Outdoor pool summer 2025: price increase despite a cool start to the season!

Outdoor pool summer 2025: price increase despite a cool start to the season!

The 2025 outdoor pool season brings unpleasant news for many visitors: the admission prices rise in numerous leisure facilities. According to the current information from Vol.at , many outdoor pools, including the lido Hard, begin their new season with increased ticket prices. The start of the season on May 29, 2025 was promising despite adverse weather conditions, with a pleasant advance.

Especially in Bregenz facilities such as the Bregenz seaside resort and the Val Blu in Bludenz, ticket prices have experienced changes. The increases are between 3.4% for children and up to 6.8% for adults. In the Bregenz seaside resort, a day ticket for adults now costs 6.90 euros, while the Val Blu has raised its price to 7.40 euros. These adjustments can be observed in almost all surveyed outdoor pools.

reasons for the price increases

The increased prices are primarily due to inflation printing, higher costs for personnel, energy and water and maintenance expenses. Managing Director Ewald Peritsch from the Hard lido emphasizes that he is based on inflation every year. In addition, many operators have invested: there were extensive renovations in the Bregenz seaside resort, and a total of 85 million euros were invested in the modernization. The Hard lido has also upgraded its infrastructure with 14 million euros.

The trend is similar in Germany. A survey by the Association of Local Company (VKU) shows that every third outdoor pool increases its prices. The reasons for this are not only the general cost increases, but also the dependence of many bathrooms on municipal grants in order to cover the running costs. For example, the Munich municipal utilities raised entry to 6 euros, while a day ticket will cost 7 euros in Berlin in Berlin. In Koblenz, too, the price was increased from 4 euros to 5 euros, which reflects the generally difficult financial situation of the baths.

outlook and challenges

The operators expect a deterioration in the financial situation in the coming years. 72% of the operators expect such a development, with only 4% expect an improvement. Due to the shortage of skilled workers and the renovation backlog in many facilities, 16% of the operators are considering closing outdoor pools in the short or medium term. The VKU general manager Ingbert Liebing therefore urgently demands better support programs for the preservation of the swimming pools.

With the opening of the 2025 outdoor pool season, it becomes clear that increasing admission prices and renovation needs represent a challenge for many bathroom operators. The less inviting weather in the initial phase of the season could also have an impact on visitor numbers. Nevertheless, the operators hope for a stable number of visitors and rely on the renovations to become more attractive.