Impacts of Oktoberfest on Germany’s Tourism Industry

The tourism industry has contributed a lot to Germany’s economy. According to The German National Tourist Board, 37 Million people traveled to Germany as tourists. This has highly impacted the tourism industry, as the country generates almost 90 billion euros of revenue.

One of the major attractions for these tourists is the Oktoberfest, which usually lasts 16–17 days each year, and the traditional German costumes, including Bavarian Lederhosen, Bundhosen, or Dirndl.

We all know what this great event is about; however, keeping the fun side apart, we cannot ignore how this has helped the tourism industry grow.

How Oktoberfest Shapes Germany’s Tourism Industry?

Frohes Oktoberfest (Translated as Happy Oktoberfest) brings unlimited opportunities for job seekers, entrepreneurs, and those looking for ideas to increase their income. And there are a lot more contributions to shaping Germany’s tourism industry.

Before the pandemic season, the tourism industry generated over EUR 123.8 billion for Germany’s economy. With this amazing number, the sector provided 4.7% of the total employment in 2019.

However, we cannot deny Oktoberfest’s impact, which has been changing throughout the years. Especially in 2020, when COVID-19 hit the world, everything was shut down. The festival was canceled, resulting in a tourism employment downfall of 1.5 million. This happened for two consecutive years and affected Germany’s economy largely. It is estimated that Germany’s economy faced a loss of EUR 68.7 billion and EUR 58.9 billion in 2021 and 2022, respectively.

Despite this, the well-known Oktoberfest has managed to be the number one place for international and local visitors. This love for visiting traditional German events has supported the German tourism industry in many ways.

Did You Know?

A survey was found in 2008, where the common people raised the question, “How did you learn about the Oktoberfest?”

And 51% of the respondents answered, “You just know about the Oktoberfest; everybody does!”

Germany Became An Emerging Tourist Destination

Oktoberfest attracts millions of visitors worldwide every year. This increase in international tourists’ visits pushed the German tourism industry to meet the needs of visitors’ traveling, accommodation, and other related services that will make their trips memorable. The festival’s fame helped maintain Germany’s image as an attractive tourist destination.

FYI: In 2023, nearly 7.2 million visitors attended Oktoberfest. The visitors were from the USA, Austria, France, and Italy.

Economic Boost

The festival’s immense popularity results in consumer spending, benefiting businesses in such sectors as hotels, restaurants, bars, and shops. Local enterprises, including food vendors and souvenir sellers, witness a substantial surge in sales during the festival. This economic boost is a direct outcome of the millions of visitors who flock to Oktoberfest, creating a thriving marketplace and fostering financial growth for various businesses in and around the festival grounds.

While discussing the economic impact of Oktoberfest in a report, it was stated that 65% of the visitors from outside Munich spend the night in hotels, contributing directly to the economy. The total economic value of Oktoberfest generated from the visit of 6.4 million people was €1 million, which is further segregated into €319 spent directly at the place of the festival, and €250 million is spent on other activities with the city, Munich. And the amount spent on accommodation was €350 million.

Job Creation

During the festival season, Oktoberfest provides opportunities for 13,000 people to work directly for the festival. Roughly 8,000 of these are permanently employed, while around another 5,000 engage in temporary employment.

For more than 180 years, the City of Munich has been organizing the Oktoberfest and overseeing the development of this major public festival.

The committee receives and assesses almost 1,100 applications for people who want to work at Funfair amusement rides and vendors annually. And about 550 of these applicants are ultimately admitted. And the rest are kept on hold.

A Great Chance To Introduce German Culture

Oktoberfest is a platform for local breweries to present their beers to a global audience. The Traditional German Beers are available for every visitor, allowing local sellers to gain recognition and have trustworthy customers.

During the festival, you can also experience traditional German foods, like Pretzels, Sausages, Roasted Chicken, and much more. Visitors who have already spent money on the event are ready to pay extra to taste authentic German cuisine.

Apart from these, Oktoberfest often includes promoting cultural items such as traditional clothing, crafts(Alpine Hats, decorative feathers, Belts, and more), and souvenirs, leading to increased sales. Also, it’s a great practice to exchange cultural values! Seeing people walking around in authentic German costumes like dirndl and lederhosen fascinates and encourages foreigners to visit the German folk festival.

Infrastructure Development

Hosting large-scale events often prompts local authorities to invest in transportation infrastructure to handle increased visitor traffic. This may include road improvements, public transportation systems, and parking facilities.

Also, when experiencing many visitors yearly, upgrades or expansions to the festival venue and surrounding areas become necessary. This could involve constructing or renovating event spaces, restroom facilities, and other amenities. To meet the demand for visitors during the festival, the government must invest in additional hotel accommodations or temporary lodging options to attract many visitors.

Investments in security infrastructure are expected to ensure the safety of festival-goers. This may involve installing additional surveillance systems, increasing staffing for law enforcement, and implementing emergency response measures.

Conclusion

The beer festival, Oktoberfest, has gained a massive following among the tourists. This global popularity makes Oktoberfest a tourist magnet, thus resulting in a massive change in Germany’s Tourism Industry. From increasing the economy to forcing the government to maintain the tourist attractions, the festivals have also opened job opportunities. We cannot deny that the Wisen has played an important role in lifting Germany’s tourism industry.

FAQs

Is Oktoberfest good for tourists?

Attending Oktoberfest is one of the most fantastic attractions for tourists. They experience the original Bavarian culture in and outside the Beer tents. You can also visit it with family as there are many festivities to entertain kids.

What do Germans think of Oktoberfest?

For local Germans, Oktoberfest is a break from the routine. However, even German locals celebrate it with great passion, completely dressed up in Oktoberfest costumes to give the visitors the authentic Wiesn feel.