The Romanian government is backing a scheme which aims to promote the country as a spa destination to inbound visitors.

As part of the campaign. twenty resorts will be graded as historic spa resorts by the Department of Regional Development and Tourism (DRDT).

The first ten resorts - which include Olanesti, Ocna Sibiului, Govora and Herculane - have been already granted the status with a further 10 being announced during 2012.

The accreditation will aim to highlight Romania's rich spa heritage.

Emilian Imbri, tourism advisor for DRDT, said: "By a government resolution, these ten resorts have been labelled as spa resorts for balneotherapy.

"The next step is for the Ministry of Health to officially grant the certification."

Imbri added that to obtain an accreditation, resorts must meet a number of requirements. These include the stipulation that the resort must have a history in offering spa treatments for more than 100 years

"We have such historic resorts," he said. "But they also have to provide modern facilities such as hotels, entertainment facilities and/or casinos."

A number of international chains have entered the Romanian market with hotel spas.

In March, Hilton signed a contract to manage a DoubleTree by Hilton in Ploiesti, with facilities including a large day spa.