DTV Calls for Federal Support to Ensure Safe Christmas Markets and Public Festivals

Germany

Following the cancellation of the Magdeburg Christmas Market, the German Tourism Association urges swift solutions and financial assistance

The German Tourism Association (DTV) is calling on the federal government to support municipalities and event organizers in addressing growing safety requirements for public events. The appeal follows the cancellation of the Magdeburg Christmas Market, which has sparked nationwide concern. According to the DTV, rising security standards and mounting costs are increasingly threatening the feasibility of traditional markets, fairs, and major festivals.

DTV Managing Director Norbert Kunz stated:

“The safety regulations for festivals and large-scale events have become almost impossible for municipalities and organizers to finance. The coordination and implementation of safety concepts also pose major challenges for those on the ground. The federal and state governments must now act swiftly to find a solution. Folk festivals, markets, and large events represent joy and togetherness — they are part of our open and welcoming culture and an important economic factor for destinations and the tourism industry.”

Study on event safety urgently needed

The DTV welcomes the allocation of additional funding in the 2025 federal budget for a comprehensive study on the safety of public festivals and large events. The association emphasizes that this study must start quickly and deliver practical recommendations, especially regarding financing mechanisms and organizational structures to meet heightened safety requirements.

According to the DTV, only through such measures can it be ensured that events in Germany remain both safe and economically sustainable. The goal, it says, must be to preserve the tradition of Christmas markets, town fairs, and open-air festivals as spaces of community, joy, and cultural openness.