Health resort awards: Saxon municipalities complain about high costs

Saxony's spas are hoping for more financial support due to high additional costs. The 14 affected municipalities would have to regularly spend money in order to maintain their spa status and the associated awards, says Helfried Böhme, Managing Director of the Saxon Spa Association. That is why he is calling for what is known as an additional burden equalization. "We have been fighting for this for years." The annual financial injection could support municipalities that have a special burden due to the "health resort" designation and compensate for this.

According to a study by the spa association, Böhme estimates the additional burden for all health resorts in Saxony at around 10 million euros per year. "They are often located in rural areas and have to meet many requirements. Pay for expert opinions on noise, air and water. Maintain the spa facilities and parks." Neighboring federal states such as Thuringia and Bavaria have been offering support worth twice the millions for years. The aid was actually also anchored in Saxony in the coalition agreement that is now coming to an end, explains Böhme. "So far, we have failed in terms of implementation and, in particular, funding."

Small spa resort, big tasks

In Thermalbad Wiesenbad in the Erzgebirgskreis district, enormous costs and high personnel costs are also necessary to keep the spa operations running, says Mayor Thomas Mey (CDU). "The remedies are treated like a medical product and must be monitored accordingly." This applies to the thermal water on site, for example. At the same time, it is important to create tourist attractions: Maintain spa park areas and hiking trail networks, organize cultural events.

A more aggressive marketing of spas in neighboring federal states is already noticeable, according to Mey. "Without the financial aid, they could overtake us in terms of attractiveness in the next few years." If the financial resources were lacking, further local development would be halted. "This also affects smaller things, such as creating more accessibility, signposting or new digital offerings."

Next year, Thermalbad Wiesenbad will undergo the cost-intensive re-certification process, which is due every ten years. Larger construction projects also have an impact. The renovation of the Kurhaus and the thermal spa - the first of its kind to open in Saxony after reunification - will cost the small town millions. 180 employees look after the rehabilitation patients.

Böhme: Our health resorts could lose touch

"We had to put some projects on hold for the time being. At some point, you can't take on any more," emphasizes Mey. Wiesenbad, as a "place with healing springs", would actually have liked to achieve a higher rating with the status of "spa". "The expert reports on air quality would cost us tens of thousands of euros." The town's spa clinic is almost permanently fully booked with an average of 230 beds occupied this year. Without the additional load compensation, association head Böhme sees the danger in the coming years that "some may have no other option but to give up the spa resort award". With major consequences: "The entire development of the region would be affected."

There have already been such cases throughout Germany. However, Böhme does not yet see this danger for the Free State. The health resort of Oberwiesenthal in the Erzgebirgskreis, for example, has gone through the procedure again and is about to be re-designated. "But the development also applies to a lesser extent to state-recognized resorts, which have to meet tests and requirements for guests." There has been a reduction by half here in the last 20 years. Böhme: "Since our health resorts, unlike other federal states, have not received any financial aid even in the coronavirus era, we really fear that they could lose out."