Tourism in Germany — can it coexist with the coronavirus?
Tourists' stays in hotels are no longer allowed, entries and exits into and out of Germany are only allowed in exceptional cases. The impact of the coronavirus on the tourism industry is severe.
It all ended shortly before midnight. The last beer was drawn and, for the first time in 120 years, the Hofbräuhaus in Munich closed without knowing when it would next open its doors. Coronavirus rules put into effect on Tuesday even apply to the world-famous tavern, the destination of almost every tourist visiting Munich.
The Hofbräuhaus, which has long prided itself on being open 365 days a year, had already seen almost half of its guests disappear in recent days.
"We're shutting down the whole operation and we're using the time to fix things. Then we will open again when the risk of infection is reduced," said Managing Director Wolfgang Sperger.
The traditional inn and beer hall is only one of many institutions affected by the restrictions imposed on public life and tourism. Due to the current situation, Cologne Cathedral, which has 6 million visitors a year, is "for the time being only open to people who want to visit it to pray," the cathedral announced on its website.