Rain clouds outdoor pool season: Significantly fewer bathers

The rainy summer has resulted in a rather poor season for Saxony's outdoor swimming pools. Significantly fewer people came to swim than in the previous year and the results were mixed, according to the outdoor pools in Leipzig, Dresden, Chemnitz and Plauen. The outdoor pool season got off to an excellent start in May and June, but there were many rainy days during the summer vacations.

A good 75,000 fewer bathers in Leipzig and Dresden

Almost 248,000 guests came to the nine outdoor pools in the state capital this year. This is a below-average result compared to previous years, as a spokesperson for Dresdner Bäder GmbH said on request. "However, it is hardly surprising, as the summer was far too seldom sunny and hot in Dresden this year". Last year, around 325,000 guests had flocked to Dresden's nine outdoor pools by the beginning of September. The busiest day this year was June 22 with more than 15,500 guests.

The Leipzig sports pools, on the other hand, drew a positive balance: with 175,753 bathers this season, there were 75,000 fewer visitors than in the previous year. Looking back over 15 years, however, the season is above the average of 165,000 bathers, as Martin Gräfe, Managing Director of Leipzig's sports pools, said. "Ups and downs in the weather and therefore also in visitor numbers are always part of the game for us as an outdoor pool operator." In the trade fair city, July 2 was the best visitor day with 11,057 guests.

Chemnitz shortened opening hours and closed swimming pools

In Chemnitz, on the other hand, the season was mixed, it was said on request. A total of 74,075 visitors were registered, compared to 20,000 more in the previous year. On several days, opening hours were shortened due to the weather and some outdoor pools were closed, the city announced. An indoor swimming pool was also opened on 18 days in order to offer additional swimming times.

Significant decline in Plauen causes economic losses

In Plauen, the losses were particularly significant due to the poor summer weather: while 40,919 guests were welcomed in 2024, this season there were 29,645 guests. "The decline in visitors also has a negative economic impact for us. We are missing out on revenue of 40,000 euros from the outdoor pool business," explained Ronny Adler, Managing Director of the pool company.