Gastein’s spa establishments come back to life
Business
In Bad Gastein (Pongau), after the years of lockdowns, the famous Heilstollen, the bathing hospice and all other spa facilities have woken up from their politically enforced deep sleep. They fascinate spa guests and health travelers again.
80,000 people were counted entering the Gasteiner Heilstollen in 2019 – the year before the lockdowns. Then the numbers dropped dramatically.
And even today, the level that existed before the decline in tourism has not yet been reached, says managing director Christoph Köstinger: “We had significant setbacks – with minus 60 and minus 50 percent less. We hope that we will achieve a minus of 25 percent this year and continue to improve again.”
Great longing for cure and relaxation
The other health resorts in the Gastein Valley have also suffered serious losses. After two years of lockdowns, spa guests are now coming back. Many long for relaxation and health care, emphasizes managing director Norbert Ellmauer of the bathing hospice in Bad Gastein: “We are very fortunate that we have stable partners in social insurance. They carried us well through the crisis, but also lost feathers. We are good things again now.”
Celebration at the weekend: 70 years of healing tunnels
The 70th anniversary of the Gasteiner Heilstollen will be celebrated this weekend in Bad Gastein with a ceremony and a specialist symposium, as Governor Wilfried Haslauer (ÖVP) tells: “Health is the most precious commodity of all. It is closely related to tourism. The prevention and relief of pain is tremendous for many. The Gasteiner Heilstollen is an essential part of this offer.”
The shape of the Gasteiner Heilstollen is unique in the world. It uses the natural radon in the depths of the Radhausberg, a radioactive noble gas. As a result, many chronically ill patients have pain and discomfort relief for several months – for example in the case of rheumatism and other diseases of the musculoskeletal system.