Oberammergau Passion Play opens trade discussions for 2020

Directors of the 2020 Oberammergau Passion Play in Bavaria have briefed UK agents and operators about their plans.

Discussions are underway for advance bookings, pricing and packages for the UK travel trade.

The UK is the second most important incoming source market for the passion play which takes place once every ten years.

Sixteen top operators and agents were invited to an update in London hosted by the German National Tourist Office.

UK and Ireland director Beatrix Haun said: “Germany is regularly voted as the number one cultural destination for Europeans and the passion play is one of the most distinctive reasons why.

“It is the largest and most famous performance of its kind and with a history dating back to 1633 and is firmly on the world’s cultural calendar.

“People attend the passion play from all over the world and reservations are made years in advance.”

Pre-sales are organised in three steps and packages have been available for operators since March 2017.

The GNTO also announced a 4.1% rise in overnight stays by UK visitors for in the first two months of the year over the same period in 2017.

The UK is the second most important source market for Germany, ahead of the US, Switzerland, Italy and France.

Haun said: “Bavaria remains one of the most popular destinations for the Brits.

“With a huge variety of cultural and outdoor activities available, not to mention world-class cities and events like the passion play, it’s easy to see why.”