The Impact of Terrorism on the German Event Industry – An Empirical Study on Security Measures and Attendees’ Risk Perception

Events are a constant factor in daily life, fulfilling people with joy, experiences, and unforgettable memories. However, since the early 2000s, a major cloud lies over the festival and event industry. Multiple terror attacks, starting with the influential attack of the 11th of September 2001, shocked and unsettled the world. Terrorism evolved into a great threat, which triggered extensive changes in various fields, including the security sector as well as the event industry. Security measures had to be developed and reinforced, particularly on site of events as a result of multiple incidents at public events. The author researches the specific protection measures implemented and the risk perception of event attendees by using a mixed-methods approach. Findings reveal an increased awareness for terrorism and an intensification of security measures on the event organizer’s side. Event attendees have an enhanced risk perception towards terrorism and specific events, they attach importance to diverse security measures, but also admit that they negatively impact the event experience. Generally, they do not change their behavior concerning event attendance. As result of this research, the author was enabled to propose reasonable suggestions and recommendations for further research and the event and festival industry in general.