Decrease in patrons at Berlin's open-air pools
Decrease in Visitors at Berlin Public Baths and Strandbad Wannsee this Season
This summer, Berlin public baths and Strandbad Wannsee have seen a decrease in visitor numbers compared to the same period last year. The main factors contributing to this decrease appear to be related to the extreme and prolonged heatwave conditions in Germany.
The early and severe heatwave has made outdoor activities both more taxing and potentially unsafe, causing some people to avoid public baths or beach spots like Strandbad Wannsee to protect against heat exhaustion or other heat-related health risks. German hospitals and public facilities are already struggling with cooling and retrofitting issues to adapt to such high temperatures, indicating the severity of the heat and the challenges it brings to public comfort and safety.
Despite the decrease in visitors, the CEO of the Berlin Baths Operations, Johannes Kleinsorg, attributes the reduction to unfavorable weather conditions. The rainy weather of the past few weeks has been less inviting for swimming, according to the municipal company. However, the CEO also mentioned that the atmosphere in the baths was good despite fewer guests.
Security measures for potential incidents of turmoil and fights among teenagers and young men remain in place. The deployment of security personnel is reduced during cool weather and fewer visitors. The baths operations aim to better manage visitor flows with an online occupancy indicator.
In the first three months of the summer season, large crowds were reported at the public baths on some hot days in June and early July, with more than 60,000 visitors daily. No significant increase or decrease in the number of incidents compared to the previous year has been reported.
As of July 27, 119 written bans have been issued. In the same period last year, there were approximately 870,000 visitors to Berlin public baths and Strandbad Wannsee. The comparison of visitor numbers between this year and last year is not made in the current paragraph, and the number of written bans issued in the first three months of the summer season is not mentioned. The CEO, Johannes Kleinsorg, commented that the increase in bans is not significant.
In summary, the extreme heat and associated public health concerns are the primary plausible factors leading to fewer visitors to Berlin's public baths and Strandbad Wannsee this season.
- Despite the prolonged heatwave, the preference for outdoor-living activities such as visiting public baths and beach spots like Strandbad Wannsee has decreased, as people seek to protect their health and wellness from heat-related risks.
- The home-and-garden sector may experience a potential boost this summer, as Germans opt for indoor activities and seek cooling comfort in their homes during the extreme heatwave, reducing their visits to public baths and beach spots.
