German spa hotels provide post-op relaxation

1-Sep-2006

A growing number of tourists are travelling to Germany for medical treatment, fuelled by a desire to escape UK hospital waiting lists.

The country's hosting of the recent football world cup, in which the Germans were widely praised for their welcoming attitude, has helped to catapult the nation into the forefront of travellers' minds and the nation's medical system is beginning to see the benefits.

Berlin, with its historical and shopping highlights, has become one of the country's most popular destinations for patients seeking treatment abroad, with foreigners coming to combine the city's excellent hotels and sights with a hospital visit.

One such hotel, the Hotel Adlon Kempinski, provides a cosy spa and wellness centre in which guests can relax and recuperate after their treatment.

According to ITP Business, the hotel features an indoor swimming pool, saunas, steam baths and various spa treatments, including Reiki healing, lymphatic drainage and massages.

Beatrice Schwarz, the hotel's public relations manager, revealed that the hotel intends to focus on attracting more of the medical tourism market.

"Most of the travellers are leisure guests but we also have the health tourism guests too," she told ITP Business.

"They sometimes stay for a long time while they visit doctors," she added.