Wiesn 2023: Scharpf warns of too many Oktoberfest visitors!

Wiesn 2023: Scharpf warns of too many Oktoberfest visitors!

Theresienwiese, München, Deutschland - The Oktoberfest, also affectionately called "Wiesn", draws millions of guests to the Theresienwiese in Munich every year. The Munich Economic Officer Christian Scharpf (SPD) emphasizes that there are limits to growth and that one should not tirelessly chase after records. He considers a number of visitors of 7 million to be healthy and experienced around 6.7 million people in 2022 who visited the world's largest festival. The record from 2023 was a proud 7.2 million visitors. Despite the high numbers, Scharpf warns that overcrowding could make the festival "uncomfortable".

At the Oktoberfest, there are around 100,000 places in the marquee daily, with more than 75 % of visitors coming from Bavaria. It is particularly noteworthy that 40 % of the guests come from Munich themselves. Less than 4 % travel from other parts of Germany, while around 20 % are international guests. These numbers reflect the immense local connection and the international attraction of the Oktoberfest.

economic importance and number of visitors

The economic relevance of the Oktoberfest is enormous. Last year, the estimated economic value was estimated at 1.48 billion euros. An average Oktoberfest visitor spends around 90 euros, which underlines the high consumerness of the guests. This was also shown in 2024 when the tents were mostly full despite the mixed weather and the guests consumed 7 million liters of beer. In addition, food sales rose by nine percent compared to the previous year. The most popular dish was still the classically fried Hendl.

The prices for a measure of beer are between 14.50 and 15.80 euros this year and records an increase of around 3.5 % compared to 2024. The Oktoberfest remains an expensive, but still popular event. The mobilization of visitors is supported by projections and the evaluation of beer consumption and other indicators.

special occurrences and challenges

The organization of the Oktoberfest is also not without challenges. Numerous wallets, bank cards and women's shoes were recently given in the lost property office, and curious finds such as lederhosen wearers and wedding rings were also among them. Security questions also play a role: in 2024 the police registered 1,764 missions, with the most common crimes being bodily harm and pickpocketing. Thousands of visitors had to be treated by a doctor, a total of 6,500 injuries were counted.

Despite these challenges, the Oktoberfest remains a social highlight that attracts people from all over the world. Traditionally, the festival ends on the first Sunday in October with a firecracker, which marks the climax and the initiation of the final cathedral. The anticipation for this year's Oktoberfest is already growing, because the Oktoberfest 2023 starts on September 20 and ends on October 5th.

For more information and statistics about the Oktoberfest, interested parties can be the Tagesspiegel , BR and Statista Visit.