A first assessment after the sales launch

Six months after the starting signal for the first of three sales phases at the ITB in Berlin, the most important trade fair for the international tourism industry, the two managing directors of Passionsspiele Oberammergau Vertriebs GmbH & Co. KG, Walter Rutz and Gerhard Griebler, draw up a first interim balance. Gerhard Griebler is very optimistic about the strong demand: ‘’We are very pleased to see that many bus and travel companies have already ordered in the five-digit range’’. According to Gerhard Griebler, half of the quota for resellers has been sold already.

In order to guarantee to the visitors from all over the world a comfortable and enjoyable time at the Passion Play, the village traditionally offers packages. Besides the entrance ticket, these packages also include a stay for one or two nights. ‘‘The system of our exclusive sales partner, aovo Touristik AG, ensures a transparent, fast and flexible booking,’’ says Walter Rutz. Seats are no longer coupled to a specific accommodation as it was the case before, and 95% of the booking process is now automated. ‘’In contrast to 2010, all of our partner agencies may use the partner login to check the current state of availability in the auditorium, as well as at the hotels,’’ Gerhard Griebler explains. In 2020 around 450,000 spectators from all over the world are expected to come to Oberammergau.

Tickets are sold in various sales phases. The second phase will start in March 2018, also at the ITB. Then the retail sale begins and packages can also be bought directly in Oberammergau, in 2019 the remaining tickets will finally be released to the market.