Spain is aiming to capitalise on the health tourism market and a number of organisations have joined forces to make the country a world leader in the sector.

The new alliance, made up of the National Federation of Private Clinics (FNPC), National Spas Association (ANBAL), Business Federation Unit (EDF), Spanish Confederation of Hotel and Tourist Accommodation (CEHAT) and the Spanish Confederation of Travel Agents (CEAV) is aiming to promote Spain's medical sector and build on the 21,868 health-driven tourists who visited Spain in 2012.

"Advances in medicine allow people around the world to seek the best technical and economic solutions for the prevention and treatment of various diseases," said Inigo Valcaneras, president of the alliance. "Spain can become a great health tourism destination, in which we can use spas to incorporate treatments using our prestigious health system to provide assistance."

One spa that will benefit from the tourism drive is the Hotel Balneario Valle del Jerte, in the Cáceres region of western Spain. The spa has a 1,500sq m (16,000sq ft) water area, split into two sections – a spa area for rest and relaxation and a thermal area that offers sulphur, fluorinated and chlorinated sodium bicarbonate waters used to treat a variety of ailments, including arthritis, rheumatism, eczema and acne, in addition to various respiratory problems.

According to market research, health tourism is worth an estimated €140m (£121m, US$186m) to the Spanish economy and with the creation of this new alliance, the figure is expected to grow to €500m a year (£432.5m, US$664.1m)