The organizers Oktoberfest, Munich’s heralded and bustling annual beer festival is trying to convince desperate Germans by dismissing rumors that the event is moving to Dubai.
Local media reported that plans are being drawn up to move this year’s event to the city of the United Arab Emirates, amid high rates of Covid-19 cases across Europe.
The report shocked the Germans, who reacted angrily to the prospect on social media.
But organizers said they were not involved with any plans to relocate the festival, known locally as Wiesn, and insisted it would remain in Bavaria.
“Recently, the media in German speaking countries have been reporting intensively on someone’s plans to hold an Oktoberfest in Dubai,” the organizer wrote on their website. “The headlines linguistically suggest that Munich Oktoberfest is actually moving to Dubai, moving there, or is taking place in the desert this year due to the possibility of a cancellation.
“Oktoberfest is native to Munich and takes place exclusively in Munich,” a spokesman for the Munich City Department of Labor and Economic Affairs, which organizes the event, said in a statement. a statement.
“The now known plans were not pursued by event organizers in Dubai either on behalf of or with the approval of the City of Munich.”
The plans were reported in German newspapers including picture, who wrote that German businessmen had been behind the plans since last year.
Under the plan, dozens of tents, live music and portable breweries will be set up in Dubai, while celebrities will be flown in as main guests, Bild reported.
Oktoberfest was canceled last year due to the pandemic, and this year’s event is still in jeopardy as European countries struggle to contain a third wave of the coronavirus.
The organizers have set a date September 18th as the start of the two-week festival. But Munich Mayor Dieter Reiter said “a decision on whether Wiesn can take place this year or should be canceled for the second time in a row has not been made.”