Depok-Organizing large-scale events or mass gatherings is a highly complex activity, involving crowd management, security, health, and various external factors that can potentially impact the event. To equip students with an understanding of the importance of risk management in the large-scale event industry, the Tourism Business Management study program, Vocational Education Program, Universitas Indonesia (UI), held a guest lecture entitled “Event Risk Management in Mass Gatherings: From Planning to Crisis Response” as part of its online Risk Management course on May 13, 2026.
This guest lecture featured Dr. Khairiah Binti Hj. Ismail, Program Director of the Bachelor of International Events Management (Hons.) at Taylor’s University, Malaysia, as a resource person. The guest lecture was intended for students in the class of 2024 as part of their learning about risk management in event management.
In her presentation, Dr. Khairiah explained that mass gatherings are activities in a high-risk environment due to their dense crowds, dynamic situations, and unpredictable conditions. Therefore, event organizers need to understand the various potential risks that may arise during the event.
(Photo: Dr. Khairiah provides a case study of organizing a large-scale event)
Dr. Khairiah said, “Risks in an event can stem from various factors, ranging from overcrowding, potential stampedes, extreme weather, technical failures, to threats to the health and safety of participants. All of these risks must be identified and managed from the planning stage.”
Khairiah further emphasized the importance of risk identification and analysis before an event. She stated that organizers need to systematically map risks through the use of a risk matrix, evaluate venue capacity, regulate entry and exit, and implement a crowd monitoring system to minimize the potential for incidents during the event.
She also highlighted that many incidents during events are caused by inadequate access planning, inadequate venue capacity, and weak oversight of crowd movement. Therefore, safety aspects must be an integral part of every stage of event planning.
In addition to discussing risk mitigation strategies during the planning stage, Khairiah also highlighted the importance of developing a contingency plan and crisis response capabilities. She stated that every event organizer must have clear emergency response procedures to enable quick, accurate, and coordinated decisions when faced with unexpected situations. “Good planning isn’t just about ensuring an event runs smoothly, but also about how the organizing team is prepared for various eventualities that may arise during the event,” she added.
(Photo: Group photo with students after the lecture ended)
During the discussion session, students were also introduced to the importance of post-event evaluations as part of the risk management cycle. These evaluations serve to identify weaknesses in event implementation, improve security systems, and serve as learning materials for future events.
Anisatul Auliya, S.ST.Par., M.Par., Head of the Tourism Business Management Study Program, stated that risk management competency is one of the essential skills for aspiring professionals in the events and tourism industry. She believes the industry currently requires not only creative and innovative event concepts but also safe, comfortable, and responsible event management.
“Students need to understand that event organizers have a significant responsibility for the safety of participants and the continuity of the event. Through the material presented, covering risk, crowd management, and crisis management, students can understand how security standards and risk management are applied in industry practice,” said Auliya.
This lecture, featuring international experts, is expected to provide learning that is relevant to industry needs and broaden students’ horizons through collaboration with international academics and practitioners.
