Kurşunlu: Hidden heaven beneficial to health

Monday, July 21, 2008

MANİSA - Anatolia News Agency

The province of Manisa, rich in thermal waters resources, is awaiting more investment in its tourism sector.

The Kurşunlu health resort, located on a 46,000-square-meter area of the Allahdiyen district, is considered one of Turkey's tourism centers. Its thermal springs are famous for their medical effects, yielding positive results in the treatment of many illnesses.

Patients with skin problems, gynecological illnesses, and respiratory tract, neural, articulation and calcification diseases visit the green valley of Kurşunlu for rehabilitation. Among those who usually come to Kurşunlu are middle class tourists from Manisa, İzmir, Konya, Istanbul and Ankara. Those who visit once very often book a place for the next season. Only 40 percent of hotel beds are still available for reservations for 2009.

In the valley where the thermal springs are located there is only one four-star hotel, but investors have still tended not to invest in this area. Officials say more wealthy visitors would contribute to the economy of the district.

The manager of the Kurşunlu thermal springs, Savaş Ermaner, said the district seems like a hidden heaven with its natural resources that have been serving the people since the proclamation of the Republic.

�After the restoration works carried out in the late 1980s, the thermal springs facilities now correspond to higher tourism standards and are ready to host foreign tourists. The number of rooms and beds has been increased and a physical therapy clinic and rehabilitation center have been established. People can benefit from the thermal water not only in their bungalows but also in private whirlpool baths, saunas and massage parlors.�

The springs are very rich in minerals with 2,172 milligrams of minerals per liter of water.

The hopeless case

Ermaner said he had witnessed the springs curing many patients. He gave the example of a German woman. �She had become paralyzed due to a car accident. She was treated in many hospitals in Germany but the doctors remained helpless. The patient's parents contacted us and we decided to accept her here. When she came here we could hardly put her on the wheelchair with the help of three people. She could not even raise her head or move her arms. Her look was spiritless. In other words, she was almost in a vegetative state. We did not think she could benefit from the thermal springs anyhow.�

Ermaner said the woman was treated with hydrotherapy and when she went back to Germany for a regular check up the doctors were surprised by the results. They advised her to continue the therapy in Turkey as it turned out to be beneficial to her health. After her fourth series of treatment, she was even able to drink tea by herself.

Kurşunlu Valley

�In such a promising and attractive area there is only one four-star hotel, Lidya, opened by businessmen from Salihli, which provides employment opportunities for 300 to 500 people,� Ermaner said. �I wish more similar hotels were opened�

Explaining that the district offers many attractive places for future investment, Ermaner called on businessmen to consider the area in their future plans and added, �Agriculture-based Salihli with its economic problems should find another footing and the tourism sector may assume this role.�

Refika Talay from İzmir suffers from rheumatism and said her health benefited from the thermal springs. She added, however, that it was very difficult to book a place, even in the winter season.

Mükerrem Özay from Ankara said she had been visiting the thermal springs regularly for six or seven years.

Meanwhile, Swedish resident Elif Ceylan commented, �I have insufferable pains in my waist and knee. Everybody recommended the Kurşunlu thermal springs. I believe thanks to them I will get well soon.�

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