In the Czech Republic, there are 200 pools and aquaparks, 99% of them are operating at a loss

Babylon Liberec

Jeseník - In the Czech Republic, there are approximately 200 pools and aquaparks, but only a fraction of them are profitable and can operate without million-dollar subsidies from municipal governments. Jan Šnajdr from Česká spořitelna stated this today at a city council meeting in Jeseník, which discussed plans to build a new aquapark in the city. The bank has financed the construction of around 60 aquaparks and pools in the Czech Republic.
     "Pools and water worlds are always a black hole in municipal budgets. I only know of two pools that are in the black (profitable)," Šnajdr pointed out, noting that a new pool in Špindlerův Mlýn and the aquapark in the Babylon entertainment center in Liberec are profitable. "Other pools that exist in the Czech Republic are not capable of covering the costs they generate. Some may operate at a profit, but they do not generate sufficient profit to repay the original investment and are enough for renewal and maintenance," Šnajdr stated.
     For example, the aquapark on the outskirts of Olomouc, which was built by the city in cooperation with several private firms, is unprofitable. Since its opening in 2009, the aquapark reported a cumulative loss of 73 million crowns by the end of 2011, and total construction costs will exceed one billion crowns. In 2011, the city paid nearly 30 million crowns to the aquapark, which the company used for operations and repayment of the investment loan. Last year, the subsidy increased to 45 million crowns, with which the aquapark is to repay the loan by 2026.
     Last year, the attendance at the municipal aquapark in Olomouc fell by nearly a fifth. While in 2011, 221,000 people enjoyed the water fun, last year there were 180,000. However, the average revenue per visitor increased by 20 percent due to fewer discount promotions, leaving the total revenue of the facility at the level of 2011. In the past, the initiative Naše Olomouc protested against the construction of the aquapark. Supporters argued that the operation would be unprofitable and that the city should not replace the role of entrepreneurs.