The Fifth International Meeting “Thermal Water Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow”, held on June 2, 2023. in Varaždinske Toplice, opened Aquafest, a traditional spa event organized by the Tourist Board, the Local Museum and the City of Varaždinske Toplice. The meeting was organized with the intention of using the city’s rich cultural and touristic potential with a focus on thermal water and emphasizing the geothermal potential. The expert meeting brings together experts who deals with the topic of thermal waters from different aspects, and this year the focus was on thermal tourism.

At this year’s gathering, experts dealing with thermal waters through treatment were present. Also, one of the topics was the heating of entire cities and institutions with the help of thermal waters. Representatives of the Croatian Tourist Board and the Ministry of Tourism in a joint conversation tried to position Croatia in the parameters of health tourism. They talked about the potential of the city and the ways in which it should be used in order to position the city on the health tourism map. Cluster manager Marija Banac participated in the lecture.