Debate on Corona government actions
Germany's COVID-19 Regulations Ease for Trade Fairs and Hairdressing Salons
As Germany continues to ease COVID-19 restrictions, the country's trade fair and hairdressing industries are slowly returning to normal.
Germany's COVID-19 regulations for trade fairs and hairdressing salons have largely relaxed, with measures now primarily tied to hospitalization rates and local infection dynamics. The trade fair industry, exemplified by large events like ProWein, has recovered substantially from the COVID-related downturn; trade fairs are operating with professional and international participation, indicating effective reopening and support.
Regarding hairdressing salons, no precise COVID-related regulations or support measures appear to be in place as of mid-2025. This suggests that strict pandemic restrictions on these personal service businesses have mostly ended or become routine, following the general trend in Germany where measures depend on hospitalization incidence benchmarks.
Christine Berg, CEO of HDF Kino, has welcomed the decisions and called for uniform implementation of the rules across states. The federal and state governments have decided on nationwide 2G rules for leisure events, but hairdressers in Germany may continue to operate. Berg, however, has warned that cinemas are facing a massive decline in visitors since the introduction of 2G and demands expanded bridging aid to avoid a wave of insolvencies next year.
Steffen Greubel, new CEO of Metro, is concerned about the resilience of customers in the gastronomy and hotel industry in the corona crisis. The German trade fair industry, led by AUMA CEO Jörn Holtmeier, has expressed criticism over frequent changes in corona regulations.
Gass, head of the German Hospital Association, has welcomed the planned 2G obligation in retail and the general vaccination obligation. He has also demanded further economic aid from the new federal government for hospitals beyond the end of the year. Gass supports the institution-based and general vaccination obligation, but emphasizes the need to prevent circumvention tendencies.
Support measures for the broader business community, including sectors impacted by COVID-19 such as trade fairs and personal services, are pivoting toward tax relief, reduction of energy costs, and easing regulatory burdens to stimulate recovery and growth. The German government is focusing on reforms aimed at decreasing bureaucracy and social security contributions that inflate labor costs, which benefits industries including hairdressing salons and trade fairs indirectly.
Depending on the hospitalization and incidence rates, different guidelines apply for hairdressers in various federal states. Contact restrictions for the unvaccinated correspond to the severity of the current situation and hospital expectations. Berg has demanded exemptions for unvaccinated children and young people, as provided in the Infection Protection Act.
The hairdressing industry employs a total of 240,000 people and generates a turnover of 7 billion euros. The trade fair industry has suffered 43.5 billion euros in damages due to the pandemic. Jörg Müller, main CEO of the Central Association of the German Hairdressing Trade (ZDF), has stated that every restriction leads to a decline in sales for hairdressing salons, most of which are family businesses.
Greubel has called for a more consistent approach towards vaccination and warns that further restrictions could have a significant impact on the industry. Holtmeier has called for foresight from politics and maximum support for the industry, including security programs for exhibitors, rules for enabling trade fairs, and recognition of international vaccines.
In summary, Germany's COVID-19 regulations for trade fairs and hairdressing salons have largely relaxed, with measures now primarily tied to hospitalization rates and local infection dynamics. The trade fair industry has recovered substantially from the COVID-related downturn, while the hairdressing industry continues to operate under general health and safety guidelines with potential 2G/2G+ restrictions if triggered. Support measures for the broader business community are focused on tax relief, reduction of energy costs, and easing regulatory burdens to stimulate recovery and growth.
In response to the loosened COVID-19 restrictions, the German government has shifted its focus to economic support, aiming at tax relief, energy cost reduction, and deregulation to bolster recovery and growth. This includes indirect assistance for industries such as trade fairs and health-and-wellness sectors like hairdressing salons.
In the light of relaxation in COVID-19 regulations, the trade fair industry has witnessed a marked recovery, showcasing strong participation and international involvement, thus indicating a successful reopening and continued support. On the other hand, hairdressing salons operate under general health-and-wellness guidelines, with potential 2G/2G+ restrictions if warranted by hospitalization rates and local infection dynamics.
