The Association of Municipal Companies (VKU) has moderated its demand for a nationwide campaign focused on outdoor pools. Ingbert Liebing, the VKU’s Managing Director, stated to the Funke Media Group’s newspapers that lidos are a crucial part of municipal infrastructure and are indispensable for the quality of life locally, especially during the summer months. However, he cautioned against a generalized or blanket offensive.
Previously, Christoph Ploß (CDU), the Federal Government’s Tourism Coordinator, had called for a “lido offensive.” His proposal was that municipalities should utilize the infrastructure funds provided by the federal government more effectively to renovate and expand outdoor facilities, asserting that lidos should not become a luxury but rather a fundamental amenity for families.
Instead of a sweeping offensive, Liebing advocated for a tailored and needs-based development of the swimming pool landscape. He emphasized that focusing on meeting specific needs is essential, particularly concerning the urgent requirement for swimming schools within indoor pools. For communal operators to manage necessary renovations, modernization, and new construction, they require reliable and long-term funding programs from both the federal and state governments.
