Chapter 7 Visitor Attractions

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Chapter 7 Visitor Attractions

• Definition
• A visitor attraction is any site that appeals
  to people sufficiently to encourage them to
  travel there in order to visit it
• (Holloway 1994).

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• A visitor attraction is a feature in an area
  that is a place, venue or focus of activities and
  does the following things
• 1. Sets out to attract visitors/day visitors from
  resident or tourist populations, and is managed
  accordingly.
• 2. Provides a fun and pleasurable experience and
  an enjoyable way for customers to spend their
  leisure time.
• 3. Is developed to realise this potential.
• 4. Is managed as an attraction, providing
  satisfaction to its customers.
• 5. Provides an appropriate level of facilities
  and services to meet and cater to the demands,
  needs, and interests of its visitors.
• 6. May or may not charge an admission for entry.
• Source Walsh-Heron and Stevens (1990),
• as cited in Swarbrooke (2005)

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• Categories of Visitor Attractions
• Natural Attractions
• designed for other purpose
• Man-made
• (buildings, structures, sites) purpose-built
  to attract tourists
• natural
• Events
• man-made

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• Natural Attractions
• Wildlife parks
• Nature reserves
• Flora (plants) and fauna (wildlife)
• Peatland
• Forests (including Coillte forests in Ireland)

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• Man-made attractions
• (designed for other purposes)
• Historic properties
• Castles
• Churches and Cathedrals, Religious sites
• Gardens (ca. 40 in Ireland e.g. Powerscourt)
• Parks
• City Parks (e.g. Phoenix Park)
• Workplaces
• Birthplaces/Living Places of famous people, e.g.
  Irish literary greats
• National Monuments

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• Man-made attractions
• (purpose-built to attract tourists)
• Museums and art galleries
• Theme parks
• Leisure attractions

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• Events (Natural)
• Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australis (Northern
  and Southern Lights)
• Geysers (like Old Faithful in California)
• Winter Solstice (e.g. at Newgrange)
• Events (Man-made)
• Festivals
• Concerts

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Irish Festivals

• Celtic Festivals
• Traditional/Jazz/ Bluegrass Festivals
• Craft and Food Fairs
• Poetry and Writing Festivals
• General Festivals
• Angling Festivals
• Walking Festivals
• Book Festivals
• Floral Festivals
• Heritage Festivals

• Clan Rallies
• Drama/Theatre Festivals
• Fairs
• Film Festivals
• Gourmet Festivals
• Parades
• Childrens Festivals
• Arts Festivals
• Opera Festivals
• Comedy Festivals

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• Critical Success Factors
• 1. The organisation and its resources
• 2. The product
• 3. The market
• 4. The management of the attraction

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• Regional Spread of Income
• at Irelands Fee-Paying Attractions
• Dublin 29
• South East 14
• Midlands East 15
• South West 15
• Shannon 13
• West 11
• North West 4

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• Types of Attractions Chosen
• .by visitors to Irelands fee-paying visitor
  attractions are as follows
• Historic Houses and Castles 20
• Interpretative Centres/Museums 32
• Parks and Gardens 7
• Monuments 17
• Other Attractions 24

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Top Ten Irish Fee-Paying Visitor Attractions
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Top Ten Irish Non Fee-Paying Visitor Attractions
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• Seaside Resorts as Attractions
• British and Irish resorts suffering due to
  economic affluence of countries
• Leads to people travelling abroad to warmer
  climates

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Sports as Attractions

• Participative or Spectator tourists
• Efforts to encourage sporting events
• Special Olympics 2003
• Ryder Cup 2006
• Impact of London 2012 Summer Olympics

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Problems with Visitor Attractions

• Overcrowding, delays queues
• Lack of parking
• Lack of cleanliness
• Poorly trained/rude staff
• High admission fees
• Maturity