Investigating perceptions of authenticity of the Oktoberfest

Authenticity within tourism has received a great level of attention from scholars. In the particular context of events, authenticity has been linked to satisfaction and intention to revisit, although empirical proof of such link remains scarce. The purpose of this study is to address this issue by investigating the perceptions of authenticity of festival goers. In particular, this study examines the differences between German and non-German visitors in their motivations to attend the Oktoberfest and their perceptions of the authenticity of the event. Preliminary analysis reveals that there are significant differences in both motivations and perceived authenticity of the Oktoberfest with international visitors having stronger motivations to attend the event as well as higher ratings of the authenticity of various items.