The German government has taken several energy-saving measures this winter as the country tries to reduce its dependence on Russian gas. In the conditions of the energy crisis, tourists who will go to this European country in the fall will face several inconveniences: the German authorities have already sacrificed their comfort and tourism in general to save heat. What travelers should be prepared for in 2022-2023, DIP explains.
German cities will plunge into darkness. As targets to cut gas consumption by two percent have been introduced, tourists visiting Germany this autumn or even winter can expect less lighting installed on city buildings and fewer illuminated billboards. In particular, public buildings will not be illuminated after 10:00 p.m., while shops are ordered to turn off their lights at night.
In addition, tourists may find that apartments and living spaces will be colder this year. If public premises are ordered to be heated to a maximum of +19°C, then there will be no heat at all in the entrances of buildings and similar places. Travelers who want to visit a gas-heated pool should take into account that the water there will be cold because it is forbidden to heat it. Washing your hands with warm water from the tap will not work either.
Moreover, the country will prioritize the transportation of coal and oil by rail. In other words, tourists who want to travel by train will probably have to wait because of the shortage of trains. “We now have a situation with a shortage of rails. This means that if additional fuel transportation is temporarily required, we will have to set priorities,” explained Transport Minister Volker Wissing.
As previously noted by Germany’s economy minister, the new rules could save households, companies, and the public sector up to 10.8 billion euros by 2024. Before the start of the war in Ukraine, Germany received 55% of its gas from Russia, but since then this has dropped to 35%, and the government intends to completely stop imports. However, it will be difficult for Germany to do so. Dependent on Russian gas and oil, the country paid almost 9 billion euros for energy resources coming from the Russian Federation in March and April alone.
Although energy-saving measures may be strict, this does not mean that tourists are not waiting in Germany. Yes, in autumn, from September 17 to October 3, the Oktoberfest festival will take place, as planned. The event gathers beer lovers. It is expected that the festival will receive more than 7 million tourists. Moreover, the two-week program is expected to bring the country more than 1.5 billion euros in tourism revenue. As reported on the official website of Oktoberfest 2022, entrance to the festival and beer tents is free, but the starting price for food and drinks will be 12 euros (480 hryvnias at the current exchange rate).