The economic history of the spa industry in the French Alps since 1947

With the aim of diversifying their business models, spa operators have been looking for new ways to add value to their mineral water resource. For some resorts, this has led to the creation of cosmetic products.

As part of the thesis Histoire de la ”belle santé” française. L’économie de la santé et du bien-être dans les Alpes françaises de 1947 à nos jours, studying the territories concerned with an economic and organizational history approach will enable us to better understand how companies contribute to the evolution of practices and uses linked to thermalism, cosmetics and the territorial development of spa resorts.

This history of the development of “beautiful health” companies will situate the place of the cosmetics industry in the economic transformation of mountain regions.