Cave Bath Reopens in Miskolctapolca This Friday

The Cave Bath in Miskolctapolca, NE Hungary, will reopen this Friday thanks to the cooperation of local businesses, Tamás Bihall, president of the Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén County Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BOKIK), told the state news agency MTI on Monday.

The chamber president recalled that two weeks earlier, it had been decided in Miskolc that all spas, including the Cave Baths, would be closed. In the few days following the closure of the spa, the number of bookings at local accommodation providers dropped to almost zero. He added that since the Cave Bath is a unique tourist attraction in Europe, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry had initiated a renegotiation of the decision, with the involvement of some 30 businesses operating local hotels and restaurants. In 48 hours, the businesses offered a contribution of more than HUF 20 million to the reopening of the spa.

The short-term aim is to keep the Cave Bath open until December 31 with the contributions, while a long-term solution is being sought to keep the bath open. To this end, he said, a tourism round table would be set up with the city to address issues related to the Cave Bath and to try to engage with the government. The minimum staff required to run the Cave Baths will be provided by Miskolc Spa Ltd.