The economic and social value of spa tourism: The case of balneotherapy in Maresme, Spain

The aim of this article is to assess both the economic and social value of balneotherapy and
spa tourism, being the first paper in carrying out this analysis. The study has been conducted
in Maresme, a region of Catalonia, Spain. On the one hand, an Input-Output (IO)
model with a Social Accounting Matrix (SAM) has been carried out to assess the economic
value. On the other hand, a Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) has been used to monetise the
social value in this region, taking into account, among other concepts, direct and indirect
health profits, given that balneotherapy helps to alleviate various diseases. The results
show that whereas the economic multiplier is 1.529 considering the direct and indirect
effects and 1.712 taking into account also the induced effects, which are similar to health
and medical tourism multipliers, social value generates additional positive value, given that
the cost-benefit ratio is 1.858. The theoretical implications of the paper as well as the findings’
implications for policy so as to encourage investments in spa tourism are discussed.