The Nature and Role of Visitor Attractions

Abstract

Visitor attractions play a vital role in the development and success of tourism destination. The aim of this chapter is first to define the terms ‘visitor attraction’ and ‘tourism destination’, showing how they are distinct yet increasingly overlapping. The chapter will then explain how visitor attractions fit into the tourism sector and link with its other component parts. The chapter will then introduce the multiple roles of visitor attractions, including not only their economic contributions but also their environmental and socio-cultural impacts, both positive and negative, and their role in generating destination attractiveness. This will link to a discussion of the purposes of visitor attraction. In doing so, the chapter will focus on the distinctions between visitor attractions in developed and developing countries, and in urban and rural locations. Lastly, the chapter will discuss the role of visitor attractions in local, regional and national economic development, including the use of visitor attractions as growth poles and flagships.