Representing 17 Regions in 16 Countries. Listed in alphabetical order based on United Nations nomenclature
Xianning, People's Republic of China
Secretary of the CPC Xianning Municipal Committee
Director of the Standing Committee of Xianning Municipal People's Congress
The City of Xianning has been known as a hot spring area since the Tang Dynasty about 1,400 years ago. It is so rich in ONSEN resources that in China it is called the "land of hot springs." In addition, it is also the location of a tourist spot famous as the stage for the Battle of Red Cliffs in The History of the Three Kingdoms.
Tourism is recognized as an important industry here for raising the standard of living for the local people, and so I hope to learn much about case studies in Japan where ONSEN resources are used effectively for tourism. Taking the opportunity of this Summit, I hope to deepen our exchange and cooperation with Oita Prefecture, and to build a win-win relationship.
Yantai, People's Republic of China
Secretary of the Party Committee, The Party Committee of Longquan Town, \Muping District, Yantai
The City of Yantai is blessed with geothermal resources and has many hot springs, but the most famous in particular would have to be the Longquan Hot Spring in the Muping District, boasting a great amount of flow and a high-temperature water. In addition, Yantai is also China's top gold-producing region, and has been touted as an important region in the Belt and Road Initiative being advocated by President Xi Jinping.
Thirty-three years ago, in 1985, Yantai concluded a friendship city agreement with Beppu—the host city for this Summit. Going forward, I hope to further promote exchange between our two cities through these kinds of opportunities.
Hodonin, Czech Republic
Mayor of Hodonin
Hodonin is home to one of the newest hot spring facilities in the Czech Republic—the Hodonín Spa—offering balneotherapy, rehabilitation and health promotion services.
The best feature of the Hodonín Spa is the quality of the spring water. It is said to have the highest iodine content in all of Europe. Blessed with a natural environment and favorable climate, it is also an ideal spot for relaxation, where visitors can walk along beautiful, historic townscapes.
Vichy, French Republic
CEO, Compagnie de Vichy
Vichy is a famous hot spring area, not only in France, but across all of Europe. Its hot spring water originates from the Auvergne Volcanoes. The natural carbonated water that springs from the ground is suitable for both bathing and drinking, and is also used in cosmetics and supplements.
Vichy's origin as a hot spring area can be traced back to the middle of the 18th century. Even about 100 years ago, closeto 300,000 people would visit the area each year as a summer resort or as a place to recuperate. Still today, it remains a popular area for wellness and socializing, with many French and foreign visitors alike visiting or holidaying in the area.
Bad Krozingen, Federal Republic of Germany
Deputy Managing Director, THE KUR UND BÄDER GMBH BAD KROZINGEN
Bad Krozingen has maintained a sister city exchange with Taketa City, Oita Prefecture, for 30 years since 1989. With a history of such exchange, it is truly an honor to participate in this Summit being held in Oita Prefecture.
In addition to cultural exchange based on ONSEN, we have also maintained economic exchange with Taketa City, and I am pleased to see that you are still enjoying Bad Krozingen wines. I look forward to spending a meaningful time with you all at this Summit.
Budapest, Hungary
Representative of Japan, Hungarian National Tourism Agency
With about 350 hot spring facilities around the country, Hungary is an "hot spa superpower" located in central Europe. Coinciding with this Summit, the Hungary Embassy has produced a booklet titled Hot Springs of Hungary. Please be sure to check it out.
The history of hot springs in Hungary goes back a long way. In addition to ruins of ancient Roman hot spring facilities from 2,000 years ago, there are hamam (steam baths) rooted in the times of the Ottoman rule in the 16th century, hotspring facilities built in the art nouveau style of the 19th and 20th centuries, as well as more recent spa and wellnessfacilities. I hope you will make a trip to Hungary where you can experience a diverse ONSEN culture.
Grindavik, Republic of Iceland
Director of Research and Development, Blue Lagoon Ltd.
Iceland is an island state in Europe, with many hot springs because of the volcanic activity there. In particular, Blue Lagoon, which is located close to Grindavik, has become a tourist destination famous the world over for the scale of its hot springs and its blue color.
Blue Lagoon is one of the world's largest hot springs, capitalizing on the heated wastewater from the adjacent geothermal plant. Our concern for the future is how to sustain the geothermal resources.
Abano, Italian Republic
Former Manager, Abano-Montegrotto Hotel Association
Comprised of Abano and neighboring Montegrotto, the Abano-Montegrotto hot springs are recognized as an important area for recuperation, not only in Italy, but across the whole of Europe.
I am delighted to be able to share this experience and knowledge at this Summit with leaders from hot spring areas around the world. I hope to share the significance that hot springs—the blessings of nature—have on people's health and wellbeing.
Ma'in, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
General Manager, Ma'in Hotsprings Resort & Spa
The Ma'in hot springs are located in an area of both historic and religious significance, close to the world-famous tourist destination, the Dead Sea. Since 2015, the hot springs have been acclaimed as one of the world's finest spas.
Said to have been effective in curing disease since ancient times, other attractions of the Ma'in hot springs include the picturesque panorama of black mountains and the views of hot springs running down the face of those mountains.
Bayankhongor Province, Mongolia
Head, Foreign Relation and Tourism Department, Bayankhongor Province
Bayankhongor Province is a tourist destination that typifies Mongolia, with vast grasslands and nomadic landscapes often imagined when people think of Mongolia. Within Mongolia, the province is also famous for its natural hot springs.
Among the many hot spring areas, the Shargaljuut hot springs are the most popular. Said to be effective in curing a variety of diseases, more than 10,000 people visit Shargaljuut each year for recuperation.
Taupo, New Zealand
Head of Department, Geothermal Sciences, GNS Science
New Zealand is a volcanic country with many geothermal fields scattered across the land. Among them, the region of Taupo is so rich in geothermy that it is called the heart of New Zealand. Located about 30 km from Taupo is the city of Rotorua, which has maintained a sister-city exchange with Beppu for 31 years since 1987. Rotorua asked me to pass on their best regards to everyone in Beppu.
As our understanding of renewable energies increases and as demand grows, so too does interest in geothermal heat. Furthermore, just like the people of Japan, the indigenous Maori people have enjoyed hot springs, respecting the hot spring resources and building their own unique hot springs culture.
Busan, Republic of Korea
Director General of Medical and Sports Bureau, Busan Metropolitan City
Busan is Korea's second largest city. It has been developed as an international tourist city— a metropolis on the one hand, while also blessed with a beautiful natural environment, such as mountains and the sea. In recent years, it has also become a center for the contents industry, such as movies and K-pop.
Busan is also home to the Dongnae hot springs, said to be the oldest in all of Korea. The Legend of the White Crane is still told here of how an injured white crane stood in the hot water before flying away cured. Now, large spas and openair foot baths have been developed, visited by many local and foreign tourists.
Madrid, Kingdom of Spain
Former Director, UNWTO Affiliate Members Programme
Tourism is a key national industry for Spain. In 2017, about 82 million tourists visited Spain (3rd in world), and revenues from the travel industry amounted to about 68 billion dollars (2nd in world). Of course, there are also hot springs in Spain, and their history is old enough to be traced back to the Roman era.
As we develop and execute strategies for tourism promotion in a range of areas, including gastronomy, wine, culture and cultural heritage, at the same time, we are also formulating and implementing strategies to cope with the current issues of certain parts of town being crowded due to large tourist numbers and the deterioration of historic buildings.
Chiang Mai Province, Kingdom of Thailand
Manager, Sankamphaeng Hot Spring
Chiang Mai Province is a world-famous tourist destination with unique culture and scenery, including beautiful temples and townscapes nestled between mountains. It also has many hot spring areas, but particularly popular among tourists are the Sankampaeng Hot Springs, located 36 km northeast from central Chiang Mai.
A social welfare fund has also been set up in Sankampaeng Hot Springs so that the thermal spas can also be enjoyed by poor people in the community. Through this Summit, I look forward to building networks and gaining know-how on the development of hot spring areas, so that we can build a resort area that is even more enjoyable for tourists and locals.
Bath, United Kingdom
Director of Tourism, City of Bath
Hot Springs has flourished as a hot spring resort since the beginning of the 20th century, and was also used for spring training by major league baseball teams. However, as Americans changed the way they spend their leisure time, we forgot the merits of hot springs for recuperation, and so for a time, the community went into decline.
More recently, attention was once again drawn to the relaxing effect of hot springs and the benefits for health promotion, and so in 2007, the bathhouse in Hot Springs National Park was reopened. Last year, about 3 million visitors came to the area to enjoy the hot springs and rich nature.
Hot Springs (Arkansas), United States of America
Co-Owner, Quapaw Baths and Spa
Hot Springs has flourished as a hot spring resort since the beginning of the 20th century, and was also used for spring training by major league baseball teams. However, as Americans changed the way they spend their leisure time, we forgot the merits of hot springs for recuperation, and so for a time, the community went into decline.
More recently, attention was once again drawn to the relaxing effect of hot springs and the benefits for health promotion, and so in 2007, the bathhouse in Hot Springs National Park was reopened. Last year, about 3 million visitors came to the area to enjoy the hot springs and rich nature.
Tuyen Quang Province, Socialist Republic of Viet Nam
Member of The Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam
Secretary of Provincial Party Committee
Located about 140 km northwest of the capital city of Hanoi, Tuyen Quang Province is a region with high potential, blessed with exquisite mountains and lakes and a flourishing unique culture. In terms of hot springs, the My Lam Hot Spring is especially famous, and is loved by many people. Besides bathing, therapies based on drinking the mineral spring water are also popular.
At this Summit, I am looking forward to sharing opinions on the development of hot spring areas, and in particular, on the curative power and energy potential of hot springs. I think it is wonderful that the Summit is being held here in Oita Prefecture, which boasts the greatest amount of flow from hot springs in Japan, and I am deeply touched by the hospitality provided.
