Tourism in the early resorts, the inland spas such as Bath and Tunbridge
in the UK and Saratoga Springs and White Sulphur Springs in the USA,
existed under the pretext of the health cure. Bathing in and drinking spa
water were believed to cure a great many ills. In reality, especially in the
eighteenth century, there was considerable social activity based on coffee
houses, gaming, theatre, etc. which was likely to have been a major
attraction. ‘Most successful spas served pleasure as well as health needs’
(Towner, 1996: 54). The prime function of spas was to cater for leisure of
their upper class clientele.