1972 Olympics: Turbo for tourism in Munich

Created: 01/18/2022, 05:50

By Phillip Plesch

The Olympic Park as the center of the 1972 Games. © Stephan Jansen/dpa/picture alliance

No event shaped Munich more after the Second World War than the 1972 Olympic Games. In a new series to mark the 50th anniversary, we are remembering that time.

Munich – The 1972 Olympic Games were worth their weight in gold for tourism.

Over a million visitors came to the state capital in 1972 and spread a positive image around the world.

“To put it bluntly, the previous image was more of a service desert – not necessarily efficient and innovative.

That was refuted,” says tourism researcher Jürgen Schmude (66).

Reason for the image change?

"Hospitality

," says Schmude.

The message went to many source areas that one is welcome to come to Germany.

The impression of the city shaped by the Nazis should finally give way.

At the 2006 World Cup, hospitality was once again to play a decisive role.

The slogan back then: "The world to make friends."

Today Munich has more to offer

Important for tourism in 1972: Munich came into the "relevant set" of many people.

This means five or six destinations about which you have information that is in your head and are therefore possible travel destinations.

The positive reporting in the media did the rest.

In addition, Munich's infrastructure has been on a different level since then.

Jürgen Schmude © LMU

But Schmude warns against exaggerating an event.

"The Olympics were the trigger, but the spirit of the games is fading and being overtaken by other effects." Today, Munich has enough else to offer and is no longer necessarily dependent on such a major event.

For example as a shopping location or with its cultural scene.