Many swimming pools keep their pools a little colder to conserve gas. The thermal baths in Bavaria's spas, on the other hand, depend on particularly warm water - and are therefore asking for help from politicians. Otherwise, could there be closures?
Bad Füssing (dpa / lby) - Many thermal baths in Bavaria's spas and health resorts are under pressure because of the high gas prices. Only individual gas-heated pools have so far left the pools colder than usual, said the chairman of the Bavarian Spa Association (BHV) and district administrator of the Wunsiedel district in the Fichtelgebirge, Peter Berek. The thermal baths in the Bavarian spas and health resorts are "an essential part of the therapies" for guests and patients. It is therefore "almost impossible to change something in the existing services without restricting forms of therapy".
However, the rising gas prices threatened "the entire profitability of the thermal baths," emphasized BHV Managing Director Thomas Jahn. "Some can only be covered by increasing ticket prices. However, this option has limits because we must not overwhelm the guests and patients." The thermal baths tried to convert their heating systems to other energy sources. But that could “take a few more weeks or even months”.
Meanwhile, according to the association based in Bad Füssing (Passau district), closures of thermal baths are also possible. Closing the companies temporarily for economic reasons is "only the ultima ratio", i.e. the last resort, said BHV chairman Berek. "After all, the entire infrastructure depends on the thermal baths in many health resorts and spas." Many hosts would also have to close without thermal baths.
However, if the Federal Ministry of Economics announces the alarm level of the emergency plan for the gas supply, this could also mean the closure of the thermal baths. The association is therefore demanding from politicians that "spas in spas and health resorts, which primarily serve health and therapy", in this case "not be closed immediately", said Managing Director Jahn.
In addition, "a solution is urgently needed so that the massive cost increases do not completely affect the companies and thus the guests and patients," said Jahn. In addition, funding programs for the conversion to renewable energies would have to be expanded. "It needs a long-term plan that makes it possible for companies and municipalities to develop perspectives."
After the restrictions caused by the Corona crisis, the spas and health resorts in the Free State had recently seen an upswing in the number of guests. "I think we're on course," said Jahn in mid-June. Although demand has not yet reached the level of 2019, this is to be expected sooner or later.
