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It is almost impossible to find an economic segment that has not been significantly affected by the coronavirus epidemic. In addition, it fundamentally shook tourism, so that one of the sectors of attraction, domestic spas, found itself in an extremely difficult critical situation. According to the Hungarian Baths Association, 13 of the 15 most visited places are spa towns, and 71 percent of guests’ nights can be spent in tourist-friendly spa settlements.
The spas ran out of reserves during the spring restrictions and the situation has not improved since then.
Although they relied on the summer boom, traffic fell 20 percent from the previous year, and then in vain there were rays of hope that only the border closure would last until the end of September and foreign guests return and reservations They arrive at the end of October, all destroyed. Spas are projected to lose up to 70 percent of their revenue by the end of 2020, which is why the layoffs have already begun.
According to an industry survey, 26.3 percent of the 18,000 affected workers in the domestic bathroom sector could become unemployed by March 2021, meaning the loss of 4,700 jobs.
They turn to the government for help
To avoid this, the Hungarian Bath Association asked the government for help, and at least until the summer of 2021.
They want a non-refundable liquidity fund totaling HUF 35 billion.
But if support is not received, 76.15 percent of Hungarian baths will not be worth next summer, the next peak season, which would mean survival.
We would like to ask Viktor Orbán to be the godfather of Hungarian baths. The Hungarian bath is a national treasure, it must be protected. If the toilets closed, it would be as if Lake Balaton was drying up
– said Imre Kovacsics, vice president of the Hungarian Baths Association at Thursday’s press conference.
Attila László Boros, president of the association, revealed that Viktor Orbán has already been contacted, negotiations are underway for the moment, but time urges that help be provided as soon as possible. Furthermore, the national spa sector generates a turnover of between 95 and 100 billion HUF.
They also pointed out that the loan program would not really provide a solution, as 95 percent of the spas are municipally owned, so they would not be able to seize the opportunity, only the remaining five percent. But they wouldn’t be able to spend it on development either, which means they wouldn’t make a profit from it, instead they would just put out fires to support people, but they would be even more in a debt spiral.
Of course, in larger cities with county status, the local government can help with a few hundred million guilders, but in smaller settlements this does not fit the budget, so there are likely more toilets that need to be shut down. permanently, and not just temporarily. the situation is deteriorating. The toilets in Budapest are safe, the biggest problem is in the countryside.
However, the situation could be even worse, if only because there are doctors in the bathrooms, and if their salaries double or triple under the regulation, another problem will be created, since it is not the state but the institution.
(Cover image: Széchenyi Bath. Photo: Bődey László / Index)
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