Enormous operating costs

Despite an increase in visitors: Tyrolean pools with existential fears

In Axams, the indoor pool remained closed in winter for financial reasons.

(Bild: zVg)

The outdoor pool season is approaching, but Tyrolean pool operators are facing familiar challenges. Despite an increase in visitor numbers last winter, many are worried about the future. In order to be able to cope with high operating costs and necessary investments, they are now hoping for a financial plan.

Icy temperatures and snow on the mountains: it's hard to believe, but Tyrol's bathing beauties and watermen are already looking forward to the outdoor pool season. While the final preparations for the opening on May 9 are still being carried out at Innsbruck's Tivoli, work in Hall will continue until the end of June. As is well known, the outdoor pool there is being renovated at a cost of 9.25 million euros and should then attract lots of visitors.

Despite a good winter season, in which we were able to record high visitor numbers and slightly lower energy prices, the economic situation of the Tyrolean swimming pool operators is still very tense.

Berufsgruppenobmann Ulrich Mayerhofer

Bild: Birbaumer Christof

But while many water lovers can hardly wait to jump into the cool water in what will hopefully soon be summer temperatures, the mood among Tyrolean pool operators and their representatives is still one of doom and gloom. Although the winter season brought another five to seven percent increase in visitors to many indoor pools, some are still up to their necks in water.

In Hall, renovation work on the outdoor pool is currently in full swing. By the end of June, nothing should stand in the way of swimming fun.

(Bild: Birbaumer Christof)

"Businesses acutely threatened with closure"
"The pools urgently need financial support, otherwise they are acutely threatened with closure," emphasizes Ulrich Mayerhofer, Chairman of the Tyrolean swimming pool operators. Although, as reported, closures in Seefeld and Fieberbrunn have been prevented following political intervention, Mayerhofer is doubtful whether they can remain open in the medium term without financial support.

The situation at the Dolomitenbad in Lienz also looks anything but rosy due to increased energy and personnel costs. Most recently, a loss of one million euros had to be absorbed. And at the Axams leisure center, only the sauna remained open in winter. "The pool would have been in high demand from locals and guests from all over the region. In the end, 400,000 to 500,000 euros were missing," says Managing Director Michael Kirchmair, who feels let down by some regional politicians. From May 1st, people will at least be able to splash around outdoors again.

Without financial help from the state and the surrounding communities and tourism associations, our running costs will soon no longer be manageable. In the meantime, there is no question of making the necessary investments.

Michael Kirchmair, Freizeitzentrum Axams

Bild: Birbaumer Christof

In June, the announced provincial spa study will finally be published. Those responsible are then hoping that the 3-pillar model already communicated by LHStv. Georg Dornauer (SPÖ) will act as a lifeline for the Tyrolean pools, distributing the financial burden between the state, the TVB and the municipalities ...

Every second Tyrolean visits an indoor pool in winter
The fact that swimming seems to be a popular leisure activity among Tyroleans is proven not least by the latest figures: The 24 indoor swimming pools in Tyrol welcomed around two million visitors in winter.

(Bild: Birbaumer Christof)

An IMAD survey commissioned by the Tyrolean Chamber of Commerce also found that every second Tyrolean (49%) visited an indoor pool at least once last winter. "Families with children visited swimming pools more often than average," emphasizes Barbara Traweger-Ravanelli, Managing Director of IMAD. Respondents from Innsbruck and Innsbruck-Land in particular love the cool water. "In the Unterland, Oberland and East Tyrol, the proportion of those who have visited an indoor pool is falling at an above-average rate," says the opinion researcher.

Many Unterlanders are moving to Bavaria
However, the 49 percent of water lovers also means that the other half of the population stayed away from indoor pools. "The main reason given by many is that they generally don't like indoor pools. However, the second most common reason is that there are no swimming pools nearby," explains Traweger-Ravanelli. This was particularly noticeable in the lowlands, where the Wörgl "Wave", for example, has been closed for some time. 35% of those surveyed in the Unterland region also moved to neighboring Bavaria due to the lack of options. The "Innsola" in Kiefersfelden and the Erding thermal spa are particularly popular with the Tyroleans.

In April, IMAD Managing Director Barbara Traweger-Ravanelli and her team surveyed 547 Tyroleans on the subject of spas.

(Bild: Birbaumer Christof)

Pleasing for the pool operators: 71 percent were very satisfied or satisfied during their visits. "Only five percent had rather negative experiences. This was mainly due to overcrowded pools or water temperatures that were too cold," says the IMAD boss.

Almost all of those surveyed (94%) believe that indoor pools play an important role in promoting swimming skills and 95% believe that indoor pools contribute to their well-being.