Municipalities warn that sustained investments are essential to expand future capacity for health services in Deutschlands Heil- und Thermalbäder, yet many lack the funds to finance such upgrades.

The drive to modernize and maintain baths is urgent to meet rising demand for health and recovery services while preserving the financial viability of municipalities.

Escalating energy and staff costs, along with pandemic-era losses, are driving financial strain, particularly in small, rural communities shouldering financing responsibilities.

Industry advocates warn that as many as 550,000 health and spa jobs could be at risk nationwide, with around 150 municipal thermal baths facing potential closures.

Leaders of the sector highlight that surging energy and personnel costs, plus COVID-19 related losses, threaten roughly 150 municipal thermal baths across Germany.

Goert-Meissner notes that a newly launched federal program to renovate municipal sports facilities does not cover thermal baths, effectively excluding them from funding opportunities.

Officials point out that the separate federal initiative allocating 333 million euros for swimming pool renovations omits municipal thermal baths, leaving them forgotten.

Spa towns are largely small municipalities that struggle to finance bath operations, underscoring the need for heightened federal attention to preserve a key rural economic asset.

President Brigitte Goertz-Meissner emphasizes the sector’s importance to rural economies and calls for federal support to modernize facilities and meet growing demand.

German thermal baths and spa towns are pleading for federal support amid rising costs and financial pressures threatening operations.

With many municipal baths facing closure due to financial pressures, spa towns are requesting federal financial aid.

The sector employs about 550,000 people and is experiencing rising demand for health and wellness services, underscoring the need for sustained investment to stay viable.