Several élményfürdők (“adventure baths”) in Hungary owe millions of forints and are underused, writes Népszava. Most recently, electricity was switched off at Esztergom’s Aquasziget due to a debt of Ft 70 million (over €260,000), while the government of the lakeside town of Balatonszemes decided to rent out its bath generating losses.
Esztergom Mayor Tamás Meggyes confirmed that the Aquasziget owes tens of millions of forints, but he thinks the former Horn government is to blame, which sold electricity distribution rights to a foreign company. E-ON Energiaszolgáltató Kft switched off electricity at the establishment on January 8, because operator Esztergomi Fürdő SPA Szolgáltató Zrt had missed a payment deadline for debts accumulating since summer 2008.
Balatonszemes Mayor József Takács told the paper that renting out the local baths had become necessary, because the town needs to cut its annual deficit of Ft 2-3 million.
György Ákoshegyi, Head Secretary of the Hungarian Baths Association, said 75% of Hungary’s 500 public baths are owned by local governments. The association knows of several which are facing hardships now due to losses last year, especially those which operate seasonally. Those with indoor pool, thermal water and other services such as campsites are in a better situation.
No surprise there, I would say. Those baths are more expensive than their competitors in Western Europe, while people earn far less. What do they expect? It’s high time that developers here learn that asking a reasonable entrance fee eventually pays off.
Ploe, can you give some examples how they are more
expensive than western Europe. I compared prices for
a couple of spas in the Hungarian countryside with
some in Germany and prices in Hungary were a good
bit cheaper.
@Benny:
This story is about adventure baths like the Aquaparks at Zalaegerszeg and Balatonfüred – these are really expensive (I’ve heard, haven’t been there).
The spas are really cheap – especially when you are a local, but you need a card for that.
In Heviz we pay 1050 instead of 1800 HUF …