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Bad Füssing (dpa / lby) - In view of the corona lockdown, a number of spa and therapeutic baths in Bavaria are calling for a clear opening strategy and refer to their contribution to the physical and mental health of many people as well as the numerous jobs.
Health resorts and spa operators - like many other industries - have been hit hard by the consequences of the pandemic, says Alois Brundobler, Chairman of the Bavarian Spa Association (HBV) in Bad Füssing.
"The situation is devastating."
With a view to increasing incidence values and the spread of corona mutations, Brundobler also says: “What should politics do?
The hygiene concepts are good, but can openings be justified?
And who wants to take responsibility? "
As long as the majority of citizens are not immunized, the situation will remain a tightrope walk.
In Bad Füssing, people are trying to make a virtue out of necessity: The spa on the Austrian border opened its own corona rapid test center this week.
"The new test center will hopefully give us the opportunity to welcome guests again very soon," said Mayor Tobias Kurz, according to the announcement.
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In Bad Birnbach, politicians and spa operators recently called for a clear opening strategy.
Michael Fahmüller (CSU), District Administrator of the Rottal-Inn district, according to the health resorts already developed good hygiene concepts last year.
They are not pandemic drivers.
Bad Birnbach im Rottal forms together with Bad Füssing and Bad Griesbach (both districts of Passau) the so-called Lower Bavarian baths triangle.
Spas and thermal baths should be rated as health facilities and not as pure leisure facilities, added Max Straubinger (CSU) member of the Bundestag.
Association chairman Brundobler agrees.
Spas and spas could help people out of their physical and psychological stress and should therefore be classified as health facilities.
In addition, health resorts are employers for thousands of people.
Stefan Kannewischer, managing director of the KissSalis Therme in Bad Kissingen, among other things, says that because of the short-time work, individual employees have already looked for jobs in other industries.
The staff will be absent after the lockdown.
Brundobler and Kannewischer criticize the slow payment of aid funds.
In combination with the loss of sales, this is a particularly difficult situation.
Spa director Mike Bernasco from the Franken-Therme in Bad Windsheim speaks of a 90 percent drop in sales since November.
They would only have sold vouchers.
As a public company, the thermal baths received November and December aid, but no bridging aid.
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According to HBV, the number of overnight stays in Bavaria's health resorts fell significantly in 2020 compared to the previous year: by 32.1 percent to 15.5 million overnight stays.
On the other hand, spas and health resorts invested a good 200 million euros between 2014 and 2016.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210324-99-946166 / 2