BISA Japan launches
5 March 2009 – Section: News – Category: BISA news, Industry news
British International Spa Association Launch in Japan
The first national chapter of the British International Spa Association has been founded in Japan. BISA Japan was launched on 5th March 2009 at the British Embassy in Tokyo and was met with keen interest by the Japanese media. More than 60 representatives of business, organisations and the media where present as the Chairman of BISA Japan, Masatsuyo Matsumoto, set out the short and long term goals of the organisation. BISA Japan is strongly focused on setting standards for the Japanese spa industry and educating qualified spa managers and spa therapists. It is also committed to promoting spa tourism with a view to creating new jobs in the Japanese spa industry.
The Chair of the British International Spa Association, Marion Schneider, conveyed greetings from the BISA membership, council and headquarters, which is based in Goudhurst, Kent, UK. “Global spa goers are seeking new spa destinations every day, and Japan has excellent facilities and a rich hot spring culture. With a vigorous improvement programme, under the stewardship of BISA Japan, I am convinced you will be able to develop this sector greatly.”
BISA’s Chair of Education, Delvis Bona, welcomed the opportunity to work with such an experienced partner in Japan. BISA Japan’s Chairman, Mr. Matsumoto, has 35 years experience of the spa industry in Japan. “As a spa owner, I am aware that the spa therapist is our most important business asset and we need to invest in and value this asset”. Mrs. Bona invited the attendees to the next BISA Conference in Budapest, Hungary, 3–6 June 2010.
In the evening, the newly founded BISA Japan launched the BISA Japan Club, which begins with a strong membership. The Club aims to give its members valuable benefits in the spa industry and related business and sees its role as a social as well as educational agent in the Japanese culture. Japan’s famous singer Aika and Korean composer and musician Kim Shin gave an impressive performance of Asian art, and with more than 200 guests, the attraction of the BISA Japan Club and its role in Tokyo life looks assured.
» Photos of the press launch in Tokyo
Marion Schneider, Chair of BISA, and Delvis Bona, Chair of Education at BISA, were present at the ceremony. In her congratulatory address, Marion Schneider welcomed the founding of BISA Japan and the prospect of working together on a global scale:
On behalf of BISA and its members, I would like to congratulate everyone involved in the founding of BISA Japan. It is an honour to be with you today in a country with such a significant culture of water-based traditions. Thank you for your invitation.
BISA was founded in 1998 by British professionals in the spa and beauty industry responding to the booming national and international spa industry. As the sector expanded to become one of the fastest growing industries in the world, the founders were primarily motivated by the need to establish quality standards and to improve skills and education in the industry as well as to uphold the tradition of health through water.
Today, BISA focuses on three areas of activities:
- Global spa standards
- Education
- Promotion of international spa, wellness and health tourism
The current economic crisis that began last year in the United States has spread to affect nations around the world including Europe, Japan and other Asian countries. Rising unemployment and accompanying social issues have resulted in widespread insecurity and unhappiness and this is a challenge that the spa industry can respond to.
We feel confident that the spa sector can make a positive contribution to this difficult situation. BISA and BISA Japan are ready to confront this challenge and make our contribution towards boosting the future development of the spa industry.
A particular area of focus for BISA is the current state of spa qualifications and the need to establish minimum standards in the spa industry. If the industry is to flourish, well-qualified spa managers and well-qualified spa therapists are needed. BISA establishes such standards and is working on the development of an international qualification recognition system. These standards are now being adopted in many countries and spa owners and spa managers agree that this is required in order to enhance the quality of the service and consumer satisfaction. Similarly, we need to create a spa therapist qualification which gives the industry the required impetus.
Despite the current economic situation, the spa tourism market is expected to expand in the future, and the industry needs to be ready to accommodate the demands of the international spa traveller. The “cross fertilization” between our spa industries should make a positive contribution to the development of international tourism in Japan. BISA is developing worldwide links that will also benefit BISA Japan. Although spa tourism is very competitive, Japan has wonderful facilities and a rich hot spring culture and with a vigorous improvement programme, under the stewardship of BISA Japan, I am convinced you will be able to develop this sector greatly.
I have spoken here about the need for quality standards, education and skills training and the promotion of tourism, however, on a more fundamental level, we should also recognise that there is much that the spa and bathing world can learn from Japanese spa culture. Culture provides a stronger basis than regulations, training and promotion alone can achieve. BISA’s roots are in the rich tradition of spa in Britain and Europe. Through the founding of BISA Japan it is my sincere wish that we learn mutually from one another so that we can both enrich our experience in this field.
With this in mind, I would like to extend our support and cooperation to BISA Japan and its chairman Mr. Matsumoto for the future. We look forward to this new venture and will do all in our power to make it a success.
Marion Schneider, Chair of the British International Spa Association (BISA)