Salzburg thermal baths cannot pass on energy costs

Thermal bath operators in Salzburg say they cannot pass rising energy costs on to visitors in full, despite a strong start to the autumn school holidays, according to ORF.

On rainy days such as Saturday and Sunday, the Therme Amadé in Altenmarkt receives about 1,500 visitors a day. But rising prices are also affecting the businesses themselves. Water treatment and sauna operations in particular require substantial energy.

“A thermal bath is an energy-intensive business. This is a fixed cost we simply have to manage,” said Peter Wohlschlager, operations manager at Therme Amadé. “It is also clear that we cannot pass the high prices on to visitors one for one through ticket prices. We are looking at this very carefully.”

Aqua Salza, a bathing and wellness complex in Golling, is also seeking to curb its energy use. A renovation last year brought in new technology, including a heat pump. The complex also uses district heating from Leube that would otherwise go unused, as well as a rooftop photovoltaic system rated at 250 kilowatt-hours. On sunny days, the system covers all of its electricity consumption, the article reported.

Despite continued price rises, managers at both facilities do not expect a significant drop in visitor numbers this winter.