The Role Of Theme Parks As A Leisure Activity For Local Communities (original) (raw)
The role of theme parks in tourism
1994
Although the theme park has been a major tourism destination in the United States, little research has been done in this industry. The growing economic significance and competition of the theme park industry ensure that the study of theme parks will emerge as a more popular research topic in the years to come. The authors review related articles and identify potential research topics in the theme park industry.
Modern family leisure activities organization in theme parks
Perspektivy nauki i obrazovania – Perspectives of Science and Education, 2019
The family, as the first and the main social institution, forms the value orientations of the growing personality. The organization of substantial family leisure is a significant problem and one of the main tasks of the state. Favorable conditions for the organization of cultural leisure and recreation as well as for the realization of the family’s creative potential and social activity can be created in modern theme parks. The authors substantiate the role of theme parks, their social and cultural potential, in the organization of rational leisure for a modern family. The territory of theme parks is designed for recreation and entertainment. The range of services is based on the concept and theme of the Park. After the analysis of the socio-cultural activities of theme parks in the Russian regions , the authors come to the conclusion that it is necessary to study, develop and promote the constructive experience of modern theme parks for the organization of socially justified and diverse family leisure, contributing to the spiritual enrichment and physical improvement, the horizons broadening, the realization of the creative potential of the individual, taking into account the opportunities and needs of each family member.
Theme park selection:: Factors influencing attendance
Tourism Management, 1991
Theme parks are continuously changing in response to market trends and the benefits sought by individuals attending a theme park have changed over the years. Marketers are advised to employ multlsegmentatlon strategies In addresslng new market expectations. This study Identifies factors Influential in the selection of a theme park and by determining the characteristics of visltors versus non-visitors analyses attraction and theme preferences. Teiephone questionnaires were administered to 3039 households randomly selected from 10 eastern US metropolltan areas. Factor analysis provided lnsights into attraction and theme preferences. Strategies are suggested to position theme parks effectively.
The contribution of theme parks to the local development
As the tourism industry grows, theme parks are becoming one of the top forms of massive entertainment attracting enormous numbers of visitors and expanding worldwide. Theme parks have many definitions and consist of a complex part of the tourism sector organized around a central theme providing relaxation and pleasure to the visitors for a whole day. Nevertheless, this phenomenon has not yet gained popularity in Greece. The present paper examines the contribution of theme parks to the local development focusing particularly on the economic dimension. Tourism is characterized by its multifaceted nature and the interrelation with many aspects of the everyday life (social, environment, economic). Thus, every touristically developed society faces the multiple impacts of tourism, which differ in space and time and are determined by different factors. The most discussed and researched effects of tourism are the economic ones meaning the benefits and costs of the tourism development to the host region, which may be positive and negative (leakages from the local economy). Based on the extensive literature review upon theme parks, tourism industry and tourism impacts and the examples of the Vulcania, Puy du Fou and Futuroscope, European parks in France, a number of positive effects to the host society were recognized. Tourism development contributes to foreign exchange incomes, government revenues and regional development. Specifically, the local economy is benefited from the visitors’ expenditure and the creation of employment. The enhancement of economic structures, support of entrepreneurial activity, mitigation of regional economic disparities and the creation of externalities and economies of scale are named as further economic benefits. After all, theme parks may be an advantage to the host region but the possible benefits could also be possible costs. Besides the aforementioned impacts, this paper aims to answer whether theme parks create economies of scale and to which extent they contribute to the local development.
Leisure and culture – the (in)visible link in modern societies
World Leisure Journal, 2011
Leisure and culture Á the (in)visible link in modern societies Overview: culture and creative leisure Leisure often evokes ideas synonymous with different modes of easy living: entertainment, distraction, sports and relaxation, including tourism. As the antithesis of labour, leisure is thus often perceived as a time of luxury, idleness and inefficiency. But, although powerful, this view that free time is time lost may not be accurate. Many thinkers have insisted on the idea that leisure, authentic leisure, is time dedicated to developing one's capacities, a time of learning and cultivation. In the words of Benjamin Franklin, ''Leisure is time for doing something useful'' (Franklin, 1758). A life dedicated solely to work would not be a decent human life Á this is implicit in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states, in its Article 28, that ''Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits'' (United Nations, 1948). In terms of human development, we could say that our bodies need rest, but that our minds need creative leisure. In terms of economic development also, equating leisure with inefficiency is questionable. Economic success is often associated with striking the right balance in the division of labour, that is production; but consumption mostly happens when people are not working, that is when they participate in the life of their cultures. In that, leisure can be credited with giving a boost to creativity, innovation and related synergies. Thus, contrary to commonly held views, leisure is a special feature of culture, be it individualised or organised. As culture determines our lifestyles, our consumption and our production patterns, we need to realise that the culture of creative leisure includes tourism, travel and vacation, fashion and dressing, eating, epicurean pleasures and hospitality, sports, reading, museums and exhibitions, media and the visual arts, concerts, opera and music. Building on this, we can give a quick account of how the leisure-culture link positively relates to different approaches to development.
Reinforcement of the Leisure Culture
This paper examines major trends in leisure in an attempt to trace some possible future developments in the consumption and production of leisure in general, and tourism in particular. The first part of the analysis concentrates on the time dimension, examining the changing relationship between work and leisure time in the developed world. This is followed by an analysis of the social consequences of the ‘growth’ of leisure, particularly in terms of the growing imbalance in the distribution of work and leisure time. The future implications of this imbalance are then considered, particularly in terms of its potential influence on tourism consumption.
Leisure trends "an enquiry in the past two decades to understand the transition in leisure trends."
CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS: THE 1ST INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE: RESILIENCE BY TECHNOLOGY AND DESIGN; December 8th-11th, 2022, 2023
Recreation and leisure can be found where people congregate to play, enjoy, or rest. Cities, towns, small villages, the countryside, and urban centers provide recreation opportunities. Leisure affects people of all ages, stages of life, cultures, social classes, and genders through personal experiences or observations. It is used to identify people who engage in recreational activities or spend time in natural settings. Leisure has a prominent role in the mental and physical health of the human being. Leisure activities are being ignored by people for different reasons; while building future cities, we have to introduce a new domain of leisure while planning and designing cities. This study focuses on exploring significant trends in the Leisure domain using the Elsevier Scopus database and analyzing the database using bibliometric analysis to evaluate the research components. The study will serve as a fundamental basis for understanding the different trends in the research domain. This bibliometric analysis combines information from various research areas, adds to the categorization of the literature review on the subject, and provides information to help understand changing trends in the leisure domain that can be used in building future cities. ISBN: 978-604-80-7564-4 Link:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ieq411LM6XMFrfUOQ-icM6RpfmGxN5Pf/view
Theme Park Practices and the City
Every tourist who visits New York City (NYC) soon realises a few days is not enough. There are dozens of museums and galleries for art lovers, an ambush of shopping precincts for label lovers, scores of theatres, thousands of eateries, a huge collection of heritage sites and the must-sees of friends and family who have gone before. Given that NYC possesses the required attributes to host and entertain hordes of tourists perhaps it makes sense to employ those theme park practices that benefit the common good. For tourists of NYC, city of dreams, and theme park goers of Walt Disney World (WDW), where dreams come true, this
The Role of Theme Parks in Creating Sustainable Development
2021
Theme parks offer various types of entertainment that compete in both local and international markets. They include attractions, rides, arcade games, souvenir shops, and restaurants. Over the years, the industry has been growing due to the increasing tourism rates. Designing a project like an indoor theme park would increase tourism rates, leading to a boost in the country's economic status. The success of a theme park depends highly on the demand and user's selection of the theme. The setting and location also play a vital role in the success of the park. The purpose of this research is to introduce an innovative way of educating localities and regionalists about the country's culture. Moreover, this idea of having Theme Parks will support the Sustainable Development solutions in Bahrain, which will change the perspective to use water frontage and comply with Bahrain Vision 2030.
Leisure in the Age of Technology
Revisiting Expo 88 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia - what was the lasting legacy for Brisbane, and has Technology released us into Leisure?
Leisure, recreation and tourism
Annals of Tourism Research, 1991
Recreation and leisure studies in North America offers a number of intriguing parallels with tourism. Both have diverse origins; are inherently interdisciplinary; and combine traditional multi-theoretical, descriptive, and applied research with innovative scholarship that is devoted to ...
A Preliminary Taxonomy of Leisure Activities
Journal of Leisure Research, 1984
Descriptions of the psychological benefits of participation in 34 leisure activities were obtained from 1375 respondents who described themselves as knowledgeable participants of at least a year's standing. Cluster analysis revealed nine relatively homogeneous groups of leisure activities. The psychological benefits provided by participation in the activities assigned to each cluster are identified and possible applications ofthis classification system are discussed.
Echoes of Leisure: Questions, Challenges, and Potentials
Journal of Leisure Research, 2000
Gregorian calendars, love of linear and progressive forms, Christian beliefs, and fascination with "new" beginnings all intermix to form the concept of millenium. Calendars emerging from Tibetan, Islamic, Hawaiian, Mayan, and other traditions mark no day of celebration or sorrow for January 1, 2000 (and whether this is the first day of the new millenium is still contested). Without conscious attention to the plurality of calendars, concepts of time, historical events, and holidays, it is tempting to view the millenium as an "inevitable given," a reality, a natural occurrence. As any good leisure scholar understands, the millenium provides a wonderful excuse for celebration, contemplation, and play. However, thoughtful attention to plurality, opens new possibilities and engenders other concerns and questions. How do we, in both large and small ways, render invisible other views while celebrating one, albeit dominant, perspective? How do we become accountable for validating and giving support to a single interpretation of reality? Can leisure become focused on fulfillment and re-figuring social bodies/ minds/ souls? Can leisure become inevitably tied to notions of collaborative interpretations rather than predominant and increasingly individual, subjective conscience? I am particularly concerned about creating ethical, meaningful leisure in a paradoxical world of plurality and commonality. How do we, as leisure scholars and practitioners, connected to, or reinforcing, dominant structures and processes, maintain and honor the presence, values, and critiques of alternative perspectives? What leisure praxis will enable "games of truth and power" to be practiced with minimal domination and maximal freedom? How can we transfigure our relationship to powers and knowledges that render us calculable and entangled in harm to others? Seemingly innocent millenium celebrations provide resonance with profound conflicts related to power, dominant structures, and alternative perspectives of leisure. The definitions, parameters, and actions related to leisure are constructed and molded by invisible forces related to cultural dynamics, power relations, collective processes, and societal frameworks. It is no accident, therefore, that freedom and individual perspectives and behaviour are essential features of leisure praxis
2008
Leisure travel and visitation to natural areas and constraints to undertaking these activities are important concerns for recreation resource managers and tourism businesses. Surveys were administered to Los Angeles, Barcelona, Glasgow, and Morelia, Mexico, residents to ascertain leisure travel and undeveloped natural area visitation levels and constraints. A comparison of these cities with abundant nearby natural resources shows significant differences in leisure travel and natural area visitation levels. Differences were attributable to respondent demographic disparities and importance of visitation constraints. The study identifies how cultural values produce significant differences in visitation constraints and use of undeveloped natural areas.
National Identities at Leisure The Case of Theme Parks
Most observers view the contemporary era as a period governed by invisible yet powerful, homogenizing consumerist forces that pervade multiple dimensions of both individual and social life, producing signifi cant changes-particularly as far as the perception of time, space, reality, and fi ction are concerned. These changes contribute, they assert, to the emergence of a number of complex phenomena, such as the confusion between what one understands as "real" and the "virtual," a development that upsets the human imagination and induces in people erroneous ideas concerning patterns of value worth striving for in everyday life, as Jean Baudrillard suggests. Zygmunt Bauman focuses on the increasing "spectacularization" characterizing culture, politics, and communication, distancing people and ideas; whereas Marc Augé identifi es alienating relationships between individuals and places and between the self and the global. 1 According to these views, instability, distortion of meaning, and volatile identities seem to be rapidly spreading in the wake of globalization throughout the world in a multitude of forms. In such a scenario, the concept of national identity becomes inevitably a most vulnerable notion, subject to reformulations of diff erent nature. As Eric J. Hobsbawm points out, national identity possesses a complex, temporary, and multifaceted character. Its "shape" is indeed determined by a combination of cultural factors, and historical and political processes, that may moreover alter in the course of time, in very short periods of time. Any approach to national identity should therefore include a number of diff erent perspectives, cultural, political, economic, etc.; and focus on a given time span. 2 This chapter attempts to off er an exploration of one of the many possible "faces" of national identity, its "leisure-face," referring particularly to