The Thermal Water therapeutic qualities have been renowned for a very long time. In Portugal, it was in the 18th century that King D. João recognised officially the therapeutic effects of the thermal water. Nevertheless it was on April 1928 that the decret 15401 gave the regulation for the thermal activity. It was only in 1989 that the official therapeutic indications of the Portuguese Thermal Centres were defined.
In 2001, the Technical Evaluation Commission was created. Its objective is to elaborate rules and criteria for the medical-hydrological investigation do define new therapeutic indications.
Although with some years delay, it was in 2005 that finally the government published legislation that makes viable the use of Thermal establishments for wellness treatments side by side with therapeutic treatment.
This new concept will permit respond to a market of users who see the wellness/well-being programs as a healthy way of enjoying vacations.
