Clarins has opened its first day spa in St Petersburg, Russia, within one of a chain of department stores called Rive Gauche.

The 55sq m (592sq ft) Clarins Skin Spa features two treatment rooms and will offer all of its face and body treatments for women and men, as well as make-up application sessions.

In the latest edition of Spa Business, spa industry professionals in Russia give an insight into the region’s opportunities and challenges for business.

While the country’s spa market is dominated by domestic tourism, inbound visitor numbers grew by 13.4 per cent in 2012 – with 25.7 million people entering the country – according to figures from the United Nations World Tourism Organisation.

Known for the famous sauna culture of the banya, medical focused health resorts and sanatoriums feature highly on investors’ agendas, according to the regions’ spa industry body, the Spa and Wellness International Council (SWIC).

Although there are an estimated 1,500 spas in the country, only one third are currently believed to adhere to international standards according to SWIC.

International relations following the annexation of Crimea, however, threaten the growth of the spa industry in Russia from an overseas tourism and investment perspective. The region’s economic instability is yet another challenge obstacle for foreign investment.