Germany's world-renowned Oktoberfest has been canceled because of fears over public safety amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 210-year-old beer festival held in the Bavaria region of Germany attracts millions of visitors, both domestically and from overseas, during September and early October.
Bavarian officials confirmed the cancelation on Tuesday morning. Dieter Reiter, the mayor of Bavaria's capital, Munich, explained the decision: "Thirty percent of visitors come from abroad, which means around two million foreign guests visit us for Oktoberfest, and neither of us [himself and the Bavarian state premier Markus Soeder] believe we will be able to ensure this autumn that with two million foreign guests we could avoid another wave of the coronavirus epidemic."
The world's largest beer festival, Oktoberfest, has been canceled as a result of COVID-19. /AP
This decision will hit Bavaria's economy hard, with the festival making roughly $1.6 billion for the city of Munich alone last year.
"It's not just those who are at the Oktoberfest, whether it be beer hosts, fairground workers, almond salespeople or small souvenir shops, but a lot more around the city like hotels, restaurants and the retail trade. Taxis, too," said Peter Inselkammer, a spokesman for Octoberfest beer hosts.
"They are all affected and they all will have financial losses and it will be very noticeable in the city," he added
Although there has been disappointment, the decision has been received by a wave of understanding.
Micha Kulow, a Munich citizen, said: "I think it's a great decision and I have respect for Soeder and Reiter, how they handle things. I am so grateful for such a state premier who does so well. There will be another year and another Oktoberfest and we are all looking forward to it."