Preface: Waterfront leisure industry is a part of the large tourism industry, is an important content of leisure and vacation formats in the tourism industry, and cultural industry, sports industry, leisure fishery, resort real estate and other forms of integration, is a comprehensive, multi-industry participation, water resources characteristics of tourism and leisure industry, waterfront leisure industry relying on water resources to carry out various leisure activities is its important characteristics. In-depth study and reflection on the topics of the waterfront leisure industry in terms of industrial concept, industrial chain composition, resource characteristics, business format analysis, operation mode, investment orientation, etc., and at the same time learn from the mature models of industrial development in various countries in the world, will help promote the development of the mainland's waterfront leisure industry.
The author divides the waterfront leisure industry into the following four categories according to its core functions:
1. Waterfront tourism with tourism as the core function. These include: marine theme park, aquarium, aquarium, nautical museum, maritime museum, water amusement park, waterfront park, waterfront plaza, wetland park, waterfront trail, seaplane, waterfront tourist scenic spot, waterfront tourist town, waterfront RV campsite, etc.;
2. Waterfront resort category with leisure vacation as the core function. These include: waterfront tourism resorts (coast, lakeside, riverside resorts), hot spring resorts (hot spring towns), large waterfront living communities, yacht towns, waterfront resorts, water holiday homes, water villas, waterfront commercial blocks, waterfront leisure and entertainment blocks, etc.;
3. Water leisure class with water leisure vacation and water sports as the core function. These include: cruises, river ships, yachts, sailing and windsurfing, rowing, jet skis, kayaking, surfing, diving and other water sports;
4. Recreational fishery with recreational fishing as the core function. These include: sea fishing, freshwater fishing, marine ranching, fish rafts, marine leisure platforms, etc.;
In view of the above four categories of waterfront leisure industry content, the author has visited more than 60 countries in more than 10 years, observed and considered the development status of waterfront leisure industry in countries around the world from an international perspective, wrote investigation records and case analysis, and explained the development comparison of international and domestic waterfront leisure industry from an all-round and multi-perspective, the purpose is to learn from the development concept of foreign advanced waterfront leisure industry and promote the healthy development of mainland waterfront leisure industry.
In June 2017, the author visited the Hungarian spa town of Hevíz, investigated the development status of Hungarian hot spring tourism towns, and wrote the following essays.
Hot spring tourism town is a very representative form of characteristic town and an important part of the construction of tourist town. Hot spring tourism town due to its distinctive theme, industrial malleability, functional complexity, cultural manifestation, health sustainability and other characteristics, will become an important breakthrough in the development and construction of tourism town, and in the context of the development of the health industry, the hot spring tourism town oriented to "hot spring health care" will be one of the main directions for the sustainable development of the future characteristic town. At the same time, hot spring leisure vacation products are also an important part of the waterfront leisure industry.
1. Overview of the hot spring town of Haviz
Hungary is a country with many hot springs, full of hot springs, and is known as the "country of hot springs". "Whatever you dig a well, you will eventually dig out hot springs", is a saying that has spread in Hungary, which is known as the country floating on the "sea of hot springs" due to its abundant hot spring resources.
More than 90% of Hungary has hot springs, more than 2,000 years of hot spring development and utilization history and more than 180 years of hot spring health history, and more than 50% of the country's total tourism income comes from hot spring-related activities. At the same time, Hungary is also an important country in the "New Eurasian Land Bridge Economic Belt", the first Belt and Road country to sign a contract with China, and has played a leading and pioneering role in the joint construction of the "Belt and Road".
The hot spring town of Hevíz is not only famous in Hungary but also in Europe, and as early as the ancient Roman era, it was already famous, of course, in that era, those who could come here to soak in the hot springs were only the patents of dignitaries, and ordinary people could not pay attention.
Located 7 km west of Lake Balaton, Europe's second largest lake, and 200 km from Budapest, the small town of Hevez is famous for its 4.4 hectares, the second largest thermal lake in the world by area. At the deepest point of this hot spring lake is 36 meters, the bottom of the lake is rich in humus, and the water changes automatically every 28 hours, so the lake water is always fresh. The temperature of the lake is 30-35 degrees in summer and 26-28 degrees in winter, so bathing is possible all year round.
The hot spring town of Hevitz has only more than 6,000 inhabitants and receives as many as 200,000 tourists a year, and the town is dotted with various hotels, most of which have hot spring pools, which can be soaked at any time.
Haiviz has one of the largest thermal lakes in the world with a humus-rich peat base, the second largest in the world by area. The lake is rich in potassium carbonate, sodium, ammonium, calcium, magnesium, chlorine, iodine, sulfonamides, fluoride, hydride, sulfide and other substances. It has special effects on spondylosis, arthritis, rheumatism, muscle aches, neuralgia, etc. of the motor system. In 1895, a pink water lily native to India was introduced into the lake, a rare plant known as the "fairy rose" by the Hungarians.
It is estimated that the water in the Hevitz Hot Spring Lake is automatically replaced every 28 hours, with a daily flow of 70 million to 80 million liters, that is, the lake water is always fresh, the temperature is maintained between 26 degrees and 35 degrees all year round, and it is suitable for hot springs all year round. The hot spring water of Havitz is rich in potassium carbonate, sodium, ammonium, calcium, magnesium and chlorine, iodine, sulfonamides, fluoride, hydride, sulfide and other substances, this natural hot spring lake water has a good therapeutic effect on chronic inflammation, spondylosis, arthritis, nerve pain and other symptoms.
The beautiful natural environment and unique healing effects made Havitz famous, and in the 30s of the 20th century, Hevis gradually became the favorite hot spring place of European aristocracy. In 1952, Hungary established a national sanatorium here. The area was held by the Fistitiz family for almost 200 years from the middle of the 18th century, and in 1795 the Count of Festitiz built the first spa by the lake. It was also from this period that the value of the hot springs in Hevíz was truly discovered and utilized.
Today, Havíz has become one of the world's most famous hot spring towns, receiving more than 1 million spa guests every year. And extends the famous Hevis therapy: through qualified hot spring water baths, medical mud compresses or black vis mud baths, gravity baths, etc., supplemented by massage, sports therapy, hydrotherapy, physiotherapy, drinking therapy, etc., to achieve the purpose of restoring health.
Second, the hot spring town of Hevis characteristics analysis
1. It has superior location advantages and convenient transportation advantages
Havíz has a permanent population of only about 6,000 people, and up to 1 million tourists come to the resort every year. In addition to nationals, Germany and Russia account for the largest proportion of tourists. Hungary has only one international airport at Budapest Ferichigi Airport, but just 15 kilometers away, there is also an international airport that transports international and domestic hot spring "pilgrims" to Heviz, and its international influence can be seen.
Hevíz is located 7 km from the northern shore of Lake Balaton, about 200 km from Budapest, a 2-hour drive. The temperature of the hot spring lake is 30 to 35 degrees Celsius in summer and between 26 and 28 degrees Celsius in winter, and bathing is possible in all seasons, and the highly evaporated water vapor makes the open-air hot spring bath more fun to soak in winter. The entire layout of the town of Hevitz is very exquisite, every leaf and brick is made by skilled craftsmen, like a fairy tale town parachuted, the colors are warm and lively. Walking in it, it is very easy to "lose" yourself.
2. The world's only natural hot spring lake
Hevitz Hot Springs Lake, the world's only natural hot spring lake, is also the world's largest medical hot spring lake, is the world's top hot spring spa resort, with ice and snow sulfur spring open-air SPA is the most famous, as far back as the early 15th century, has attracted a large number of European princes and nobles to come here for medical vacation. The bottom of the lake is rich in humus-rich peat, the deepest point of the lake is about 36 meters, and the sulphur springs here are famous in Europe as far back as the 4th century BC.
Lake Hevitz produces 8,600 liters of hot springs every day, and the water will be completely changed every 28 hours, that is, the hot spring water that people soak in every day is fresh, and the spring water is rich in potassium carbonate, sulfonamides, fluoride, hydride, sulfide, sodium, ammonium, calcium, magnesium and other substances and elements, which have special effects on the motor system, nervous system, rheumatism and muscle aches. The silt at the bottom of the lake is rich in humus peat, which has a variety of cosmetic and medical effects.
3. The surrounding area of Hevitz Hot Spring Town is rich in tourism resources
Hidden in a dense forest, the Hevitz Wellness Hotel faces the lake with exceptionally fresh air and high levels of negative oxygen ions. Along the lake in the sequoia forest, there is a pedestrian path. Someone built a new wooden house for the birds and hung it on the tree, simple and beautiful, on the side of the forest road, watching the lake and listening to the birds, the heart is peaceful and full.
In addition to forests, hills, horse farms, etc., the most famous is the "Hungarian Sea", the Hungarian Sea is the name of Lake Balaton, is the largest freshwater lake in central Europe, with its alluring lake and mountains, it has become a world-famous Hungarian tourist destination. When the wind is fine, the lake is turquoise, white sails are dotted, and white gulls are circling, and the weather is warm and sunny from May to October. In summer, the temperature is 24-28°C, and in winter, the lake freezes up to 20 cm thick. Around the lake takes 2 hours by car, stop-and-go, a weekend can be soaked in the Balaton Lake area, there are many characteristic restaurants around the lake area, cherries ripe in June, many restaurants have a cold cherry soup, sweet and sour, very pleasing taste, and mushrooms, the most simple way to cook can express its deliciousness to the fullest.
The lake is surrounded by quiet and beautiful towns, as well as the Balaton Highlands National Park, the Balatonfeld wine region, delicious sweet white wines comparable to Tokaj's noble rotten wine, the ancient Emgrandi Museum, the Kesterhaye Book Museum and the Taxidermy Museum, as well as the world's top five-star health spa hotel, "Spirit Hotel", which is the world's top destination spa hotel. Hevíz has become one of the world's most famous spa towns, welcoming as many as 1 million spa visitors a year.
Conclusion: The innovative development model of China's hot spring tourism towns
1. "Characteristic Hot Spring Scenic Area" mode
The so-called "characteristic hot spring scenic spot" model is a model to win the market by creating unique hot spring bathing scenic spots. This is the most fundamental model for the development of hot spring towns, which are not necessarily very large, but to a certain extent, they are creating modern hot spring culture, creating hot spring industry standards, and leading the overall development of China's hot spring industry. The key is to use culture to package themes or highlight natural landscape characteristics and form experiential hot spring bathing scenic spots.
2. "Hot spring + conference" mode
The "hot spring + conference" model is the most common and easily successful development model in hot spring towns. Beijing Jiuhua Villa is undoubtedly the most typical representative. It keenly sees the huge conference market in Beijing, makes full use of the health and wellness value and leisure integration effect of hot springs, expands the article on the integration of hot springs and conferences, and treats business meetings as the most important service. The construction of perfect business and conference facilities, supporting full-time conference reception department, as well as guest rooms, catering, entertainment, sports, health care, physical examination and shopping services to meet the all-round needs of conference guests, coupled with strong relationship marketing, has finally become a well-deserved "hot spring capital" in Beijing. This hot spring meeting mode, through the combination of large-scale conferences and exhibitions and hot springs, and around the capital to carry out various supporting construction and operation services, conference and exhibition has become the protagonist, hot springs have become a supporting role, but the final realization is a huge breakthrough in the comprehensive development value of hot spring resources, is a typical innovation model, but the huge scale of its conference market is the key to supporting its success.
3. "Hot spring + comprehensive entertainment" mode
The combination of hot springs and sports and recreation is also one of the most common development modes of hot spring towns. Its core is to effectively enhance the overall attractiveness of hot spring towns through the development of amusement projects that meet the experience and participation of tourists, extend the stay time of tourists and even improve the off-season operation of hot spring towns, improve the per capita consumption level, and achieve a breakthrough in overall development and operation. Represented by Zhuhai Haiquan Bay, combining relatively static hot spring baths with a variety of dynamic amusement projects, combining dynamic and static, health and leisure and amusement experience, can greatly enhance the overall attractiveness of hot spring (town) resorts and improve comprehensive income.
With the rare ocean hot spring as the core, Haiquan Bay Resort is composed of five-star hotel, mysterious island theme park, fisherman's wharf, dream theater, physical examination center, Caribbean coast, sports club, outward bound training camp, golf project, leisure fishing area and self-driving camp, etc., which is a super-large tourism and leisure resort with complete functions and comprehensive supporting facilities in China, and was awarded the title of "National Tourism and Leisure Resort Demonstration Area" by the National Tourism Administration. This model combines hot springs with diversified amusement projects to the extreme, resulting in great market appeal.
4. "Hot spring + health care" mode
With the continuous increase of sub-healthy people in the society, people's demand for health care and rehabilitation is increasing, and the combination of hot springs and rehabilitation can be made into a large industry. Relying on hospitals, life science research centers and other institutions, give full play to the role of medicine, life science and health management, combined with the application of modern physiotherapy techniques, the health and wellness value of hot springs is deeply combined with a series of daily physical examination, medical treatment, diagnosis, rehabilitation, recuperation, fitness and other means to create a hot spring rehabilitation and recuperation base, which can completely make the hot spring health and wellness articles bigger, and obtain great benefits. This model is represented by the four major rehabilitation physiotherapy centers in China and the famous hot spring in Asia - Tanggangzi Hot Spring Sanatorium.
5. "Hot spring + tourism real estate" model
Due to the great value of hot springs in health and wellness and tourism and leisure, it has created very outstanding advantages for the development of real estate, especially tourism real estate, and can often form huge competitiveness in the real estate market with the characteristics of "health and leisure", thereby achieving a very considerable return on investment. Therefore, the "hot spring + tourism real estate" model has become one of the most priority development models of the vast majority of hot spring resorts in the country. The extensive combination of hot springs and tourism real estate has even formed a large number of large-scale hot spring resorts, hot spring towns, hot spring new towns (districts) and other projects, driving the overall development of large-scale areas. The development model of "hot spring + tourism real estate" will remain one of the most important models for the development of hot spring resorts in the future.
6. "Hot spring + ecological agriculture" model
Such models are represented by Beijing Crab Island Resort. According to the model of hot spring ecological estate, the organic integration of hot spring resources and ecological farm development, on the one hand, is to effectively play the extended utilization value of hot spring resources, build greenhouses with geothermal heat, develop high value-added breeding projects, hot spring ecological agriculture projects, and help promote ecological agriculture from a single product economy to a service economy. On the other hand, the construction of the ecological farm has effectively improved the leisure environment of the hot spring resort, and the facilities of the ecological farm can be used to create a unique hot spring bathing place.
Author (Jin Chao): Chairman of China Waterfront Leisure Industry Alliance