The idea of launching a project to create a thermal park in Ferrara that exploits the therapeutic properties of our geothermal waters, put forward by Nicola Minarelli during the PD convention in support of Fabio Anselmo, is finally a concrete proposal from the Democratic Party for a new industrial policy capable of reorganizing the Ferrara tourism supply system.
Twenty-four years ago, research entrusted by the former Agea (now Hera) to a pool of experts coordinated by UniFe highlighted that the hyperthermal waters of Casaglia are compatible with therapeutic-thermal use and that the high concentration of hydrogen sulphide is an indicator of the beneficial effects of these waters. Furthermore, the high temperature of our geothermal waters would allow significant savings in energy and heating costs, which constitutes one of the main costs of a thermal system.
In the following years, thermalism underwent a serious crisis and strong restructuring processes, largely due to an almost exclusively therapeutic use of thermal waters strongly supported by the national health service; cuts in funding to the NHS have thus also led to the collapse of health spas.
In Ferrara therefore, the only use that was made of geothermal energy was that of district heating (TLR), renouncing both the thermal use and other productive uses (such as hydroponic agriculture) of geothermal resources.
Over the years, however, a wellness industry has developed which, in addition to having created a highly structured and articulated supply system, starting with SPAs (salus per aquam), has seen a marked increase in demand for health and wellness services, decreasing the average age of spa tourists from 55 to 40 years (the segment of the population with the greatest spending capacity) and has generated growing interest from numerous entrepreneurs.
To date (Federterme 2022 data) the spa industry in Italy has 317 spa centres, still largely accredited by the NHS.
Again according to Federterme, the Italian spa system welcomed and assisted 2 million 790 thousand customers, of which 12% were foreigners.
However, the numbers just cited are still small and due precisely to the still prevalent therapeutic vocation (which is certainly not in question and retains the established scientific values) of national thermalism.
Wellness-related tourism, on the other hand, is a constantly growing market that produces greater deseasonalization of flows, an increase in revenues for all the actors involved (spa managers, hotels, restaurants first and foremost). If, in fact, the value of the medical tourism market worldwide amounts to 910 billion euros and in Italy it stands at 2.1 billion, the global turnover of the sector health and wellness it is potentially estimated by the Global Wellness Institute at 4.4 trillion dollars.
For all these reasons we think that it is necessary and urgent to finally follow up on the final recommendation of the “old” former AGEA study to give life to an “executive plan for the thermal exploitation” of Ferrara’s geothermal energy, meanwhile entrusting UniFe and Sipro with the task of scientific, economic-financial, commercial, organizational and urban planning feasibility study of Ferrara spa and culture in order to highlight the overall sustainability of the business model of this new industry and its impacts on employment and income.
A spa industry in Ferrara could acquire a strong and distinctive competitive position: no Italian location could enjoy a combination such as that of thermal waters coming from geothermal sources and that of a city of art and culture with a ducal history which for centuries has made ” bathrooms” an exclusive of the well-being of the court.
We are thinking of a large spa complex, equipped with therapeutic establishments, SPAs, swimming pools and water games of all kinds, gymnastic-sports activities, hotel and restaurant services, greenery and relaxation areas, educational services, schools and courses of well-being, connections to the museum system and the cultural deposits of the World Heritage city.
A spa industry with these ambitions would also offer UniFe the opportunity to strengthen its training offer and to focus on a wide range of health and well-being sciences, while it would offer the remaining training system the possibility of building high-level professional paths for a qualified and less precarious job (if only because it is much less seasonalised).
The feasibility study should then, in addition to identifying the necessary investment needs (perhaps in gradual and modular configurations), identify the different possible service chains and the impacts on employment and income.
With respect to certainly substantial investments, possible national and international investors (specialized investment funds, health insurance, pension funds) and perhaps even local entrepreneurs capable of investing in a long-term and non-speculative perspective should also be identified.
The Municipality of Ferrara could also be, directly or through its subsidiaries, a partner/promoter of this new industrial project, both through the provision of areas and services, and by entering the shareholding structure and capital of the spa development company.
A project of this nature and size should also be strongly supported by the Region, which would thus contribute to building an innovative development strategy for Ferrara, the only city and province in the region without a clear identity and strategy for economic and social development.
Finally, and this step also directly involves the Municipality of Ferrara and the Region, it is necessary for Hera to contribute with its skills and investments to create the technological and organizational conditions that facilitate the birth of this new industry.
Democratic Camp
