After 15 weeks of forced closure, the Erding thermal spa is allowed to open again. Bavaria's Minister of Economic Affairs Hubert Aiwanger (FW) gave the wellness facilities the green light on Tuesday afternoon.
- The Bavarian Prime Minister has announced far-reaching easing of the coronavirus measures.
- Among other things, indoor pools may have reopened in the future.
- For Therme Erding, too, this means the starting shot after a long dry spell
- You will always find the latest news and information about the district of Erding and only from us *.
Erding - "We are really relieved that we can finally start again," says Managing Director and Authorized Officer Marcus Maier in conversation with our newspaper. He was not completely surprised by Aiwanger's announcement . "We had received signals that something was happening." He also believed in it because the pools in other federal states and in Austria have long been open again .
Because of corona lockdown: Therme had already considered legal steps
Otherwise, owner Jörg Wund might have done something. After a wellness hotel in the Bavarian Forest successfully sued against the forced closure of its spa area , "we also considered legal action," said Maier.
But now there is no more time for legal banter at Thermenallee . “From a legal perspective, we should be able to open again next Monday . But we still need some time, ”explains Maier. The last construction sites would have to be completed, the entire thermal baths had to be cleaned and, above all, the water had to be heated.
Therme Erding breathes a sigh of relief: gastronomy is upgrading - short-time work is running out
The catering partners had already started ordering goods and preparing to reopen their restaurants and bistros .
On March 13, around 900 employees had to be sent literally 100% short-time work overnight . Only a core group of 60 employees remained. "We'll get them back very quickly," promises Maier. Not everyone could be employed 100 percent right away, “but 60 to 80 percent”. The wires have been glowing in the thermal baths since Tuesday afternoon .
After Corona break: Therme Erding opens again - many hurdles have been overcome
Maier is not only happy that the thermal baths can open again , but also that many other hurdles have been overcome. The exact implementation regulations are not expected at Thermenallee in the next few days, "but as things stand, we can also heat the saunas, only have to maintain ten square meters per guest and can do without an online reservation system ," says Maier. The latter might have deterred guests. Maier can get over the fact that there are no infusions in the saunas and that steam baths are still taboo . "They're not that popular in summer anyway."
Therme Erding: No event program this summer
It is just as tolerable that there is still no event program and the large summer parties with thousands of visitors literally fall into water because of the virus. “We have already canceled everything because it is forbidden anyway. In the current phase, major events would trigger skepticism, ”the manager is convinced.
He is glad that you start again during the week and not during the holidays. "This is how we can test our safety and hygiene concept ." Only in August, when all the federal states are on vacation, does Maier expect the first major crowds. With 20 square meters per guest, 4000 guests could be let in at the same time, with ten square meters around 6000. “But there won't be that many at the beginning .”
After a long corona break: Hotel opens on July 1st
It is now paying off that the thermal bath developed an early concept for the period after the lockdown . The cash registers are equipped with plexiglass panes, stickers on the floor also indicate the minimum distance , and there are sufficient disinfectants and mouth guards available.
The Hotel Victory , which is affiliated with the thermal baths , will not open its doors again until Wednesday, July 1st. You can spend the night at the wellness oasis from day one - in the guest house opposite.
According to Maier, a few questions still need to be clarified: In which areas does the mask requirement apply ? Can the showers be used? And how many visitors are also in the water and in the other areas allowed . All of this is manageable for him.
* Merkur.de is part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital editors network.
