The salt water swimming pool at Praid, in central Romania, will become functional in April 2014, following investment of some EUR 1.55 million.

This will be the biggest salt water swimming pool in the Transylvania region,  covering some 5,600 sqm in total, including the adjoining amenities. The funding came from the salt mine Praid, and work on the swimming pool started in April 2013. By the end of 2013, the swimming pool should be 80 percent done.

The complex will feature two pools, one for adults, on some 1,000 sqm, and one for children, on some 250 sqm, which will be connected. The depth will go from 1.2 meters to 1.6 meters. The complex will also include a pool bar, a restaurant, and two beach areas on some 2,400 sqm. There will be 540 chaise longues for those who do not like the sand.

The management of the Praid salt mine hopes to recover its investment in seven years, and has placed the swimming pool complex at the core of a broader tourism plan. The management also wants to create a new treatment facility in the mine, build a four-star hotel together with private partners, and create a camping area and a restaurant on the premises.

The four-star hotel would have a EUR 15 million budget, which could be covered by a mix of EU funding and private partnerships. The whole tourism project would need EUR 22 million to become a reality.

The Praid salt mine is run by the Romanian state via the state-owned company Salrom. The salt mine had a profit of some EUR 800,0000 in the first ten months of 2013, more than double compared to the same period of 2012.

editor@romania-insider.com