Initiative Therme Plus Presents First Summer Report

(eap) The association Therme Plus, a coalition of currently 38 Austrian thermal spas, has presented its first summer review. This turned out to be positive, particularly due to the rainy month of July. “Our spas offer both experience and regeneration in hot as well as rainy weather and were therefore, given the uncertain forecasts this summer, the safest choice for many when planning their holidays and leisure time. In July alone, we saw an increase of at least 10 percent – in some cases 15 percent – in day guests compared to the previous year, while the summer balance of 2025 in other regions (without thermal spas) during longer rainy periods is significantly mixed and shows fewer guests,” explained Klaus Hofmann, Chairman of the Initiative Therme Plus and Managing Director of VAMED Vitality World.

“Austria’s spas have something to offer in any weather – this further strengthens year-round tourism,” said Deputy Chairman Patrick Hochhauser. “That also means: guests stay in the region if they can bridge the rainy weather in the spa, rather than setting off for sunnier destinations.” The spas thus represent a considerable advantage for tourism in the regions and are not to be underestimated as an economic factor.

Linsberg Asia Resort in Bad Erlach © Therme Linsberg Asia

Deputy chairman Klaus Lemmerer also emphasized: “Regional differences are not evident in this summer review; all spas and therefore their surrounding communities benefit equally from the unsettled weather.” By contrast, there have been no major changes in the numbers of overnight guests in spa hotels. Hofmann explained: “Austrians are fond of booking a short additional holiday on short notice to do something good for themselves and their health. German guests, on the other hand, are much less likely to opt for a weather-related short break in Austrian spa hotels. What we do see, however, is that Eastern markets are becoming stronger, and it is precisely here that the interplay between the spas and the tourism destination has a significant impact.”

Board member for Lower Austria, Doris Walter, underlined the importance of spas for tourism: “Spas are an indispensable pillar for tourism in Lower Austria. They provide a year-round, weather-proof and diverse offering and thus form an important part of the competitiveness and resilience of tourism destinations. The regions benefit both economically and socially from the spas. The creation of jobs, the increase in tourist demand, the development of infrastructure and services, as well as the improvement of the regional image all contribute to economic vitality and potentially to improving the quality of life for residents. In Lower Austria, more than one million visitors were welcomed to the thermal spas participating in the analysis in 2024.”

The Initiative Therme Plus was launched in 2020 as an industry voice and was institutionalized as an association at the beginning of 2025. Among the current 38 members are, among others, Therme Linsberg Asia, Alpentherme Gastein, Atoll Achensee, Silvretta Therme Ischgl, and Therme Wien. ■