It is not yet known whether Oktoberfest 2021 will take place or not, but booking requests are already piling up.
“The response is very positive,” the organizers say. “People want to participate.” On the contrary, there is noticeable restraint in hotel bookings. According to hotel chains and travel portals, they receive fewer bookings, bookings and searches for Oktoberfest 2021.
Oktoberfest 2021 as planned from 18 September to 3 October
In normal years, over six million visitors come to the world’s largest folklore festival in two festival weeks. They drink and have fun in tents in a very confined space. Without effective protection against vaccinations, the festival could turn into an international event to spread the virus. This year’s Oktoberfest is scheduled to take place from 18 September to 3 October.
However, according to the organizers, most of the regular guests have already booked their seats. About 95% of them have booked their usual tables, just like in 2019. Very few have given up on them. Most of the bookings come from guests from Munich and the surrounding area, but there are also inquiries from abroad.
The estimated chance of holding Oktoberfest 2021 is fifty-fifty. This mainly depends on the number of vaccinated citizens.
On the other hand, hotels are more discreet, although cancellation policies are often very lenient. For example, according to Motel One, demand for rooms during the Oktoberfest is still “low”. It is usually much higher. “There are some signs that people don’t really believe Oktoberfest will take place this year,” says a spokesperson for the network. “Or this interest is low due to the pandemic.”
A large number of hotel rooms are still available
Travel portal Expedia also reports that many potential guests do not believe in Oktoberfest 2021 – or will not participate in it. Experts note that interest in this period is more restrained than in the years before the pandemic. “Historically, however, the number of bookings for Oktoberfest always increases towards the end of May or the beginning of June.” The decline in demand has not yet affected hotel prices.
Thus, according to experts, there are currently a lot of free hotel rooms and places at usually occupied tables. But on the most popular Saturdays, it is already quite crowded and the planned opening date is almost full.
According to landlords, early June is the latest time to cancel or join Oktoberfest. The city is expected to make a decision in May.
Mayor Dieter Reiter recently announced that he would not place any bets on Oktoberfest in 2021. “Anyone in this situation would be very skeptical.” President-Minister Markus Söder has a similar point of view: “I think the Lord Mayor’s skepticism is absolutely justified, and I share it, even if no final assessment can be made today.”
“Lightweight” Oktoberfest as a Possible Alternative
Oktoberfest director and Munich economic adviser Clemens Baumgertner wants to make a decision as late as possible to take full advantage of the opportunities: “If Oktoberfest doesn’t take place, we’ll have to think about celebrating during the summer. It will definitely happen. For example, decentralized and remote carousels and kiosks were deployed in the city last year. Exhibitors also look forward to repeating in case of another cancellation of Oktoberfest. But: Oktoberfest “lightweight” is not Oktoberfest, ”says Yvonne Heckl, director of the organizing company for Munich showmen.
“The lite version is not Oktoberfest. We don’t want that, ”the organizers say. “In masks, with limited seating and space in the tent: it doesn’t make economic sense – and this is not Oktoberfest as we know and love it. It’s not fun. ” A vaccination certificate or negative coronavirus test as an “admission ticket” is not suitable for hosts. “It’s not presentable.” Even last year, spot checks at the entrances to Oktoberfest were sometimes a problem.
Another cancellation will cost the organizer a tidy sum. Inselkammer alone estimates running costs excluding Oktoberfest at € 400,000. The total revenues of the world’s largest folklore festival range from 1.2 to 1.3 billion euros.
In 2020, compared to 2019, less than half of the tourists visited Munich. There were almost no guests from the USA, China or the Gulf countries. Business travelers have also almost completely avoided travel. In total, 2.99 million arrivals to “commercial accommodation establishments” were registered last year. In 2019, there were 8.75 million. And instead of more than 18 million overnight stays in a pandemic year, the city only counted seven million. Thus, Oktoberfest 2021 is a much-needed boost to the budget of local companies and the city.