Loss-making leisure spa stays open, several facilities close

The loss-making Esztergom Adventure Spa will remain open. The Szent István Baths, used by schoolchildren and athletes, will close due to high overheads. The local opposition believes that the closure of the Adventure Spa would be bad for the surrounding hotels.

Another spa closes due to high overheads

The Szent István Baths in Esztergom welcomed its last visitors on Monday, szeretlekmagyarorszag.hu writes. The municipality is closing the baths due to high overheads.

This is where schoolchildren learn to swim and athletes train. They do not yet know where they can continue their training for the competition. However, this is not the only area where the municipality is making cuts. From November, the House of Culture will be closed down, theatre performances will be postponed, the reading circle will be suspended, the community centre and the library will be closed and the kindergartens will be merged.

But not everything is covered by austerity. Surprisingly, the municipality-owned Aquasziget Experience Spa is not affected by all the energy-saving measures. The spa closed last year with a loss of HUF 44 million (EUR 102,000), and this year it is running an average deficit of HUF 4.7 million (EUR 11,000).

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Controversy surrounding the Aquasziget Adventure Spa

According to the local opposition, the decision is explained by the neighbouring hotels owned by the CEO of MOL. “The hotels are owned by Zsolt Hernádi – in one way or another, through various companies – while the mayor is called Ádám Hernádi. They are nephews and cousins. Obviously, this makes it difficult to decide on whether to close this place for economic reasons,” said Gábor Bádi, Esztergom Municipal Councillor to RTL.

Ádám Hernádi did not give an interview to RTL. In a statement, the Fidesz mayor wrote: “The rising energy prices due to Brussels’ ‘misguided sanctions’ also take a toll on Esztergom, but the city aims to find the best solution for everyone.” He added that sports clubs can “use the facilities provided by the beach baths” without extra costs.