ProWein is to extend its 2021 fair by two days, to include Friday, 19 March and Saturday, 20 March 2021. The fair will now take place over five days, from the Saturday until Wednesday, 23 March 2021.
The new time frame is a response to new regulations regarding the maximum number of visitors per day and the space allowed for exhibitors; the limits are one person every seven square metres. This means a maximum of 10,000 people per day can visit the fair. This prompted Messe Düsseldorf – the company behind ProWein – to extend the duration of the fair by two days, to accommodate the 50,000 visitors who are expected to come.
Exhibitors who booked a place for the 2020 fair will retain their existing stand space. Tastings can only take place within the exhibitions stands and tasters must be seated, with no more tasting while standing in the aisles. Distance and hygiene rules will have to be observed.
The new plans were put in place after negotiations with the Association of the German Trade Fair Industry (Auma), which have been going on for six months now.
Auma also wants to see the authorities differentiate between tourist and business travel. Under current rules, visitors who enter Germany from eligible countries outside the EU can enter without restrictions; visitors from other countries must present a negative Coronavirus test that has been done within the previous 48 hours. On entry, a further test and a subsequent 24-hour quarantine could apply before a visit to the fair.
Of course, given the nature of the situation, neither the German government nor Messe Düsseldorf can predict what’s likely to change. To stay up to date, check the ProWein website, and the relevant German government website.
