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Built visitor attractions are human-made facilities designed specifically to attract tourists. Unlike natural attractions (like beaches or mountains), built attractions are created through human ingenuity and construction. They play a crucial role in tourism by drawing visitors to specific locations, creating jobs and generating revenue for local economies.
Key Definitions:
These are attractions specifically designed and built to attract tourists. Examples include theme parks, museums and entertainment complexes. They often have a clear theme or focus and are designed with visitor flow and experience in mind.
These were originally built for other purposes but have been converted into tourist attractions. Examples include historic buildings, former industrial sites and repurposed structures. They often retain historical or cultural significance while offering new experiences.
Built attractions come in many forms, each offering unique experiences to visitors. Understanding the different types helps tourism professionals develop and market these attractions effectively.
Theme parks, water parks, casinos, concert venues, cinemas and theatres. These focus on providing fun, excitement and memorable experiences.
Museums, science centres, art galleries and historical sites. These aim to inform and educate visitors while still being engaging.
Sports stadiums, swimming pools, ice rinks and adventure centres. These focus on active participation and physical activities.
What makes a built attraction successful? Several key features contribute to visitor satisfaction and commercial success:
The London Eye is a prime example of a purpose-built attraction that has become an iconic landmark. Originally built as a temporary structure to celebrate the millennium in 2000, its popularity led to it becoming a permanent fixture on London's skyline.
Key Success Factors:
The London Eye attracts over 3.5 million visitors annually and has become one of the UK's most visited paid attractions.
Effective management is crucial for the success and sustainability of built attractions. This involves several key areas:
Built attractions require significant investment for construction, maintenance and upgrades. Revenue streams typically include:
Ensuring a positive visitor experience while managing capacity:
Effective marketing is essential for attracting visitors to built attractions. Modern attractions use a mix of traditional and digital marketing techniques:
The Eden Project is a remarkable example of a built attraction created from a former china clay pit. Opened in 2001, it features massive biomes housing plants from around the world.
Key Features:
The Eden Project demonstrates how a built attraction can transform a former industrial site into a world-class tourist destination while promoting environmental awareness.
Built attractions have significant impacts on their surrounding areas, both positive and negative:
The built attractions sector continues to evolve with new technologies and changing visitor expectations:
Built attractions are vital components of the tourism industry, offering diverse experiences to visitors while contributing to local economies. Successful attractions combine appealing features, effective management and strategic marketing to create memorable visitor experiences. As the sector evolves, attractions must adapt to changing consumer preferences and technological innovations while managing their impacts on local communities and environments.
Understanding built attractions is essential for anyone working in tourism, as these facilities often serve as anchors for broader tourism development and destination marketing efforts.