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The problem of many Swiss badis: Either they close – or it's expensive
Badis are often the last resort in this hot holiday season. However, many outdoor pools have reached the end of their life cycle. There are expensive renovations – or closing.
Not to be rejuvenated: most of Switzerland's 500 open-air seaside resorts were built in the 1970s and 1980s. Even if they are kept seriously, the question arises for the operating communities after 40 or 50 years of operation: How to proceed?
The Association of Indoor and Outdoor Swimming Pools (VHF) is regularly confronted with this issue, as Stefan Schlatter explains in an interview with the Keystone-SDA agency: "We receive a lot of requests on the part of domestic and foreign operators who want to know what the possibilities are: rehabilitation, conversion or closure? "Schlatter recently visited the Sörenberg LU and Weggis LU delegations.
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The operation of a swimming pool goes to the money. Maintenance and staff costs are high. According to statistics of sports facilities of the Federal Sports Office (Baspo), the average total cost of an outdoor pool with pool of 50 meters to just under 570 000 francs per year. Many communities have holes of several hundred thousand francs each year, so they have to literally pay for badi deficits.
Communities in distress
In the years of prosperity, the financial success of the facilities was not yet the focus of concern. An outdoor pool was considered a localization and public service advantage. Today, public authorities have become smaller or in doubt, because communities need to save. And entry fees do not cover the effort by far.
At Näfels GL, the closure of the outdoor pool is under discussion. Before the same question we also held in Zuchwil SO or Grosshöchstetten BE. In both cases, voters vetoed and demanded a renovation – even if at most a tax increase is necessary.
If you think your Badi is already too full, …
Today, an outdoor pool is more than just an institution for physical exercise. Claims have become higher, says Schlatter. The guests also sought experience, relaxation and fun: "A 25-meter square pool for swimming is not enough anymore."
A modern bathroom has nowadays d & # 39; a hot tub, water slides or a sauna. The experiences with the refreshed offer are good, according to Schlatter. The indoor and outdoor pools, which have been remodeled or newly built in this way, have been better visited and recorded more revenue. Even so, a balanced bill is always a demanding task, says Schlatter
More leeway
More and more municipalities are deciding to equip their outdoor pool of greater scope economic. "Outsourcing to an operating company is an increasingly popular model," says VHF's Managing Director. The majority of the shares remain with the municipality.
Schlatter's outdoor baths are also under pressure because of school curriculum 21. This requires that all schools offer swimming lessons. However, demand for new outdoor pools has also increased due to population growth.
It's not just the most modern equipment that makes money – the hygienic and technical requirements for an outdoor pool have also increased. According to a documentation from the Accident Prevention Service (BFU), many systems no longer comply with the latest discoveries, safety requirements of today and the state of the art [19659012] Off to the Badi! That's what our grandparents told us.
The requirements for water quality have also increased according to Stefan Schlatter. These are subject to the drinking water ordinance since May 1, 2017. The old baths are also reaching their limits because their old sand filters can no longer circulate water six times per day, as needed.
Higher entry fees
Prices are also reflected in the prices: For a renovated Badi or new 10 to 12 francs for an adult person quite appropriate, says Schlatter. The most expensive Badi in Switzerland is currently the brand new Badi in St. Moritz GR: 15 francs cost entry. Many communities require low single-digit amounts. Marzilibad in Bern is always free. To this end, the city is renovating its dilapidated indoor and outdoor pools by about 240 million francs by 2025.
Schlatter is also "privileged": he contributed to the realization of one of the few outdoor pools in Switzerland. At the end of September 2018, the new Ägeribad will open on the lake of the same name in the canton of Zug, with an outdoor swimming pool heated all year round. Cost: 36 million francs. Up to 150,000 visitors a year are budgeted. (nda)
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Video: srf
