The gas crisis is hitting the thermal baths in Baden-Württemberg with full force. Many have to see how they can recoup the significantly increasing costs.
Bad Rappenau (dpa / lsw) - In view of the dramatically increasing gas prices, numerous mineral and therapeutic baths have their backs to the wall and are putting their offers to the test. The 35 baths expect that the costs will double in the coming year compared to the previous year, as the Baden-Württemberg spa association announced before its general meeting in Bad Rappenau. As part of the spa day, representatives of 55 higher-ranked spas and health resorts are expected, and Baden-Württemberg's Economics Minister Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut (CDU) will also be there (11.15 a.m.).
Association President Fritz Link had already warned in the summer that most mineral and thermal spa operators would have to close at least parts of the thermal baths. This affects, among other things, the most energy-intensive areas such as pools and sauna areas. "We will try as far as possible to keep our pools running," said association manager Arne Mellert. "Before an entire pool closes, for the benefit of our visitors, we first check how operations can be restricted." Sustainable management and saying goodbye to fossil raw materials is also an issue for most operators.
The spas in Baden-Württemberg had already felt the full force of the consequences of the 2021 Corona crisis. According to the association, the number of visitors had fallen to around a third of the level before the crisis. Around 10 million guests were counted in 2019.
