EMTH6013 - Terrorism's Impact on the Event Industry: Spring 2018

This essay examines the significant impact of terrorism on the event industry, highlighting the constant threat and the challenges faced by event organizers. It discusses how terrorist attacks, such as those in Paris and California, have led to increased security measures and the need for better-trained personnel. The essay also explores the role of media in shaping perceptions and the importance of technology in enhancing security. Furthermore, it touches upon the global impact, referencing attacks like the Munich Olympics and the situation in India, emphasizing the economic consequences and the need for proactive security measures and policies within the event industry. The essay concludes by stressing the importance of continuous safety and security upgrades to mitigate the risks associated with terrorism in the event sector.

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Terrorism Attacks
Terrorism attacks in event industry
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Terrorism Attacks 1
Terrorist Attacks Are a Constant Threat for the Events Sector
Terrorism is very difficult and hard to be classified. Nevertheless, Terrorism can be defined as an
offence that creates a damages in the monetary terms and which is done intentionally. Generally,
the damage is caused to the government or against a nation. Sometimes, it can be a social
damage or environment damages, too. Terrorism can also create death or injury and also cause
huge number of losses. It is often caused by threat messages and destruction. Basically, it is
created with a motive that it will change the mindset of the audience (Schubert, 2013).
According to the article given, written by Magda Ibrahim, Terrorism has changed the events
sector in an adverse way and created a high degree of threat. This has been proved by several
attacks that has been taken place in California and Paris. Paris and California suffered major
attacks and have been involved in high threats. The event organizers have played a great role in
proving security at the top level. But then it was also found that those organizers were not well
trained to manage such incidents. The population in Paris started scattering flowers outside the
attacked area to show sympathy. The attack had a severe effect on the restaurants, bars and on
the people as well. Nearly 130 people died in the attack and hundreds of people were injured
(Ibrahim, 2016). Though the event organizers played good role in managing the attacks but they
were not well trained and were unable to provide appropriate solutions.
Later, an attack in California killed 14 people and 22 were injured. After the attack, party which
was going to be held on a New Year was cancelled.
The recent threat in the UK has caused a severe attack and many event organizers are taking care
of it by involving security plans and getting rid of it.
It can also be clearly stated that Terrorism has affected the industry of event in a strong and
massive way. Event industry is suffering a lot because of the terrorist attacks. Let us take a
different example apart from the given article. In 1972, there was a terrorist attack in the
Olympics games which was held in Munich. All the players were taken back from the location
but unfortunately 11 of them were killed. Again in the year 1980, a terrorist attack was seen in
Oktoberfest in Munich which killed 13 people and 200 were injured badly (Enders and Sandler,
2011). Terrorism has created a negative impact on the event industry and the major reason

Terrorism Attacks 2
behind it is the media coverage. It is the media which has created stereotype world. It has been
assumed that terrorism and the media have a strong relationship between each other.
Furthermore, it can also be evaluated from the article “Terrorism: How does it affect the event
industry “that the event industry is exploited a lot and because of this, media is also suffering.
The exploitation has given rise to attacks and those attacks are increasing in huge numbers.
Media helps to communicate the message of the terrorists and create a threat on an international
level (Issues in events, 2016).
The event industry aims at providing the safety needs to the victims. Whenever, any attack takes
place then they manage such attacks by introducing the CCTV operations which takes care of all
the activities and record a footage. Every staffs of the event management must be aware of the
equipment and the objects along with its procedures. They provide continuous safety to the
environment and its members. They are also highly involved in précised evacuations which
works as a key feature in this industry (Anderson, 2010).
It generally happens that the terrorists attack and target some specific events. The event
organizer manages to prevent these attacks by avoiding radicalism.
Another major example can be taken in the year 2000 i.e. Sydney Olympic Games. An attack
took place and an event industry played a major role to provide safety measures during the
attack. The event made sure that all the policies were taken care of and all the sensitive and
important areas must have high alert. There were metal detectors used to control and prevent
some restricted weapons during the Olympic Games. Everything was under the security and
checked properly and other vehicles were not allowed to enter except those who had the tickets
to it (Houghton, 2015).
Let us take an example of the Country India. India is also facing terrorism attacks. Rajnath
Singh, the home minister of India stated that in the next five years there are many plans that will
be implemented which will help country to secure peace. In the next five year, the major problem
of terrorism and communication will be solved especially in Jammu and Kashmir. Rajnath
argued that terrorism has affected the world and created a fear because of the explosion of
nuclear bombs. In order to solve such issue, ISIS has spread its network with several modules
that will prohibit those attacks (PTI, 2017).

Terrorism Attacks 3
Terrorism has created a severe impact on this industry by developing stereotype. We can see that
today every events has a huge crowd and this has created a negative perception in the minds of
every people. Though there is high revenue generated from the event industry but it has also
given rise to the terrorist attacks. Ultimately, the economic condition of the country is also
affected (Taylor, Fritsch and Liederbach, 2014).
Technology plays a major role in finding out the cyber criminals and punching them. It has
changed the concept of the terrorism by growing the concern of security in the event industry.
Jessica Barker, the expert of cyber security stated that events industry is lagging behind the other
sectors such as finance, pharmaceutical or retail. These industry are performing well if compared
to event industry (Solaris, 2017).
Dr. Barker said that Attacks often takes place due to the unsafe locks and security systems.
Everything that is found on internet can be easily hacked and can create a safety issues. This can
easily create a physical attack and helps to generate emergency services.
Thus, technology helps to upgrade the innovation of CCTV, Biometric and Radio frequency
identification which helps to reduce the number of attacks. Every country has to suffer the
incidents and it cannot be totally removed and eradicated. Developing countries and developed
countries both have faced a major terrorist attacks in their country which has injured the huge
number of people and many of them were even killed.

Terrorism Attacks 4
References
Anderson, B., 2010. Security and the future: Anticipating the event of terror. Geoforum, 41(2),
pp.227-235.
Enders, W. and Sandler, T., 2011. The political economy of terrorism. Cambridge University
Press.
Houghton, L., 2015, Analysis: has terrorism affected security at events, viewed on 19th February,
2018. Available at: https://www.citmagazine.com/article/1334737/analysis-terrorism-affected-
security-events
Ibrahim, M., 2016, Terrorist attacks are a constant threat for the events sector, viewed on 19th
February, 2018. Available at: https://www.raconteur.net/business/terrorist-attacks-are-a-constant-
threat-for-the-events-sector
Issues in events, 2016, Terrorism: How does it affect the event industry, viewed on 19th February,
2018. Available at: https://issuesinevents2016.wordpress.com/2016/03/10/terrorism-how-does-it-
affect-the-event-industry/
PTI, 2017, Next five years crucial for resolving challenges related to terrorism and
communalism: Rajnath Singh, viewed on 20th February, 2018. Available at:
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-next-five-years-crucial-for-resolving-challenges-related-
to-terrorism-and-communalism-rajnath-singh-2556424
Schubert, J., 2013, What Is Terrorism? - Definition, History, Types & Statistics, viewed on 19th
February, 2018. Available at: https://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-terrorism-definition-
history-types-statistics.html
Solaris, J., 2017, Protecting Events and Attendees from the Terror Threat, viewed on 19th
February, 2018. Available at: https://www.eventmanagerblog.com/protecting-events-attendees-
terror-threat
Taylor, R.W., Fritsch, E.J. and Liederbach, J., 2014. Digital crime and digital terrorism. Prentice
Hall Press.