This document defines attractions and discusses their classification and management. An attraction is defined as a permanent establishment where the main purpose is sightseeing that must be open to the public. Attractions can be classified based on their physical environment, ownership, perception, admission policies, appeal, size, composition, and degree of performance. The success of attractions is influenced by management skills, the product offered, market demand, access, amenities, and the mood of visitors. Key themes in attraction management include demand factors, environmental impacts, seasonality, visitor numbers, diversification, and moving attractions towards more technology-based elements.

1. ATTRACTIONS
PREPARED BY: MA'AM
L

2. 



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where the main purpose is sightseeing
A
permanent
established
excursion
destination
Primary purpose is to allow access for
entertainment, interest or education
Must be open to the public without prior booking
Capable of attracting day visitors or tourists as
well as the local residents

3. Acc to PEARCE (1991)
“a tourist attraction is a named site with
specific human or natural feature which is
the focus of visitor and management
attention”
Acc to SWARBROOKE (2002)
“attractions are generally single units based on
a single key feature... destination are larger
areas that include a number of individual
attractions”

4. CLASSIFICATION
OF
ATTRACTIONS

5. TYPE
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Historical house
Museums and galleries
Wildlife attractions
Castles
Gardens
Steam railways
Visitor centers
Country parks
Leisure parks

6. PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

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Natural environment
Built made and adapted but not originally
designed for visitor purposes
Built environment and designed for visitor
purpose

7. OWNERSHIP

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Attraction are owned and managed by a range of
organizations, trusts and individuals, working in
the public, private and not-for profit sectors.
A high level of state involvement in attraction
funding is evident across Europe and in other
parts of the world like Canada and Singapore.

8. PERCEPTION

Some visitors may perceive an attraction as an
atttraction but others may not.
Acc to MILLAR (1999)
-what undeniably turns a tract of land, monument,
park, historic house or coastline into a heritage
attraction is often the attitude of the public-

9. ADMISSION POLICY


Attractions operated by membership subscription
organizations allow members in for no charge.
Other attractions operate friends' schemes, which
allow subscribers free entry. Voluntary donations
are requested in other attractions.

10. APPEAL

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The market appeal of attractions can be viewed
at a geographic level, where attractions might
appeal: just to local market, regionally, nationally
or internationally.
Certain attractions may only appeal to niche
markets, or particular market segments

11. SIZE AND CAPACITY

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Attractions vary in land coverage, with some
housed in tiny buildings and others covering
several hectares.
Understanding the capacity of sites is important in
terms of management and marketing, as well as
protection of the resource base, which may be
damaged as a result of poor visitor management.

12. 


ENVIRONMENTAL – physical space and no.
of people in a particular space
ECOLOGICAL – threshold measure, which if
exceeded will lead to actual damage of habitat
PERCEPTUAL – level of crowding that a
tourist is willing to tolerate before deciding to go
elsewhere.

13. COMPOSITION

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Many attractions are nodal in character, located at
or around a specific point or feature
Events may also be nodal, fixed in one venue, or
may occur at a variety of locations as part of a
festival.

14. DEGREE OF PERFORMANCE

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In case of events and festivals, a short duration is
expected and temporary sites, buildings or a
mobile infrastucture are often used.
Sporadic non-permanent natural events, which are
neither designed nor staged for visitors can also
attract substantial visitor interest.

15. INFLUENCES
DETERMINING
THE SUCCESS OF
VISITOR
ATTRACTIONS

16. 
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Professional management skills and the
operator's available resources
Type of attraction or product offering
Market demand for the product
Ease of access from major routes and centers of
tourist and resident populations
Appropriate hours of opening
Value for money

17. 
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Provision and quality of on-site amenities –
parking, visitor centers, signs and labels, shops,
guides, refreshments, toilets, litter bins, seating
and disabled provision
Proximity to and quality of near-site amenities,
such as signposting, local accommodation, local
services and other attractions
Quality of service, including staff appearance,
attitude, behavior and competence
The mood, expectation, behavior and attitude of
visitors

18. THEMES AND
ISSUES IN THE
MANAGEMENT OF
VISITOR
ATTRACTIONS

19. DEMAND FACTORS:
- desirability of visiting
- repeat visiting
- created interests
- individual preference
- popularity of attraction type
- cultural capital attained by visiting
SUPPLY FACTORS
- opening times
- number of attractions open
- geographical location
- competing attractions
- costs and prices
- marketing of attraction
ENVIRONMENTAL
FACTORS:
- weather at time of visit
- distance to travel
- setting of attraction

20. PERSONAL FACTORS:
- time available
- visiting companions
- health
- mobility
- pleasure derived
experience
- knowledge
perception
SITE-SPECIFIC FACTORS
- physical availability of
visitor services
- quality of visitor services
- visitor welcome
- staff attitude
- events
- ambiance
- information
-crowding levels
EXTERNAL FACTORS:
- public sector tourism support and development
- place marketing and regional marketing
- visitor infrastructure in area
- roads and signages

21. Management planning

Environmental impacts

Seasonality

Visitor numbers

Attractions and destination
planning

Diversification

Renewal and innovation

Harnessing economic impacts


22. FUTURE OF
VISITOR
ATTRACTIONS

23. Management: revenue
generation
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Marketing
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Product development: creating
world class destinations
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Interpretation and
communication
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24. MOVING
TOWARDS
TECHNOLOGYBASED ELEMENTS
OF ATTRACTIONS

25. Creating a unique product

Enhancing the visitor experience

Competition
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Managing visitors

Systems management
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