As an APA broadcast revealed, the majority of the organizers have already decided on a final cancellation. As an alternative, many try to offer the exhibitors a platform for presentation on their homepages. The decision is still open at the Wolfgangsee Advent, which is partly in the state of Salzburg.
The two Advent markets on Linz’s main square and in Volksgarten have already been canceled. “We have already dismantled everything,” said the Linz magistrate. It would not have paid off to open the two markets for just a few days – according to the state, the lockdown in Upper Austria should not end before December 17th. Instead, the showmen would have the opportunity to present themselves online. In addition, they can sell on a “digital marketplace”, for which there are also several pick-up stations in and around Linz. According to the city council, the costs for the construction and subsequent dismantling work for the two markets would have amounted to 150,000 euros.
Read about it:
The rejection also has drastic effects for the suppliers: Sausages do not have to be thrown away, according to a butcher from Steyregg who supplies a stand in Linz’s Volksgarten, but: Around ten percent of the work in the run-up to Christmas would be for the production of sausages for spent the Advent market – this is now gone. In addition, the casings for sausage production have already been ordered, which have only a limited shelf life.
Still hope for the Wolfgangsee Advent
The Lamberg Advent Castle in Steyr was also completely canceled. “Yesterday I put away the last decoration”, organizer Beate Seckauer is noticeably annoyed about all the work that was now in vain. For the organization, placement of advertisements and decoration that has already taken place, she has booked 15,000 to 20,000 euros, which are now missing. She is particularly annoyed about the short-term decisions: A few days before the lockdown, the city of Steyr had given the assurance that the market could unlock with the 2G or 2G-plus rule, but this would no longer be possible at very short notice been.
The tents at the Wolfgangsee Advent have not yet been finally broken down. According to the current regulation, the two markets in St. Gilgen and Strobl could open on December 12th, as they are in the state of Salzburg. The market in Upper Austrian St. Wolfgang, on the other hand, would have to remain closed until the end of the Upper Austrian lockdown. The loss of sales cannot yet be quantified due to the uncertain situation, said tourism director Hans Wieser. In the past, around 14 million euros were turned over in the markets, plus around three million euros for the hotel industry. Next Friday they want to decide whether the Wolfgangsee Advent will open its doors after all.
Source: Nachrichten
