7.5 Chapter Conclusion
Meagan A. McGuire
Summary
Visitor attractions are wide-ranging and can be based on unique interests, often changing with societal shifts and pop culture. Heritage sites, amusement parks, scenic views, zoos, beaches, city centers, events, and festivals all draw visitors. Residents as well as tourists enjoy visiting attractions and their proximity adds to residents’ quality of life as well as to the tourism economy.
More visitor attractions are increasingly being developed, or commodified, to meet the desires of the public to see and experience natural, cultural, and historic places. Development should ideally be community based and sustainable, especially when dealing with heritage sites. Visitors to these sites should ideally practice cultural sensitivity.
Visitor attractions can serve as demand generators or as visitor amenities depending on the varied interests of the traveling public. Both are important to a destination, one drawing the tourist to visit and the other fulfilling their need for entertainment while visiting.
Museums house and protect the culture, history, and natural assets of a society, yet they do so much more than that for a community. They are educational centers, resources for research, and the keepers of a society’s treasures. They have the ability to enlighten visitors to other ways of thinking and bring together those of different backgrounds. With such power, they also serve as the epicenter for cultural and environmental understanding.
Zoos and aquariums serve a role beyond exhibiting animals for entertainment purposes. They can be educational institutions, teaching children and adults alike about wild animals, habitat loss, and other concerns that should be brought to light in public conversations. They can also be conservation centers, helping to protect endangered animals and increasing population through breeding programs. Research, rehabilitation, and reintroduction programs help wild populations.
Amusement and theme parks offer rides, games, and elaborate experiences that entertain. Their success globally emphasizes the opportunity for growth and career potential. New technologies will drive ongoing innovation and competition within the industry.
Industrial attractions offer a unique opportunity to experience production, whether by witnessing the manufacturing of goods or participating in agricultural activities. Visitors are eager to see behind the scenes of factories, wineries, plantations, and farms. For the industrial business, opening doors to visitors can increase revenue, sales, and brand recognition.
The types of visitor attractions highlighted in this chapter— museums, zoos and aquariums, amusement and theme parks, and industrial attractions—offer a range of possible career paths. With broad appeal across generations and populations, as well as opportunities ranging from seasonal roles to executive positions, careers at visitor attractions are abundant and should continue to thrive and employ millions well into the future.
Review Questions
- What is a visitor attraction?
- A place where residents gather
- A location that draws tourists and residents, contributing to a destination’s appeal and economic vitality
- A place where people can shop
- A location that is only open during certain seasons
- What is the purpose of the American Alliance of Museums (AAM)?
- To promote tourism and visitor attractions worldwide
- To research and collect tangible and intangible heritage
- To manage and operate museums for profit
- To set standards for museum ethics and practices
- What is the main function of museums as visitor attractions?
- Entertainment only
- Preserving and exhibiting objects of significance while educating the public
- Providing recreational activities
- Offering food and beverages
- What distinguishes theme parks from amusement parks?
- Theme parks are mobile
- Theme parks have a central theme represented in structures, rides, and marketing
- Theme parks offer fewer rides
- Theme parks do not have games
- What role do visitor attractions play in the tourism economy?
- They are secondary to accommodations
- They are central to drawing tourists and significantly contribute to a destination’s tourism economy
- They provide necessary transportation
- They only serve local residents
- What term is used to describe attractions that drive tourists to visit a destination?
- Visitor amenities
- Demand generators
- Day-trippers
- Same-day visitors
- What type of visitor attraction offers behind-the-scenes looks at production processes?
- Museums
- Industrial attractions
- Botanical gardens
- Zoos
- Which visitor attraction in Florida combines zoological exhibits with theme park elements?
- SeaWorld Orlando
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom
- Universal Studios Florida
- Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
- What role do DMOs (Destination Management Organizations) play in visitor attractions?
- They build visitor attractions
- They plan, manage, and promote tourism, often highlighting key visitor attractions
- They fund visitor attractions
- They operate visitor amenities
- What is the focus of agritourism as a visitor attraction?
- Preserving historical artifacts
- Allowing visitors to participate in farming activities and learn about agriculture
- Offering amusement rides
- Providing shopping opportunities
- Why are visitor attractions important to the tourism economy?
- How do amusement parks differ from carnivals?
- What are the potential impacts of commodifying heritage sites as visitor attractions?
- What role do iconic landmarks play in tourism?
- How is virtual reality (VR) used in visitor attractions?
- Discuss the ethical implications of commodifying cultural and historical sites as visitor attractions.
- Discuss the importance of immersive and experiential elements in modern visitor attractions.
- Discuss the role of technology in enhancing visitor experiences at attractions.
- Explain the differences between business support, guest and customer service, and operations support.
- Analyze the challenges and opportunities presented by the rise of virtual tourism.