Széchenyi Bath

László Attila Boros said baths will be forced to lay off 4,700 people without immediate government intervention, according to the associationʼs latest representative survey.

Three-quarters of staff at baths have been forced to work reduced hours, he added. He urged the government to set up a HUF 35 billion liquidity fund to make up for lost revenue and preserve jobs at baths, noting that 93-95% of baths are owned by local councils and are ineligible for government credit programs.

Boros said Hungaryʼs baths employ about 18,000 people and generate HUF 95 bln-100 bln a year, under normal circumstances. About 71% of all guest nights in Hungary are spent in spa towns, he added.