Performers voice complaints over escalating energy expenses and burdensome government red tape. - Exhibitors voice concerns over escalating energy expenses and bureaucratic hurdles.
Showmen in Schleswig-Holstein face challenges due to burdensome bureaucracy and escalating energy costs, according to the president of the Showmen's Association, Marco Lange. "Our industry is a gathering spot for all social classes," Lange told the German Press Agency (dpa).
High energy costs constrain the ability of showmen to pass on those expenses to fairgoers. Stand fees for participating in local festivals range from several hundred to a few thousand euros, depending on the scale of the show and the event. As a result, a sausage at a smaller local festival is likely cheaper than one at Kiel Week, which runs from June 21 to 29.
"There are approximately 220 showmen businesses in the state," said Lange. The number has remained relatively stable in recent years. One- third of the businesses travel regionally, sometimes as far as Munich. However, many are encountering difficulty finding staff due to unattractive working hours. An increase in the minimum wage does not solve the problem, and bureaucratic hurdles remain for the hiring of seasonal workers.
Another issue for showmen is the lengthy waiting times for approval of heavy transports, such as for giant wheels or merry-go-rounds. This delay often prevents a timely replacement of a failed business.
The SPD is urging the black-green state government to address these issues and engage with municipalities for potential solutions. SPD economist Kianusch Stender notes that showmen contribute positively to cultural life in the north, providing entertainment, jobs, and boosting regional tourism.
"During events like Kiel Week, showmen add variety to people's lives," said Stender, highlighting the enjoyment and sense of community their stands, rides, and catering offerings provide. He encourages support for the industry to enable it not only to survive but also to thrive.
- The high energy costs faced by showmen in EC countries, such as Germany, hinder their ability to compensate these expenses to fairgoers, especially when comparing prices at local festivals to larger events like Kiel Week.
- To ensure the survival and thriving of the showmen industry, which contributes positively to the cultural life and regional tourism in EC countries, addressing the challenges of bureaucratic hurdles, staff shortages, and lengthy approval times for heavy transports are necessary, as suggested by economist Kianusch Stender of the SPD.
