all about the natural healing resources of forests and water. ‘Hardly any other place better reflects these two themes than Gastein. Pain-relieving thermal water treatments, accessible thermal water fountains, mindful forest bathing and guided themed hikes in our green oases. Forest and water are at the centre of our tourism focus,’ says Eva Irnberger, Managing Director of the Bad Hofgastein Spa and Tourism Association. In addition to numerous presentations by experts from the fields of public health, tourism, medicine, forestry and research, such as Gisela Immich, scientist at the Chair of Public Health at LMU Munich, Martin Offenbächer, medical and scientific director of the Gastein Healing Gallery, and Markus Müller, head of the psychosomatic research group at Nuremberg Hospital, the three-day specialist congress in the Gastein Valley will primarily serve as a platform for dialogue and discussion. The programme therefore includes not only frontal lectures, but also panel discussions and numerous opportunities for joint dialogue. The weekend will also be rounded off with excursions into the Gastein forests and to the hot thermal springs. Centre stage: First results of the EU Interreg project WiWa² The Gastein Valley has been part of the transnational WiWa² project since 2023. The focus is on the natural impact factors of forests and water in order to create new health-promoting and evidence-based offers for the tourist resort. As part of the research, which has been approved until the end of 2025, not only the healing effects of Gastein's valuable water are being investigated, but also those of the forest, which is already used for forest bathing, especially in Bad Hofgastein. ‘Among other things, the project analyses the health effects of the two natural areas of forest and water for certain medical target groups in order to develop new rehabilitation formats on the one hand, but also to derive innovative health tourism offers from them on the other,’ says Michael Bischof, project manager and scientist at PMU Salzburg. The first results of the project, which is also taking place in Bavaria at the same time, will be presented during the congress in Bad Hofgastein. ‘Healing Power of the Alps’ will take place at the Bad Hofgastein Congress Centre. A total of 250 free places are available for those interested. Further information on the programme and registration at: www.innovation-salzburg.at/veranstaltung/kongress-heilkraft-der-alpen-wald-wasser/
