Wiesn boss Baumgärtner about 3G in the tents: "As of now, there would be an Oktoberfest without conditions"

Created: 04/21/2022, 22:28

By: Sascha Karowski

The Oktoberfest boss and Munich economics officer Clemens Baumgärtner presents the Oktoberfest poster 2022.

© Michael Nagy/dpa

Will the Wiesn take place in 2022?

Mayor Dieter Reiter wants to make a decision next week.

Economics officer Clemens Baumgärtner is confident: If there is an Oktoberfest, it will be without 2G or 3G rules.

Munich – Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) is in favor of the Oktoberfest.

The city will make a decision next week.

We spoke in advance with Wiesn boss and economics officer Clemens Baumgärtner (CSU), who also clearly advocates that the festival, including the Oider Wiesn, should take place again after a two-year pandemic break - and without Corona requirements!

Mr. Baumgärtner, how important is the Oktoberfest for Munich and the region and why is it important that it takes place again?

Clemens Baumgärtner:

"When you think of Munich, you think of the Wiesn.

This is the main association and has been proven by surveys: Munich is associated more with the Oktoberfest than with FC Bayern.

This is an outstanding unique selling proposition, after which other European cities would lick their fingers.

The Wiesn is an affair of the heart, a lighthouse event - also from an economic point of view.

Hotels, restaurants and shops benefit.

And we must not forget the showmen, if at some point they no longer have Oktoberfest, they give up.”

Any concerns it will be a flop because fewer tourists are coming?

Could that even damage the Oktoberfest's image?

"The opposite is the case.

I think the Wiesn will be better than 2019. People are very keen to celebrate and they have to catch up emotionally - especially now that times are not so rosy.

Incidentally, the folk festivals in Augsburg and Nuremberg are going really well, the tents are full.”

Do the Munich residents even want to go to the Wiesn in times like these?

Or would it even be the most Munich Oktoberfest in many years?

“I am asked at least five times a day whether the Wiesn is taking place.

And that is mostly connected with the desire for the Oktoberfest.

All reactions are positive.

I believe it will still be a very international event, with more guests from North America and Southern Europe.”

Would there be any restrictions this year because of the corona pandemic?

"Not standing now.

There is no longer any legal basis.

2G or 3G are neither required by law nor mandatory.

But that's only the case at the moment, of course I can't know how the situation will develop until September."

Wiesn in Munich: Oktoberfest is an economic factor - 1.25 billion euros for the city

The Wiesn is an economic factor.

The numbers prove that.

The city's economic department has calculated that the Oktoberfest 2019 generated around 1.25 billion euros in tourism sales.

448 million euros remained on the festival grounds, 513 million euros in sales were generated in the hospitality industry, for example through overnight stays or gastronomy.

122 million euros flowed for services, 168 million euros ended up in retail.

39 percent of Oktoberfest visitors came from Munich, 29 percent from Upper Bavaria.

Another five percent of the visitors come from the rest of Bavaria, 13 percent from the rest of Germany.

Foreign guests accounted for 14 percent.

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