Theme Parks are not a new phenomenon (e.g. zoos, water gardens and safari parks use wildlife and nature themes). However, attitudes change and people now show greater concern about the enclosure of wild animals and the increasing cost of meeting public expectation has seen their popularity deminish (Windsor Safari Park closed in 1990). At the same time a wave of modern theme park developments have been one of the great tourism success stories over the last 20 years (e.g the former site of Windsor Safari Park is now home to Legoland a 1.5 million annual visitor attraction).
What is a Theme Park?
According to Tucker 1991 " a theme park must be built around one or more fantasy or historical themes, charge some form of all inclusive entry fee, and offer a braod range of facilities and attractions to occupy a family for the whole day.
By definition theme parks are expensive to develop, run and maintain, consequently most are managed by large corporations, e.g. Tussauds, Disney and Universal.
The first theme park is reputed to be Santa Land (USA) established in 1946 ten years prior to Disney in LA and the first in the UK was Thorp Park (1969). It was not until the mid 1990s that attendances broke 10 million at a UK venue, however, by this time the growth rate of theme parks had slowed as the demand for more quality, more excitement and more expense (investment in the former) increased.
The majority of visitors to Theme Parks are day excursions rather than tourists, but market research has shown that for long-term success, they are essential for economic profitability of the larger parks. The crucial threshold that changes an attraction from a large theme park to an all incluseive integrated resort is the addition of accomodation and other entertainment facilities. Alton Towers is the first UK theme park to cross this boundary and puts it ahead of its competitors in the UK market. On a global scale Disney currently have the greatest market share of this market.
TASK (COMPLETE FOR NEXT LESSON)
1. Construct a Timeline of Theme Parks
The following linked article gives you an insight into the global market
2. You are going to build a Case Study of one Theme Park. Using the links below and the Internet
present your study under the following headings:
a) Theme and attraction
b) Location and Setting
c) Ownership)
d)Cost
e)Market segment
f)local socio economic and environmental impacts
http://video.aol.com/video-detail/harry-potter-theme-parkoralndo-resort/3405308435/?icid=VIDURVENT07
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