Before the decision announced for this week, Bavaria’s Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) spoke out in favor of this year’s Wiesn taking place. “Three times in a row without an Oktoberfest – that’s not good for Bavaria and Munich. I think we should do it,” said Söder on Monday in front of around 2,500 guests at the “Gastro Spring 2022” at the Munich Spring Festival. For the first time in 1092 days, representatives of all district associations of the association came together at the industry meeting of the Bavarian Hotel and Restaurant Association (Dehoga Bayern) – without Corona-related admission controls and mask requirements.
“It’s nice to see so many happy and also a few beautiful faces,” said Söder, who joked in his speech, but who also looked back at the difficulties in the pandemic. Corona was new territory for him too, he had to learn, he spoke in general and then specifically about the hospitality industry: the companies had received almost four billion euros in help, even if he knew: “You don’t want any money from the state, you do want it just the opportunity to practice your profession.”
Söder promised to work for an extension of the sales tax reduction to seven percent for food in the catering trade and an extension to drinks, which expires at the end of the year. If that doesn’t work, he will go to a demonstration with them, he assured the restaurateurs present.
Dehoga Bavaria President Angela Inselkammer, in turn, announced with a view to temporary closures during the pandemic: “We are no longer closing!” Inselkammer thanked many employees for their loyalty over the past two years and for financial help from politicians. At the same time, she called for more flexible weekly working hours for employees in the industry from Social Affairs Minister Ulrike Scharf (CSU), who was also present.
In view of the home office in other areas, it is “incomprehensible and extremely unfair” that employees in the catering industry “deny the right to organize their working hours themselves during the week”. Bearing in mind the lack of skilled workers, Inselkammer also advocated the unbureaucratic integration of refugees from Ukraine into the labor market. Many years of work must also be recognized, “and not just any papers”.
With a view to the war in Ukraine, Inselkammer spoke of “new storm clouds” as soon as “the waves on the Corona front calmed down”. She praised the industry for its commitment, within one day 200 hotels had agreed to take in refugees.
In view of the increased costs as a result of the war, she sees a “terrible dilemma”. The companies could not adjust their menus as quickly as prices rose, she said, but also warned: “Bavarian economic culture is in danger if we become too elitist in prices.” In this context, Prime Minister Söder called for tax cuts on energy and fuel from the federal government.
Just like Inselkammer, Söder emphasized his joy at the meeting of representatives from all over Bavaria, who in turn were in a positive mood: “What we take with us is a great feeling,” said Susanne Lolacher, manager of the “Der Grüne Baum” inn in Obergünzburg.