0138142475 pp8a

Copyright ©2011 by Pearson Education, Inc.publishing as Pearson [imprint]

It’s Tourism: Concepts and PracticesJohn Walker

Attractions and Entertainment

Chapter 8



Objectives• After reading and studying this

chapter, you should be able to:– List the major players in the amusement

park industry– Identify trends in the amusement and

theme park industry– Explain the reasons for the immense

growth of the gaming entertainment industry



Objectives (cont’d.)– Explain the main reasons for travel in

the following areas: fairs, festivals, events, historic places/sites, and performing arts

– Give some examples of important festivals, fairs, and events

– Discuss trends in leisure travel



• Alan Lew: attractions– Integral part of a larger tourism system

• Also consists of tourists and markets

– Typologies vary considerably • Depends on whether they are being used for

marketing or planning purposes

Definition of an Attraction



• System that creates and supports an attraction must have a(n): – Object or event located at a site– Tourist or consumer – Marker, an image that tells the tourist

why the object or event is of interest

Attraction (cont’d.)



Figure 8–1 • The Categories of Attractions and Entertainment



• Amusement park: – Generic term

• Collection of rides or forms of entertainment attractions for the purpose of entertaining large groups

– Today, the terms amusement parks and theme parks are used interchangeably

Amusement and Theme Parks



• Attractions business: – Highly competitive with other tourism markets

• Require continuous improvement and expertise

• International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA)– Largest international trade association for

permanently situated amusement facilities

Amusement Parks (cont’d.)



• Knott’s Berry Farm:– 1920s berry farm and tearoom in Buena

Park, California– Gradual expansion

• Today, 150 acres of rides, attractions, entertainment, historical exhibits, dining, and specialty shops




• Worlds of Discovery: – Anheuser-Busch InBev Companies

• Includes:– Sea World– Aquatica– Busch Gardens– Adventure Island– Water Country USA– Sesame Place– Discovery Cove




• The Walt Disney Corporation:– Includes theme parks, resorts, cruise

lines, hotels, and television broadcasting• First Disney theme park, Disneyland, located

in Anaheim, California, opened in 1955• Each park has certain features that remain

constant (e.g., Main Street USA, Frontier Land, etc.)




• Walt Disney Corporation parks include:– Disney World– Disneyland– Magic Kingdom– Epcot– Disney- MGM Studios– Disney Tokyo, Disney Paris, and Disney

Hong Kong




• Universal Studios:– Guided tours on famous movie sets– Most formidable competitor facing the

Disney Corporation– Good example of what is predicted to

occur in future amusement and theme parks

– Locations include Hollywood, Orlando, and Japan




• Other theme parks:– Cedar Point, Ohio

• Voted best amusement park in the world• 17 roller coasters (3 of the top 10 in the

world)

– Morey’s Piers, New Jersey• Offers around 100 rides and attractions

– Hersheypark, Pennsylvania• More than 60 rides and attractions, as well

as live entertainment, food, and games




• Zoos– San Diego Zoo, California

• Large collection of animals, interactive programs, and educational programs

– National Zoological Park, Washington, D.C.

• Part of the Smithsonian Institution• More than 2,000 animals from nearly 400

species

Animal Attractions



• Aquariums– National Aquarium in Baltimore

• 1.6 million visitors a year• Focuses on the beauty of aquatic species in

their natural environments• Uses modern interpretative techniques to

engage and get emotional responses from visitors

Animal Attractions (cont’d.)



• Events often fall under more than one category (e.g., event/sports tourism)– Fairs, festivals, and events are public

celebrations that are staged all over the world

• Enrich our lives and provide interesting career opportunities (e.g., event management)

Fairs, Festivals, and Events



• Notable festivals and events:– Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany– Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil– Reggae on the River in California– Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Louisiana

Fairs, Festivals, Events (cont’d.)



• First legalized in Nevada in 1931– 1964, New Hampshire introduced the

first state lottery– Since then, travel for gaming has grown

in importance• Industry includes land-based and riverboat

casinos, card rooms, charitable games, lottery-operated games, and races

Gaming Entertainment



• Tremendous impact on various segments of the tourism industry– Reasons for the explosion:

• Accepted by the majority of society• Viewed as a voluntary tax• People call it a night on the town• More retirees gamble• Availability has expanded

Gaming Entertainment (cont’d.)



• MGM Mirage– Bought out Mandalay Resorts Group– Now controls half of the Las Vegas strip

• Includes the Bellagio, MGM Grand Las Vegas, the Mirage, Treasure Island, New York–New York Boardwalk Hotel and Casino, etc.

– Operates the world’s largest hotel/casino• MGM Grand Hotel• Opening Project City Center Hotel and

Casino




• Harrah’s– Harrah’s Entertainment and Caesars

Entertainment have merged– Now the world’s biggest casino operator– 40 casinos in three countries

• Other gaming entertainment centers– Boyd Gaming, Seminole Hard Rock

Casino, and Foxwoods




• Heritage tourism:– Historic places, sites, and museums

• National Register of Historic Places: – United States’ official list of districts,

sites, buildings, structures, and objects worthy of preservation

• Over 80,000 listings

Historic Places/Sites



• U.S. historical attractions include:– Monticello– Alamo– French Quarter in New Orleans– Martin Luther King, Jr., National Historic

Site– Grand Ole Opry– Freedom Trail– Liberty Bell

Historic Places/Sites (cont’d.)



• Number of museums in the U.S. has more than quadrupled since 1950– Many types, including general, art,

science and technology, natural history, history, and military

Museums



• The Smithsonian Institution– Established in 1846

• Holds more than 140 million artifacts and specimens

• The Field Museum, Chicago– Founded in 1893

• Biological and anthropological collections• Collection includes more than 20 million

items

Museums (cont’d.)



• Theaters once were immensely important– During the industrial era of the early

1900s, the importance of theaters began to wane

– In modern times, the theater is again gaining importance

• Affordable prices make it reasonable• Concerts, musicals, and comedy shows are

also becoming increasingly affordable

Performance Arts



• Destinations are major attractions in themselves– Some of the world’s most popular

destinations include:• Athens, Greece• London, England• Paris, France• Rome, Italy• Costa Rica

Destinations

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